Fargo - Analysis

Fargo Opening Sequence - 

Analysis

Camera

In the beginning of the clip and for the duration up to the 2:20 mark the camera is very steady and mostly a long shot of the car. that is until it get close and drive past and behind the camera at 2:10. During this long shot however we can barely see the car as it is very far away and shrouded in fog. This immediately creates mystery for the viewer as they would no want to know what it is in the distance and what significance it plays to starting off the plot. It creates narrative questions as they unsure wether it is friend or foe. It stays as a long shot for a long time whilst the title appear and fade, therefore not answering the questions straight away and keeping the audience in "nail biting" anticipation which is a very common convention in thrillers.

Sound

Non diegetic music enters and plays a very soft score to begin with, consisting of piano and string instruments. This calm, quiet tone then rises in a crescendo as the car drives closer toward the camera. The score's tone gets louder and more dramatic each second until it climaxes with the loudest it has been and the titles present the name of the film, "fargo". It then stops abruptly to turn into diegetic music of a quiet road. This soft to high build of non diegetic music fits the tone of the thriller perfectly as represents the anticipation of the audience who are on the edge of their seats to see the object get close enough so they can see what it is and maybe its purpose to the beginning of the plot.

Editing

The whole beginning as the car approaches the camera is one massive long take. This long take lasts for roughly 2 whole minutes with not cuts or transitions. The only changes in the take are the titles appearing on the screen, but for the most part it is just the mist with the car approaching. This long take allows the audience to be kept in the uncertain atmosphere without being pulled out and have that relation with the scene broken. Staying in with no cut allows the suspense build to its full potential and really have the audience on the edge of their seat as they continually wonder what will come out of the fog, therefore keeping the audience intrigued as this narrative enigma entices them to watch further, this is a very effective technique in a thriller.

Mise-en-scene

The overwhelming mist used in the opening sequence adds to the verisimilitude of the whole setting of this beginning scene and consequently the rest of the film. The mist creates an ambience of uncertainty and mystery which is effective as it portrays whatever lies beyond the mist as dangerous or menacing. Therefore allowing the audience to be more intrigued as they watch the object passing through the mist as it is thought to not have good intentions.

Titles included:

• Metro Goldwyn Mayor (MGM)
• Polygram Filmed Entertainment
• Polygram Filmed Entertainment Presents
• In association with Working title films
• Frances McDormand
• William. H. Macy
• Steve Buscemi
• Peter Stormare
• F A R G O