Fargo - Series

Fargo (2014) - TV SERIES

Fargo is a TV Series based on the film Fargo (1996) which was originally created by the Coen Bros. The show was directed by Noah Hawley and Adam Berstein, with the exec. Producers being obviously the Coen Bros. The series has slight changes with characters etc, as it doesn't want to replicate but create a very ever lasting imprint on you. It wants to leave it's beautiful visual trademark and stylistic dialogue just how its originator left it. It consists of a stark narrative in which entails various chronicles of deception, intrigue and murder in and around frozen Minnesota.

With TV series becoming more and more visually gripping and complex, they're reaching levels of quality that you'd associate only with film. There is obviously a much more deeper answer as to why that is but i'm not about to get into it! That is why though with this series, especially the first one, I found the directorial stand point of this film magnificent. Colour is used throughout the series to bring out the harshness of its natural surroundings, the emphasise the bitter coldness of snow, an at points, the isolation of itself. What I also found to be interesting was the cinematographers of the show, Dana Gonzales and Matthew J.Lloyd would rarely go beyond the 40mm focal length. This again helping to reinforce the vastness and harshness of the landscape, through that use of wider lenses. 

Casting as well in this series is outstanding, Billy Bob Thornton and Martin Freeman excel stupendously and Billy has to be one of the greatest evils i've ever been witness to on screen. The simplicity to his acts and how meticulously he can carry out such antics is strengthened by the general themes and tones of the series. As the series is simplistic and minimal, it emphasises the bleak and graphic content that Fargo is riddled with. 

This series as a whole had a major influence creatively speaking, as it gave me more thoughts on my own piece on how to use the environment and think about the elements and landscapes. Even if it was in a building, to try and bring to life the surroundings and aesthetically shape things into believable spaces to achieve a sense of authenticity.