Movie Description
Poor Jerry Lundegaard. He's deep in debt. His wealthy father-in-law has no respect for him. He cheats customers at the car dealership where he works. And now he's hired a bumbling duo to kidnap his wife--a plan that goes horribly awry, leading to homicide. Enter Marge Gunderson, one of the most fabulous movie cops in film history. The very-pregnant Marge--played marvelously by Frances McDormand in an Oscar-winning and career-defining performance--just goes about her everyday business, eating (in nearly every scene), talking to the people in the community, and examining bloody corpses as if no day is different from the next. A multiple murder in the small town of Brainerd, Minnesota--home of Paul Bunyan, as the sign claims--seems to have little effect on her. Yet she has an innate cop sense--she is very, very good at her job and determined to solve the case in her offhanded manner.
FARGO is yet another offbeat, highly entertaining film from the Coen brothers (BARTON FINK, BLOOD SIMPLE). The film is nearly colorless; instead, director of photography Roger Deakins washes the screen in the blinding white of the snow, occasionally breaking for the drab grays and browns of police uniforms and winter jackets. Carter Burwell's score further enhances the slow, steady pace of this oddly funny and compelling film. The Coens have once again populated their film with a slew of bizarre characters, with outstanding performances delivered by all, particularly the edgy William H. Macy, the quietly luminous McDormand, the nearly psychotic Steve Buscemi, and the oh-so-cold Peter Stormare.
| Credits | | Producer: | Ethan Coen | | Cast: | Harve Presnell, Jose Feliciano, Kristin Rudrud, William H. Macy |
| Details | | Edition: | Checkpoint; Sensormatic; Widescreen |
Editorial Reviews
"...A terrific, twisted comedy....A dazzling mix of mirth and malice....McDormand wins your heart..."
Rolling Stone - p.104 - Peter Travers (03/21/1996)
"...The Coens prove themselves masters of orchestrating cross-purposes plots....FARGO is a further demonstration of Joel Coen's remarkable ability to mix comedy with horror..."
Sight and Sound - p.40-1 - Kim Newman (06/01/1996)
"...McDormand's uproariously sly-spry performance connects with Roger Deakins' bleakly beautiful photography to create one of the Coens' most consistently successful outings..." -- 3 out of 4 stars
USA Today - p.7D - Mike Clark
"...FARGO is a strikingly mature, unique entertainment that plays on many levels...all satisfying..."
Variety - Leonard Klady (02/12/1996)
"...With the perfect assist from their actors, all of whom are well in on the joke, this affectionate look at the frozen North brings the Coens back in from the cold..."
Los Angeles Times - Kenneth Turan (03/08/1996)
"...A great movie....FARGO is true toe the rhythms of small-town life....William H. Macy's performance is an implosion of fear and frustration..."
Chicago Sun-Times - Roger Ebert (04/15/2001)
Awards
1996Academy AwardsBest ActressFrances McDormand, 1996Academy AwardsBest Original ScreenplayEthan Coen, 1996Academy AwardsBest Original ScreenplayJoel Coen, 1996CannesBest DirectorJoel Coen
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