The movie _Fargo_

[matthew.percy at utoronto.ca]

On Thu, 28 Nov 1996, Craig Clark wrote:

> 
> I think the comparison is between the humanity of the characters in 
> Mike Leigh's films, and the same quality in the characters in 
> _Fargo._
> There was a strong capacity for love in the two female protagonists of
>  _Naked_ (can't remember their names, and this is the only Mike Leigh 
> film I've seen). And I recall the male protagonist's conversation with the
> nightwatchman being very funny indeed (and any "lightening" in the film's
> tone being circumvented by the hateful and hate-filled fucking that 
> follows this scene). 

Hmm, you should really check out Leigh's _Life is Sweet_ and his newest,
_Secrets and Lies_.  _Naked_ is probably my favorite , but these other 
two films seem to be much cloer to what your talking about - much more 
emotional (you might even argue too  sentimental) and depth of character
than you'll find practically anywhere.

For "clumsy, lost, petty, loving, awkward people", 
> sympathetically and unsentimentally portrayed, in modern British cinema,
> go to the films of Danny Boyle (_Shallow Grave_ and _Trainspotting_, 
> particularly the latter).
> 
I really can't agree with you about Boyle - all style, no substance, at
least to me.  

	- Mat
> To get this discussion closer to the topic of this list, I'd argue 
> that Danny Boyle probably comes closest to Pynchon inasmuch as 
> both are capable of finding something something sympathetic in even 
> the worst characters (I repeat that Blicero's meditations on 
> Gottfried's beauty show a real capacity for tenderness, even in a 
> member of the SS). This is - to link to an issue I aired a few days 
> ago - something which Pynchon has in common with Philip K Dick as 
> well. On the other hand, the Coen Brothers' sheer cinematic skill is 
> an analogue of Pynchon's writing genius.
> 
> 
> 
>   
> Craig Clark
> 
> "Living inside the system is like driving across
> the countryside in a bus driven by a maniac bent
> on suicide."
>    - Thomas Pynchon, "Gravity's Rainbow"
>