marchair Reviews

Fargo (1996)

Have I been watching the same movie???

[4/10 · 23 September 2007]

I dare not go below 4 after reading all the other reviews, I can only say, I found it rather shallow, slapstick-y and self-consciously arty rather than rooted in real-life, maybe it was lost in cultural translation, as I am not American. I thought it had a kind of clever-clever whackiness about it that I find hard to warm to. But then it is a very long time ago, I was young and maybe ignorant.

I will have to watch it again to see if I have missed something, as based on my first viewing when it first came out, I just don't recognise it in these reviews!

I am not sure what else to say to make this up to ten lines, but will comment again when I have watched the film a second time....

Straight Through the Heart (1983)

Interesting early work by Doris Dörrie

[8/10 · 26 May 2007]

I saw this on TV in Germany as a teenager when it first was made and was fascinated by this strange, sad story set in everyday 80s Germany. Definitely recommended to anyone not averse to the darker side of life. An unusual and quirky offering.

I'd love to see it again to experience it from a different phase of life, and for 80s nostalgia. Not sure I will manage to get hold of it though, was surprised to even find it here.

Am even more surprised at the comment of the previous reviewer as the director Doris Dörrie went on to make more well-known feature films (e.g. Männer) and a name for herself in German cinema. These are also worth seeing if you enjoyed this film; Männer for example is a lot more light-hearted. Also recommended to people who like this film: Kehraus