Fargo Review- By Michael Carlisle

Title: Fargo
Year: 1996
Director(s): The Coen Brothers
Country: US
Language: English

The Coen Brothers have made an astonishing career out of filming both comedy (The Big Lebowski) and drama (No Country For Old Men). They have received many awards for their efforts, and are celebrated by critics the world over. Even their mediocre flicks, such as Burn After Reading, are a special treat. Among their greatest, Fargo truly stands out. It is the pinnacle of black comedy; an intelligent flick that will also have you keeling over from laughter.

William H. Macy stars as a blundering buffoon named Jerry Lundegaard, who has found himself in deep financial trouble. His solution? Hire two criminals to kidnap his wife, have her father pay the ransom and then split the money with them. Of course, nothing goes as planned. 

Fargo paints a picture of pathetic criminals in small town America and runs with it. Though Lundegaard himself is not a vicious man, we see the horrifying consequences of his ignorance. The only character who is not dim-witted in this picture is Chief Marge Gunderson (Frances McDormand) a pregnant protagonist who is always on the prowl. Against the amoral and violent atmosphere, the Chief uses her folksy small-town cheerfulness as a tool for getting through the criminals to their secrets.

The Coen Brothers capture the atmosphere of a small cold northern town perfectly, right down to the quirky accents "you betcha eh?". The seemingly endless tundra of ice and snow perfectly capture Lundegaard's loneliness and helplessness. The loot is buried along a barbed wire fence that stretches on for an eternity. Would anyone ever be able to find it? William H. Macy's performance is exceptional; he delivers a perfect amount of fear, frustration and tension. He is a truly desperate man, and the closing scenes show exactly how low he has gotten. 

In conclusion, I have seen Fargo many times, each time I learn something new about human nature. Coming from a Northern community myself, I feel like I can identify with this film. Though the Coens have made plenty of great features, I feel that this is their best. Praise it! 5/5