"A self-consciously quirky American indie pic, Milwaukee, Minnesota
could really get on your nerves if you're not in the mood." (Nev Pierce, BBC)

According to the above prophecy, I must not have been "in the mood" when I sat down last night to watch Milwaukee, Minnesota (2003), the directorial debut of producer Allen Mindel. Often compared to Fargo for its snowy landscapes and scheming characters, this is a simple story made complicated by uneven pacing, acting and dialogue that really make this 95-minute film drag its feet. Awash in a striking color palette (very warm, bordering on golden) and stylized atmosphere, one of Milwaukee's only strong points is in the visual department. Unfortunately, the final product is like a nicely wrapped fruitcake: it's fine if you're into that sort of thing, but most people aren't really going to enjoy it.

All right, let's get the simple story out of the way: during the course of Milwaukee, Minnesota, we're introduced to a handful of characters, few of which are genuinely likeable. Albert Burroughs (Troy Garrity, son of Jane Fonda) is a mentally ill young man with a sizeable bank account (earned from years of successful ice fishing!) and a controlling mother (Debra Monk). Naturally, a few out-of-towners have heard of Albert's success and are looking for some quick cash; on one side, there's Tuey and Sean (Alison Folland and Bruce Dern), two young con artists posing as magazine reps. On the other side, there's Jerry James (Randy Quaid), even more of a drifter type who's posing as a traveling salesman. When Albert's mother is mysteriously murdered, both parties move in for the kill---but the young fisherman proves to be smarter than he looks.

On the surface, it's a little bit of Fargo with a dash of Yojimbo thrown in for good measure. The storyline isn't completely fresh, but Milwaukee, Minnesota could have been something special in more capable hands. As mentioned earlier, several uneven elements really take the viewer right out of the story; for starters, the characters and performances aren't much to write home about. More often than not, Garity aims for Rain Man but comes across more like Billy Madison---this, of course, isn't helped by a generous helping of unnecessary inner monologue. Albert's mother is played capably enough by Debra Monk, but the character is so irritating that it's hard not to breathe a sigh of relief when Albert's left to fend for himself. Randy Quaid turns in a decent performance as Jerry James, but Bruce Dern and Alison Folland don't have much to work with here. The character interaction isn't bad on all counts, but it ensures that this film can't ever be more than the sum of its parts.

The pacing didn't really come together, either: while most films wouldn't have trouble breezing by in 95 minutes, this one feels like it's twice that long. The ending itself is moderately satisfying---especially considering many of the dull events leading up to it---but Milwaukee, Minnesota will be a tough pill to swallow for many viewers who "aren't in the mood for it". The self-conscious quirkiness of the film doesn't seem sincere, and that's a major drawback for a film that centers around any group of characters. It's not a completely lost effort (thanks to the unique cinematography and a few other elements), but there's not much lasting appeal here. Fans of independent filmmaking could do a lot worse, but the film's uneven balance keeps it from being more than a weekend curiosity.

Tartan's DVD efforts present Milwaukee, Minnesota in its best possible light, as the film itself gets a decent technical presentation and a small but adequate spread of bonus features. It's a shame the film itself couldn't have been more appealing, but this package still warrants a closer look.

Available in either 2.0, 5.1 or DTS Surround mixes (?!), the audio presentation for the film was basic but serviceable. There's little to no surround activity and low end on display here, but the dialogue and music are clean and clear. There obviously isn't a world of difference between the mixes, but they all get the job done. Unfortunately, no subtitles or Closed Captions were made available.

The menus designs (seen above) are simple and appropriate, employing a subtle atmosphere and basic navigation. This 95-minute film has been divided into 16 chapters, while no apparent layer change was detected during playback. The packaging design is very straightforward, as this one-disc release is housed in a standard black keepcase with no included inserts or advertisements.

It's not a loaded disc, but there's some moderately interesting stuff here that fans should enjoy. First up is an Audio Commentary with director Allen Mendel and actor Troy Garity; the two work well together, though the director does most of the talking here. Among other topics, the difficulty of the production (due to not only the weather, but the small budget) is discussed, while technical specifics are also briefly touched upon. Also here is a lengthy Interview With the Director (39 minutes), presented in a basic on-screen Q&A style that goes into modest detail. It's not the most entertaining and engaging interview you'll hear, but those who really enjoyed the film should find it interesting. Closing out the bonus features are the film's original Theatrical Trailer and a series of Previews for other Tartan discs. One final note: all of the visual extras have been presented in anamorphic 1.78:1 widescreen, so here's hoping that this practice will become the rule and not the exception.

The film wasn't exactly my cup of tea, but those interested in a small-scale drama/mystery that's off the beaten path might want to give Milwaukee, Minnesota a spin. Tartan's DVD presentation makes a real difference here, as the A/V treatment and bonus features do a fine job of supporting the main feature. It's not worth a purchase unless you already saw the film and enjoyed it, so most interested parties should dip their toes in the water before jumping in. Rent It.