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Kansas City's Online Journal of the Performing Arts

When the Coen Brothers made Fargo they probably had no idea the impact it would have on the modern crime thriller. Imitation is the greatest form of flattery so it’s not surprising to see Fargo bad guy Peter Stormare in director Ed Gass-Donnelly’s attempt at the genre with Small Town Murder Songs. The twist for Stormare, who is nothing less than brilliant, is his turn as a sheriff trying to solve a murder in a rural Ontario Mennonite community.

The mood is somber and the pacing is deliberate throughout the film’s short 76-minute running time as Stormare’s Sheriff Walter smiles at passing citizens along the street. However, his smile masks a past event so dark that his German-speaking father will not acknowledge him. Even though he has become a born-again Christian, Walter must work hard to keep a violent temper in check even with the unconditional love of his dim-witted waitress girlfriend (Martha Plimpton, Parenthood).

When a dead body shows up Walter becomes a part of a provincial police investigation, which he complicates by his inability to leave alone the main suspect’s girlfriend (Jill Hennessy, TV’s Crossing Jordan and Law & Order) with whom he once had a relationship.

Gass-Donnelly’s film does have a certain Fargo-like vibe to it, which only elevates expectations. For his part, Stormare delivers as time and time again he fleshes out his flawed sheriff’s inner turmoil. Beyond that the screenplay is underwhelming. The idea has tremendous potential but the cast isn’t allowed to develop their characters to the point where we can truly sink our teeth into them, save Stormare’s sheriff.

Gass-Donnelly unfortunately relies upon gimmicks like having biblical-like quotes hanging in the air like “God meets us where were at” and using foot-pounding gospel music at the drop of a hat to increase dramatic effect. No amount of music can make a scene dramatic in which a double-wide is being pulled uneventfully down a street.

Small Town Murder Songs has a few great moments but not enough to make it worthy of a song.

On a letter grade scale from “A” being excellent to “F” for failing, Small Town Murder Songs receives a C+.

Small Town Murder Songs is rated R and has a running time of 76 minutes.

Now showing through June 16 @
Glenwood Arts
9575 Metcalf, Overland Park, KS
Visit www.fineartsgroup.com or call 913-642-4404 for more information.

By Michael D. Smith

Indie Film Editor

Michael D. Smith earned a Bachelor of Arts in history at College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, Missouri followed by a Master of Arts in history at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Inspired by such critics as Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert, Michael started reviewing films in 1992 for College of the Ozarks's student-run newspaper. After returning to the Kansas City area in 1994, he continued film reviewing by writing for the Cass County Democrat Missourian in Harrisonville.

In 2000 Michael joined Sun Publications in Overland Park, Kansas where he served as its film critic and Arts and Entertainment Editor. During his tenure there, he was also the film critic for the "Fine Arts Radio Hour" and "Celebrity Scoop" radio shows on KXTR. After leaving the Sun in late 2002, he became the A&E writer for the Olathe News in Olathe, Kansas. He also worked as a freelance writer for The Squire in Leawood, Showcase Publishing in Lake Ozark, Missouri and the Kansas City Star.

Michael is currently a member of the Kansas City Film Critics Circle, a professional film critic organization established in 1966 by the late Dr. James Loutzenhiser.