Introducing 

Prezi AI.

Your new presentation assistant.

Refine, enhance, and tailor your content, source relevant images, and edit visuals quicker than ever before.

Loading…
Transcript

Continued...

As he is explains what was meant to be the deal we see the beer bottles shake a little, this could indicate that he is getting nervous. The pale man is seem very controlling, maybe because he is nervous too. The first words from the other guy of the pair contain an expletive. This reinforces our impression that he is unsavoury. The protagonist tries to avoid explaining the details of the plan but can't weasel his way through this one and ends up just divulging the true reasons behind organising his wifes kidnapping, he's got money issues. Once we find the truth behind this meating we reaslise what a shoddy character this is, this juxtuposes with our initial impressions of him- originally, I thought that he was helping someone who had trouble with their car and his smart clothes and innocent accent reinforced this initial assumption. But we learn that he is no more than a two bit weasel.

Opening scene images

During the following conversation the camera cuts from an over the shoulder view of the three and a POV shot from one of the pair looking at the protagonist. There is immediately a small disagreement about the time they were supposed to meet. The protaganist is apparently an hour late, he claims Shep Proudfoot, the organiser made a mixup (he could lying to cover his lateness being his own fault). We learn that the car is meant for the pair in the bar, they introduce themselves and there is another small altercation which the pale man starts. But the protaganist talks his way out again (passing responsibility to Shep again). He tries to end the meeting but the pale man was he was expecting fourty thousand dollar as well as the car, but the protagonist once again passes responsibility to Shep.

Fargo Trailer

Film Summary

First scene of Fargo

Coen Brothers' Fargo (1996) has a long opening scene. It starts with just a pale blue screen with credits and the occasional glimpse of the headlights of a car, an orchestra is playing mournful music. At 1:37 a heavy drum beat kicks in and the music loudens as if to make the audience stand to attention. We see a car come over the horizon towing another car. With the combination of this and the heroic music I assumed that someone had been helped out (possibly their car had got stuck in the snow or they had gotten into an accident and someone was towing them). The cars pass and the blank background is used for a plain backdrop for the title of the film. It then transitions back to following the cars (still in snowy conditions so the transition is very unobtrusive) and we see some road signs and posts so we know they are going towards civilisation. It cuts to a shot from behind the cars and we see that they have a long road ahead (literally and figuratively). Fades to black then suddenly cuts to a rather different scene. An establishing shot of a bar with broken neon lights (giving the impression that it is shoddy and shady). The cars drive in from the left, we can hear a chain rattling ominously. As the car drives into the bar's carpark the orchestra music fades completely and the bar's digetic music can be heard in the background. This subtly reinforces the feeling of change.

Bar Scene

Plot summary

Jerry Lundegard is in a financial jam and wants his father-in-law's money to relieve his stress. His plan to get to get the money involves hiring Carl Showalter and Gaer Grimsrud (two hired criminals) to kidnap his wife,he then plans to split the ransom with the criminals. However, this plan quickly deteriorates after three killings and the persistent work of chirpy but efficient police chief, the pregnant Marge Gunderson.

Mise en Scene

Set design- the first part of the scene is filmed in an isolated area of the country. This shows that Jerry has travelled a distance, to close the proceedings of the deal. The second half of the scene is filmed in a country bar. This makes the plan look shoddy. This connotes a thrown together and disorganised deal that has set itself up for failure.

Props

There are few props in this scene, this makes it a more personal affair. An example of a prop is the 20+ beer bottles. This connotes a disorganisation and an addiction to the bad. This foreshadows the upcoming deterioration of the deal. there is also a cigarette being smoked by one of the thugs. This connoted a disregard for personal safety and a possible degrading look on authority.

Costumes

The costumes play a strong role in the opening scene. The first we see of Jerry is as he walks into the bar. he is wearing a long jacket to the knees, this makes the audience feel that he may have something to hide. He is also wearing a fedora style hat, the hat covers his face which reinforces the point of a disguise. However when he removes his hat we see that he is a well groomed educated man. This then turns the audiences thoughts upside down. He does not look like the kind of person to communicate with common criminals and the bar is not the type of place a man like this would relax in. The first thug is seen to be well groomed, he seems to be organised. He has slicked back hair showing he is conscious about his image. He is also wearing the colour yellow, this usually connotes joy and sunshine. However this is clearly not what this character represents.

Score

The scene starts as a stringed instrument, most probably a classical guitar. The car then descends into a dip in the road and there is no sound. As the car comes back into a closer view there is heavy percussion slowly increasing in volume as the car comes over the horizon. An orchestra then plays after the percussion as the car comes into full view. The next shot is of Jerry in the bar, there is country music playing. This connotes a redneck and out of the way scene. This means that Jerry is not the average person to go into this bar.Ambient

When the car descends into a dip, there is a moment of sound. there is a bird sitting in the middle of the road and flies away. All we hear is the sound of the wings flapping. The bird on its own could connote a lonliness or segregation with the world, such as Jerry. As the car drives past the shot, we hear the sound of chains shakings. This foreshadows the kidnapping of the wife and connotes a sense of slavery. When in the bar, the sound of men playing pool can be heard, this seems to be a very normal thing. This shows that the other men in the bar are oblivious to the deal that is about to be closed.

Dialogue

Dialogue plays a big role in what we perceive the characters to be. The first gangster speaks with a New York gangster dialect, this connotes that he means business. He also speaks aggressively and with speed. The second thug doesn't speak, this is as powerful. It connotes a primal nature within the bigger thug. On the other hand, Jerry is the complete opposite. He speaks a lot quieter and seems to stutter in every sentence. This makes Jerry seem to be a vulnerable character, and a target to the thugs. Jerry is als well spoken which makes the audience think why a person of this status would be meeting with the common criminal.

Editing

A long take is used in the first shot showing the car come toward the camera from a distance. This makes the audience feel that all is well and there is no harm to come. There seems to be a lot of eye line matches while the conversation is taking place. The first one used is the shot where Jerry looks off camera at something. We do not yet know who this is. This makes the audience anxious to find out what he is looking at with such intent. We then find out that it is the two gangsters that Jerry is looking at.

Cuts to a full shot of the protaganist walking alone into a bar. The country music is fully audible now and we hear the iconic clack of pool balls colliding (*note: I noticed that the protaganist stamps his feet (to get snow off) in time with the clack sort of making a beat. Don't know if it was done on purpose and if so for what reason). He is looking around and cuts to a POV shot of him looking at the group playing pool. His business clothes contrasts with the attire of the patrons of this bar, it seems that he is out of place. He finds the two men he was looking for and introduces himself timidly. These men look rather unsavoury- one is extremely pale, with greased back hair and the other seems barely concious and is smoking. There are several bottles of beers on the table.

Opening scene analysis of the film Fargo.

Learn more about creating dynamic, engaging presentations with Prezi