I'm laid up on the couch with a head cold for the 2nd day, with a nose that runs like a country club sprinkler system. Driving me nuts that I haven't had the clarity of mind to pick up a guitar or soldring iron for a few days.
The bright light, however, is that I binge-watched about half the first season of Fargo this afternoon on FX. I'd seen the 2nd season, but not the 1st, and am eagerly awaiting the 3rd season, that starts up in a week and a bit.
The Coen Brothers are executive producers, but the screenwriting is by Noah Hawley, who it appears is pretty prolific in many written forms,for the screen and other.
What I find most distinctive and appealing about it is how well it captures the Coen's approach to violence. I find across nearly all their films, the folks who perpetrate violence, even of the most extreme and disturbing kind, are banal people. fitting it into their routine, because it's convenient, because they said they would, and because opportunity presents itself. Some characters are motivated to commit violence, and think about it, but then think better of it. And other characters do it without a second thought. There are no super-villains. Often it is the consequence of stupid impulsive decisions. Bob Odenkirk of Better Call Saul (and Mr. Show, among many other credits) does a great job depicting an idiot small-town police chief who trusts his own take on things a little too much to see reality. Adam Goldberg plays one half of a pair of thugs hired to find a presumed killer and exact revenge. Some folks may reognize Goldberg fromhis ongoing role as moocher friend Dave on the Jim Gaffigan Show. Apparently Gaffigan himself will have a substantial role in the new season.
The fact that it takes place during winter in small municipality Minnesota (shot in Alberta, though) sets it up for many of the victims of violence being innocent trusting people, because small places require people to cooperate more, and winter often makes us dependent on others to get through it.
All in all, terrific little piece of TV. I'm still annoyed about being sick for the first time in what seems like over a year, but the torment is tempered by watching this show.
The bright light, however, is that I binge-watched about half the first season of Fargo this afternoon on FX. I'd seen the 2nd season, but not the 1st, and am eagerly awaiting the 3rd season, that starts up in a week and a bit.
The Coen Brothers are executive producers, but the screenwriting is by Noah Hawley, who it appears is pretty prolific in many written forms,for the screen and other.
What I find most distinctive and appealing about it is how well it captures the Coen's approach to violence. I find across nearly all their films, the folks who perpetrate violence, even of the most extreme and disturbing kind, are banal people. fitting it into their routine, because it's convenient, because they said they would, and because opportunity presents itself. Some characters are motivated to commit violence, and think about it, but then think better of it. And other characters do it without a second thought. There are no super-villains. Often it is the consequence of stupid impulsive decisions. Bob Odenkirk of Better Call Saul (and Mr. Show, among many other credits) does a great job depicting an idiot small-town police chief who trusts his own take on things a little too much to see reality. Adam Goldberg plays one half of a pair of thugs hired to find a presumed killer and exact revenge. Some folks may reognize Goldberg fromhis ongoing role as moocher friend Dave on the Jim Gaffigan Show. Apparently Gaffigan himself will have a substantial role in the new season.
The fact that it takes place during winter in small municipality Minnesota (shot in Alberta, though) sets it up for many of the victims of violence being innocent trusting people, because small places require people to cooperate more, and winter often makes us dependent on others to get through it.
All in all, terrific little piece of TV. I'm still annoyed about being sick for the first time in what seems like over a year, but the torment is tempered by watching this show.
