ABSTRACT
Screenwriters who think that writing "dark comedy" gives them the right to throw in as many gratuitous acts of violence as they like, fool no one. Fargo is a very bloody and violent film that has the potential of being horribly bleak. Instead, the Coens skillfully transform the movie into a really funny and powerful dark comedy. Bandits is in the true tradition of most caper films that are pretty enjoyable and "harmless" because the capers are interesting and do not seem to hurt anyone "good" and especially because the "bad guys" are engaging and not too "bad". Throughout Heist, Joe's actions and those of his cronies seem bad because none of the characters are likeable. At the end of Heist, we are told that the price of getting the loot is the violent killing spree. Caper films are about criminal acts, but most caper films do hold capture and punishment over the heads of the thieves.
