Fargo - Review

"Fargo"

3.5 out of 4 stars


There is one thing the Coen brothers aren't very good at, and that's sticking to a genre. "Fargo" is essentially a thriller with some comedy, drama, and action. If this sounds familiar, it's probably because you're thinking of last year's "No Country for Old Men," which not coincidentally with also done by the Coens. With that in mind, I propose "Coen brothers" as a new genre in the same vein as action, comedy, horror, western, and thriller. "Fargo" isn't quite as good as "No Country," but then again, what is? It's a bizarre setup with some quirky humor and great characters that ultimately succeeds in a big way.
"Fargo" starts off in Fargo, North Dakota, and stays there for all of...oh, five minutes, before moving to Minnesota. William H. Macy plays Jerry Lundegaard, a down-on-his-luck, completely inept car salesman. He hires two goons, played by Steve Buscemi and Peter Stormare, to kidnap his wife and demand $80,000 in ransom money. Jerry knows the money, which he needs for what he describes as "personal" reasons, will be paid by his wealthy father-in-law Wade, played by Harve Pressnell. Of course, things go horribly wrong from there. Marge Grunderson, played by Frances McDormand in an Oscar-winning performance, is a local police chief assigned to the case. She seems naive and casual throughout but is actually a sharp and able officer. McDormand is very good, although I wouldn't say Oscar-worthy. The supporting cast is fantastic, from Macy (who has nominated for an Oscar - rightfully so), Buscemi, and even Stormare despite having very little to say for most of the film. The movie is also very, very funny. It's not so much laugh-out-loud funny, but quirky with a lot of subtle humor. The Minnesota accents and dialogue are also great as the Coens master the language of the region. It's a bizarre movie like I previously stated and a bit tough to critique but trust me...this is a very good film. If you are a fan of the Coen brothers, you'll like this film, and if you are not, then you should be.