8 - Cold-Blooded Scheming: Roger Deakins and Fargo

Summary

Roger Deakins, ASC, BSC's association with the filmmaking duo of Joel and Ethan Coen began on Barton Fink, and the echoes of that first collaboration still haunt the cinematographer.

“Roger still teases us about making him track down the plug-hole in the sink,” says writer/producer Ethan Coen. Joel, who co-writes and directs all of their films, laughs and adds, “It was the only moment on Barton Fink when I think we really surprised him. But that shot was a lot of fun and we had a great time working out how to do it.”

Interrupting his brother, Ethan continues their simultaneous telephone interview tag team act, which the duo insists upon with unsuspecting journalists. “But now, whenever we set up or talk about a shot that's even remotely strange, Roger arches an eyebrow and says, ‘Don't be having me track down any plug-holes now!’ ”

With Fargo, Deakins and the Coens continue in the outlandishly quirky and unique vein they previously tapped in both Barton Fink and The Hudsucker Proxy, while the cinematographer's other credits present a diverse mix that includes 1984, Sid and Nancy, Mountains of the Moon, The Secret Garden, Passion Fish, The Shawshank Redemption (which earned him last year's ASC Award, as well as an Oscar nomination) and the recent Tim Robbins film Dead Man Walking, which has garnered widespread critical acclaim.