Fargo is a Coen brothers classic. It has everything a good Coen movie should have: dark humor, gratuitous violence, a complex yet silly plot, and Frances McDormand.
The story follows car salesman Jerry Lundegaard's complex scheme to have his wife kidnapped in order to indirectly collect the ransom. The two henchmen set up to do the kidnapping are polar opposites, one is a squirmy and talkative fellow while the other is an essentially mute and cold muscle. Lundegaard is painfully awkward while the protagonist Marge Gunderson, the officer set on their trail, is witty and clever. The story is then weaved together and sent to the woodchipper, leaving the audience with an experience of something different.
Naturally, Joel Coen's wife McDormand had to have a flattering role as an intelligent and likable character; however, Frances' performance really added more to her character. Whether it's her goofy midwestern accent or the exaggerated facial expressions she makes, she becomes the unlikely protagonist to lead such a well written story.
William H. Macy's Jerry Lundegaard is a painfully awkward and unlikeable character to be stepped on. If he was a bit smarter or had a bit more of a spine, the audience would likely have been more inclined to sympathize with him. Instead, the shy Lundegaard becomes a character who fouls up the entire situation, setting an intriguing story into action.
Fargo is a drama heavily highlighted with dark humor. It is well written, directed and performed, making it one of the best films the Coen brothers have ever put to screen. Conclusion: Watch It
Rating: 8.5/10
