With each film I see of theirs, the Coen Brothers manage to surprise me every single time. Their films are so different from each other and yet they're all so good and Fargo is amongst their best work.
Fargo follows Marge Gunderson, a pregnant police chief, who is investigating roadside homicides after a car salesman, Jerry Lundegaard, hires two criminals, Carl Showalter and Gaear Grimsrud, to kidnap his wife in order to extort money from his father-in-law.
Going into Fargo, I was expecting a mystery thriller but that's not what I got. This film is actually more of a dark comedy than a serious thriller and the way the Coens weaved in the comedic elements to this absurd story was fantastic. A lot of the comedy comes from the Minnesotan accents several characters have especially from Frances McDormand's character. The way they speak in the film brings so much to the levity of some scenes. It's borderline caricatured but the Coens manage to maintain a balance so it doesn't become too much. McDormand does such a brilliant job as the polite Marge Gunderson and is one of the bets parts of the film. Another funny aspect is William H. Macy as Jerry Lundegaard. The inept nature of this person and his reactions to situations not going his way was hilarious to watch. Macy captures the pathetic personality of Jerry incredibly well and is one of his best performances. Then we have Steve Buscemi and Peter Stormare who are absolutely terrific. I loved the contrast between Stormare's quiet and Buscemi's loud persona as it gave us a handful of funny moments between them. Both suited their roles and played them very well, especially Buscemi.
Where Fargo really exceeds is how the Coen Brothers executed it. The Coens have written a solid screenplay that develops the characters and events in a very organic manner. The Coens are known for leading the story and its characters down paths you wouldn't expect and Fargo is no different. There are many unexpected moments that surprised me but it all made sense. The editing is also excellent. The film wastes no time in getting into the main story and every scene has a purpose. Even a scene where Frances McDormand is having lunch with an old friend seems pointless at first but, in hindsight, it plays an important role to what happens next. The characters are fleshed out beautifully and the progression of events feel believable. I also loved the way the Coens used violence in the film. There isn't as much as I expected but when it does happen, it left me shocked. Its excessive nature was done in a way that I actually felt it and it blended right in with dark comedy. The chilly cinematography by Roger Deakins was also really good.
I think Fargo is one of the best Coen Brothers films. The casting is so good as Frances McDormand, William H. Macy, Steve Buscemi and Peter Stormare are all phenomenal in their roles and the Coens have crafted a story that has memorable characters and scenes, avoids clichés and is thoroughly entertaining.
Fargo follows Marge Gunderson, a pregnant police chief, who is investigating roadside homicides after a car salesman, Jerry Lundegaard, hires two criminals, Carl Showalter and Gaear Grimsrud, to kidnap his wife in order to extort money from his father-in-law.
Going into Fargo, I was expecting a mystery thriller but that's not what I got. This film is actually more of a dark comedy than a serious thriller and the way the Coens weaved in the comedic elements to this absurd story was fantastic. A lot of the comedy comes from the Minnesotan accents several characters have especially from Frances McDormand's character. The way they speak in the film brings so much to the levity of some scenes. It's borderline caricatured but the Coens manage to maintain a balance so it doesn't become too much. McDormand does such a brilliant job as the polite Marge Gunderson and is one of the bets parts of the film. Another funny aspect is William H. Macy as Jerry Lundegaard. The inept nature of this person and his reactions to situations not going his way was hilarious to watch. Macy captures the pathetic personality of Jerry incredibly well and is one of his best performances. Then we have Steve Buscemi and Peter Stormare who are absolutely terrific. I loved the contrast between Stormare's quiet and Buscemi's loud persona as it gave us a handful of funny moments between them. Both suited their roles and played them very well, especially Buscemi.
Where Fargo really exceeds is how the Coen Brothers executed it. The Coens have written a solid screenplay that develops the characters and events in a very organic manner. The Coens are known for leading the story and its characters down paths you wouldn't expect and Fargo is no different. There are many unexpected moments that surprised me but it all made sense. The editing is also excellent. The film wastes no time in getting into the main story and every scene has a purpose. Even a scene where Frances McDormand is having lunch with an old friend seems pointless at first but, in hindsight, it plays an important role to what happens next. The characters are fleshed out beautifully and the progression of events feel believable. I also loved the way the Coens used violence in the film. There isn't as much as I expected but when it does happen, it left me shocked. Its excessive nature was done in a way that I actually felt it and it blended right in with dark comedy. The chilly cinematography by Roger Deakins was also really good.
I think Fargo is one of the best Coen Brothers films. The casting is so good as Frances McDormand, William H. Macy, Steve Buscemi and Peter Stormare are all phenomenal in their roles and the Coens have crafted a story that has memorable characters and scenes, avoids clichés and is thoroughly entertaining.