As black as it's funny, the Coen Brothers' "Fargo" is released as a special edition DVD that makes up for the indignity of the terrible Polygram disc that came out a few years back.

TECHNICAL FEATURES

Picture Anyone who saw the old Polygram DVD will recall with horror the grainy mess that confronted them. This new transfer has crystal clear visuals during the snowy scenes, and low grain throughout.

Sound The new 5.1 sound mix adds plenty in terms of enhancing the claustrophobic feel.

SPECIAL FEATURES

Audio Commentary Roger Deakins, regular cinematographer for the Coen Brothers, lets us in on the story of a low-budget shoot, that typically for a film requiring lots of snow, couldn't seem to find any.

Deakins is no runaway train of information, but he does discuss the difference between the observational camera work used for this film and the flashier style of "Barton Fink".

The problem of not enough snow really did get serious, as the wait for it turned into weeks of inactivity. In the end, an ice-shipping machine had to be brought in but it hardly managed to give the knee-deep snow that the script called for.

Minnesota Nice This new 27-minute documentary on the making of "Fargo" mixes interviews taken during the shoot with some new material.

For the Coens, it was a return to Minneapolis, where they grew up, often being sent out to play in a white wasteland of snow. Quite a lot had changed since their childhoods, especially the unusual lack of snow. For William H Macy, the film marked a turning point in his career, and you can find out just how much from this programme.

Coen Brothers Interview This interview was conducted on The Charlie Rose Show, where filmmakers can get deep about their work. It's a dusty format of a programme where boredom is nearly always an option, but the Coens do manage to liven up proceedings a touch.

As well as talking about "Fargo", they also discuss writing characters and what actors can bring to those parts. Rose points out that Nic Cage had commented on their direction being a little restrictive, which starts a discussion about making "Raising Arizona".

Trivia Track MGM does a mean line in information-packed trivia tracks, and this is yet another fine example. Facts about the shoot, actors, and all sorts of strange trivialities are yours to wonder over and fill your brain with.

Coen Brothers Family Tree This rather cool tapestry-like feature allows you to see all the talents that have worked with the Coens over the years.

Additional Extra Features Also on the DVD is an article from the magazine American Cinematographer, a behind-the-scenes photo gallery, two trailers, and a TV spot.

TECHNICAL INFORMATION
Region: 2
Chapters: 32
Ratio: 1.85:1 (anamorphic)
Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1
Audio Tracks: Multiple languages
Subtitles: Multiple languages
Captions: English
Menus: Amusingly animated
Special Features Subtitles: All of the special features come with subtitles, except for the trailers and TV spots.

This DVD was reviewed on a JVC XV-S57 DVD player.