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Fargo (Re-Release Vs. Original)
List Price: Unknown [Buy now and save at Amazon]
The Movie:
The Coen brothers have certainly done some wonderful films, including "Raising Arizona". "Fargo" though, still remains, in my opinion, their most impressive and enjoyable work to date. The film is wonderfully written and helped along even further by three performances that are phenomenal.
The film introduces us early on to Jerry Lundegard(William H. Macy), a car salesman who needs money to complete a business deal. His father-in-law distrusts him, and even early on in the film we can see this is a desperate man looking for a solution. As the film moves further, the bottom begins to drop out from under him. It's Macy's performance that is so near-perfect that we are totally convinced of his decent. A fantastic shot early in the film watches him from overhead as he walks to his car, an isolated dot in a field of white.
Jerry has a plan: he gets two small-time criminals Carl Showalter (Steve Buscemi) and Gaear Grimsrud (Peter Stormare) to kidnap his wife. They will split the $80,000 ransom between the two of them. Things quickly go very, very wrong in unpredictable ways, leading a local (and very pregnant) trooper named Marge Gunderson(Frances McDormand) to do some investigation.
The film contains three excellent performances. Macy I've already mentioned; the other two are from McDormand as the trooper and Buscemi as the criminal. There are things that some didn't care for with "Fargo"; the film's characters are either unlikable or pretty simple, but they always remain well-written and never really fall into total stereotypes. The film is certainly a dark comedy/drama; although there are some small laughs to be had, they're pretty short in length.
The DVD
VIDEO: Like the audio, there is certainly a difference here between the two releases. While the first edition of "Fargo" was a non-anamorphic edition from Polygram (released in 1997), this new edition from MGM is anamorphic, presented in the film's original 1.85:1 ratio. With the exception of a few minor problems, it looks mighty good.
Sharpness is good for much of the film, with the exception of one or two minor sequences that seem slightly soft. Sharpness is improved from the earlier release. Detail is good as well, and clarity is solid in even dimly lit sequences. The film isn't too colorful, with much of the film taking place in snowy settings; even so, Roger Deakins("The Hurricane")'s cinematography captures it all perfectly.
This new edition has a smoother overall image as well, with only a slight bit of grain and a couple of trace amounts of pixelation. Print flaws are slight, but noticeable. Some speckles appear now and then, but never did I see any major wear. MGM's new transfer does have a few minor little spots now and again, but it does make for a more pleasing presentation overall. Both editions also offer a pan/scan version on the flip side.
SOUND: Here's big difference number two: the original release from Polygram was only in 2.0 Dolby Surround; this new release offers the film in Dolby Digital 5.1. While the film doesn't use sound much, it does have positive aspects. The audio mainly stays in the front, and highlights Carter Burwell's haunting, elegant score. Surrounds are rarely used, and when they do recieve use, it's pretty subtle. Dialogue is clean and easily heard; this certainly is nothing too active, but it generally fits with the film.
MENUS:: Where the original Polygram release had basic menus, the new MGM release has a slightly animated "snowy" main menu.
EXTRAS: The original release offered trailers for "Fargo", "The Usual Suspects", "Dead Man Walking" and "Four Weddings and A Funeral". The new MGM version only offers a trailer for "Fargo".
Final Thoughts: It all depends on what you think of "Fargo". If you're a fan, you may want to replace the old edition (which is discontinued) with this new one, with it's new anamorphic transfer and Dolby Digital 5.1 audio. I would certainly like to see a special edition of "Fargo" at some point but for right now, this new edition is the best offering of the film out there.
The Coen brothers have certainly done some wonderful films, including "Raising Arizona". "Fargo" though, still remains, in my opinion, their most impressive and enjoyable work to date. The film is wonderfully written and helped along even further by three performances that are phenomenal.
The film introduces us early on to Jerry Lundegard(William H. Macy), a car salesman who needs money to complete a business deal. His father-in-law distrusts him, and even early on in the film we can see this is a desperate man looking for a solution. As the film moves further, the bottom begins to drop out from under him. It's Macy's performance that is so near-perfect that we are totally convinced of his decent. A fantastic shot early in the film watches him from overhead as he walks to his car, an isolated dot in a field of white.
Jerry has a plan: he gets two small-time criminals Carl Showalter (Steve Buscemi) and Gaear Grimsrud (Peter Stormare) to kidnap his wife. They will split the $80,000 ransom between the two of them. Things quickly go very, very wrong in unpredictable ways, leading a local (and very pregnant) trooper named Marge Gunderson(Frances McDormand) to do some investigation.
The film contains three excellent performances. Macy I've already mentioned; the other two are from McDormand as the trooper and Buscemi as the criminal. There are things that some didn't care for with "Fargo"; the film's characters are either unlikable or pretty simple, but they always remain well-written and never really fall into total stereotypes. The film is certainly a dark comedy/drama; although there are some small laughs to be had, they're pretty short in length.
The DVD
VIDEO: Like the audio, there is certainly a difference here between the two releases. While the first edition of "Fargo" was a non-anamorphic edition from Polygram (released in 1997), this new edition from MGM is anamorphic, presented in the film's original 1.85:1 ratio. With the exception of a few minor problems, it looks mighty good.
Sharpness is good for much of the film, with the exception of one or two minor sequences that seem slightly soft. Sharpness is improved from the earlier release. Detail is good as well, and clarity is solid in even dimly lit sequences. The film isn't too colorful, with much of the film taking place in snowy settings; even so, Roger Deakins("The Hurricane")'s cinematography captures it all perfectly.
This new edition has a smoother overall image as well, with only a slight bit of grain and a couple of trace amounts of pixelation. Print flaws are slight, but noticeable. Some speckles appear now and then, but never did I see any major wear. MGM's new transfer does have a few minor little spots now and again, but it does make for a more pleasing presentation overall. Both editions also offer a pan/scan version on the flip side.
SOUND: Here's big difference number two: the original release from Polygram was only in 2.0 Dolby Surround; this new release offers the film in Dolby Digital 5.1. While the film doesn't use sound much, it does have positive aspects. The audio mainly stays in the front, and highlights Carter Burwell's haunting, elegant score. Surrounds are rarely used, and when they do recieve use, it's pretty subtle. Dialogue is clean and easily heard; this certainly is nothing too active, but it generally fits with the film.
MENUS:: Where the original Polygram release had basic menus, the new MGM release has a slightly animated "snowy" main menu.
EXTRAS: The original release offered trailers for "Fargo", "The Usual Suspects", "Dead Man Walking" and "Four Weddings and A Funeral". The new MGM version only offers a trailer for "Fargo".
Final Thoughts: It all depends on what you think of "Fargo". If you're a fan, you may want to replace the old edition (which is discontinued) with this new one, with it's new anamorphic transfer and Dolby Digital 5.1 audio. I would certainly like to see a special edition of "Fargo" at some point but for right now, this new edition is the best offering of the film out there.
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