Skip to main content

Day: 15 August 2017

Review: Fargo – Season 3

Written by Jamie McEvoy on . Posted in Film.

When the first season of the TV ‘adaptation’ of the Coens’ classic was released, spearheaded by Martin Freeman and Billy Bob Thornton, the first few episodes were met with a mixed reception.  Fans of the film were disappointed that the series was not a remake of the same story, and sceptics remained unmoved at how the storyline felt all too familiar to be branded an original show.  It was almost as if the show was caught in no man’s land – between wanting to stand on its own two feet and paying homage to 1996’s Fargo.

Fortunately, as the series progressed, it became more certain of itself and by the finale, it had become a highly respectable debut season.  The second series – a completely different plotline – was equally impressive, with Patrick Wilson, Kirsten Dunst and Bokeem Woodbine taking over as the series’ main characters.

Yet it is this third season which has arguably been the strongest so far.  Ewan McGregor is the household name this time around, playing two characters: the squabbling twin brothers Emmit and Ray Stussy.  He is accompanied by Harry Potter’s David Thewlis as the sinister Varga, and Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Ray Stussy’s lover, with the series’ moral compass arriving in the form of Gloria Burgle, played by Carrie Coon.  Coon assumes the role of modest police chief, which Allison Tolman and Patrick Wilson portrayed in previous series – heroic everyman-type figures all obviously drawn from Frances McDormand’s role in the original film.

Fargo: Season 3 follows the rivalry between the two Stussy brothers – Emmit owns his own successful company and lives in an obscenely large mansion, whereas Ray is a miserable parole officer, living in a small, dingy house and seeing one of his parolees, Nikki.  Ray resents his brother for taking from him a stamp which is worth a considerable amount of money, and with Nikki, he conspires to take back what is his.

However, the couple’s scheme does not go as planned, and the mishap kick starts a chain of events which is exacerbated when David Thewlis’ ominous and predator-like (sharpened teeth ‘n all) V.M. Varga comes to town.  Thewlis effortlessly fills the void of true villain – a vacancy which at times was gaping in the previous seasons.  Billy Bob Thornton’s Lorne Malvo was menacing and Jean Smart as mob boss Floyd Gerhardt was chilling, yet neither appeared to strike as much fear in their adversaries as Thewlis’s antagonist.

McGregor does a good job at playing the Stussy twins, but it might take some getting used to hearing him speak with a Minnesotan accent.  Similar to Freeman’s Lester Nygaard in the debut season, Emmit is a simple soul who gets wound up with a bad crowd, and his brother Ray merely wants to take back his inheritance and marry the lovable yet cunning Nikki, who he is head-over-heels in love with.

It’s a relief to have a series with so many likeable characters.  The prior seasons had excellent characters, however none of whom were really sympathetic.  Various other current TV shows suffer from this as well.  Breaking Bad is possibly one of the greatest TV series ever made, yet at times it felt like there was nobody in the story to sympathise with.

The same cannot be said for Fargo: Season 3.  The most tragic of the Fargo storylines by far, the audience’s alignment with the characters allows for much greater shock impact and investment in the show’s events.

The only fear I have for Fargo is how long it will last.  Too many times has a series been critically successful but has flopped commercially. NBC’s Hannibal is a recent example of an outstanding show that just didn’t attract the audiences.  In a current climate of TV releases where zombies, dragons and superheroes rule the roost, more understated and modest shows like Fargo are easily overlooked and side-lined by popcorn audiences.

Currently available here in the UK on All 4, Fargo: Season 3 echoes the Coens’ black laughs yet avoids mimicking the Hollywood auteurs.  Creator Noah Hawley will be hoping that this latest series is commercially successful enough to warrant a renewal by FX.  Critically however, it is a guaranteed shoo-in.

Run for your life!

Written by Anokhi Shah on . Posted in Lifestyle.

I am an avid runner, I LOVE to run. However I know for a lot of students, this just isn’t the case. Going for a run can feel extremely daunting if it is your first time. For motivation, here are some benefits running can give you, even if it’s for just 30 minutes a day; I hope it will be enough to convince you to dust off your trainers and catch the running bug.

 

1. Improvements in your Mental Health

ENDORPHINS are released which make you HAPPY. This will happen even if you only manage 10 minutes.

Running is a fabulous way to de-stress. Exercise reduces the body’s stress hormones. Whenever I feel overwhelmed by deadlines the first thing I do is run. This allows time to do something productive whilst having a much needed break, something I find very satisfying.

It is estimated by YouGov one in four students at university suffer from a mental illness. Stress and anxiety makes day to day life difficult for many students. Many studies have proven that regular exercise could lower the risk of depression by 16%. Over time running increases self-esteem and confidence. You will feel better about yourself for making the effort to go for a run. Getting out for a run is a small accomplishment you can make every day which will make you feel more prepared to take on bigger tasks.

Running has a social aspect if you choose to join a club or run with friends. Run Wild is a running club that has weekly runs from The University of Manchester Students’ Union every Tuesday at 6pm. It has a range of ability groups so it is easy for anyone to get involved.

If you would like to run in a group but joining a running club seems a little scary Parkrun is another option. Parkrun is a free 5k run every Saturday morning that takes places all over the world at 9am. The South Manchester Parkrun is located at Platt Fields Park. A mixture of abilities and ages take part in the weekly Parkrun. Parkrun is a friendly and encouraging running event and I cannot recommend it enough to new runners.

 

 2.  Quick Calorie/ Fat burn

Frequently I hear that people are too busy to exercise or they only have half an hour so why bother. Running for just 15-30 minutes kick starts your metabolism and burns fat. Running for 30 minutes will guarantee you burn 200-500 calories. Not only do you burn fat and calories when running, your body continues to burn fat after exercise. Very effective time management.

 

3. Sharpens your memory and improves your learning abilities

Running can improve your capacity to learn and retain new information. It boosts levels of BDNF (or brain-derived neurotrophic factor) and the neurotransmitter catecholamine, which are associated with the brains cognitive (and learning) functions. Exactly what students need.

 

4. Helps aid a Peaceful sleep

Running 30 minutes a day aids a restful night’s sleep. With many students’ sleeping patterns all over the place due to late night library trips, big nights out and noisy housemates, I can imagine the ability to fall into a deep peaceful sleep would be greatly desired.

Additionally, as mentioned above, running can significantly reduce anxiety and can help cope with depression which is often a cause of insomnia.

 

5. RUNNING IS FREE

On a tight student budget joining a gym or going to gym classes can be too expensive. This often hinders many students getting regular exercise. RUNNING IS FREE.

 

Photo: @Bradfordparkrun

With longer days and better (ish) weather, summer is the perfect time to get into a regular running routine.

If you want to feel happier and healthier – GET RUNNING!

 

 

Review: The Ghoul

Written by Jamie McEvoy on . Posted in Film.

Earlier this year, Jordan Peele showed the world how to make a debut as director with his socio-thriller/horror, Get Out.  An ominous and sharp portrayal of white, American suburbia, it was met with huge critical acclaim.  Peele proved that a film with a low budget can still look fantastic and does not have to do anything too outlandish to break the mould and achieve recognition.

The Ghoul sounded like it could follow in a similar vein.  Like Peele, Gareth Tunley was a low-key comedy actor. Possibly best known for small roles in Ghoul-producer Ben Wheatley’s Kill List (2011) and series such as Peep Show, he has made the transition to film director.  Sadly, he has not managed to emulate the success that Peele’s show-stopping horror enjoyed.

Tunley’s debut film as director is ambitious.  Tom Meeten plays a homicide detective who, following an undercover investigation which involves posing as a psychotherapist’s patient, becomes subject to existential uncertainty and mental torment.

Early on, we discover that in fact, his life as detective is a fabrication – a day dream he fantasises about.  In reality, he suffers from depression, is unemployed, and pines for Alice Lowe’s Kathleen, who is shacked up with his only apparent friend, Jim, played by Dan Renton Skinner.  In his fantasy, Jim is a police officer who drafts Chris in to help with cases, and Kathleen is a profiler who the protagonist corresponds and sleeps with.

However, after meeting fellow therapy patient Coulson (Rufus Jones) and the eccentric psychiatrist Morland, played vibrantly by acting veteran Geoffrey McGivern, Chris faces further complexities and conflicts regarding his identity.  Could Morland have ulterior and sinister motives?  Could the daydream in fact be reality?

It goes without saying that The Ghoul is intriguing and commendably zealous. Unfortunately however, it appears to suffer from the same existential quandary as its leading character.

It seems as if Tunley found himself torn between making a psychological crime thriller, and a socio-dramatic meditation on depression and mental health. Perhaps if it had been billed more as the latter, I might have been more satisfied post-viewing. Sadly, it is yet another example of a production falling victim to misleading marketing and not attracting its true target audience.

Nonetheless, The Ghoul does have its triumphs.  The cinematography is shrewd and powerful, at times adopting hand-held techniques which evoke the same sense of unease and turmoil which Chris suffers from.  At the film’s climax, we eventually see the world through Meeten’s character’s eyes in a somewhat hallucinogenic and surreal sequence, yet I could not help but wish that this striking and almost kaleidoscopic approach had been utilised more.

Waen Shepherd’s – who has a minor acting role in the film – score is impressive, evoking at times that of David Julyan’s for Memento (2000), or even Twin Peaks’ chilling soundtrack by Angelo Badalamenti.

Not a disastrous first outing as director, but not an amazing debut either.  However, there is enough promise and intriguing elements in the film to suggest bigger things to come from Gareth Tunley, and Tom Meeten may find that this is his breakthrough role.  The Ghoul is gripping, yet loses sight of its message and narrative.

3/5