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Rating: 5 out of 5
Recently, I have binged watched all three seasons of Fargo. The first three seasons were outstanding and quite entertaining. In season one, Billy Bob Thornton was funny and strange with him as a hitman. This season had subtle tie-ins with the film. Season two was the same way, with Kirsten Dunst leading the way after hitting someone with her car. Season three stared Ewan McGregor in dual roles, with one killing the other. At the time of this review, I am currently watching season four of Fargo, starring Chris Rock as a mob boss. While watching these seasons, I decided to revisit Fargo the movie. It has been years since I watched the film and just remembered everyone accents in the movie. I must say that the movie is still as entertaining as ever.
Fargo is a 1996 thriller film written, produced, and directed by Joel and Ethan Coen. As they famously wrote in the beginning, the film is “based on a true story with names changed for the safety of the victims.” The film begins with Jerry Lundegard (Macy), a car salesman in Fargo, North Dakota, who hires two criminals (Buscemi and Stormare) to kidnap his wife. Jerry floated a GMAC loan worth $320,000, which he collateralized with nonexistent vehicles, but now he cannot pay it back. Jerry believes that by kidnapping his wife, his father will pay the ransom. Things spiral out of control as the two hitmen are stopped by a patrol officer. They kill the officer, and as they are trying to dispose of the body, a car passes them and sees everything. One of the hitmen drives off to kill the people in the car. The next day -month pregnant Sheriff of Brainerd, Marge Gunderson (McDormand) is soon on the case, and her intuition and skills soon lead her on the trail of Jerry and the hitmen.
I don’t know what it is about this film that I enjoyed so much about it. It seemed twice as entertaining from what I remembered. The story is straightforward but draws you in. The characters are funny, strange, and interesting in their own way. I can’t pinpoint why this movie is so good and enjoyable to watch, but I will try.
It’s probably the way the film is presented. The film opens with the following text: “This is a true story. The events depicted in this film took place in Minnesota in 1987. At the request of the survivors, the names have been changed. Out of respect for the dead, the rest has been told exactly as it occurred.” That statement sets the tone that maybe this is a true story and believable. I have seen countless stories of husbands and wives trying to hire contract killers to take out their spouses or even kidnap their spouses to get the funds. That part of the equation isn’t out of the realm of possibility. Crazier things have happened in the world, and that is why this movie is so great. It is almost believable, and the whole astrosphere is like that, and it works wonders. The film isn’t dark, but it has its dark moments, but it is all believable. You can’t get more plausible than a husband who makes a bad investment and needs to find a way to get out of it.
What is also really good and is almost forgotten is that this film is a crime drama. A sheriff is trying to solve the case of three murdered people, while at the same time, a man is trying to extort money out of his father to pay off a debt. The stories are so interconnected, and it is fun to watch as one story catches up with the other. How dumb and stupid the criminals and husband are. You sit there and wondered how they messed up so bad, but the sheriff is so good at her job but wait, she is also 7 months pregnant, which adds another element to the whole damn story. Watch a woman waddle around and interrogate people in the nicest of ways.
The setting is also beautifully done and adds to the overall appeal of this film. The film is set in snowy ass, North Dakota. Really? North Dakota. What the hell goes on in North Dakota? That setting makes this movie even more fun to watch. It makes you look at North Dakota, and state nothing goes on there. The town seems too peaceful, and the people are far too friendly. They could practically be Canadian. The people’s accents are so much different from anything you usually hear in film, and it is terrific.
As for the cast, there were a lot of great performances. Frances McDormand as Marge Gunderson was phenomenal. I really don’t know what to say about her, then she was outstanding. She didn’t play her role as a hard-ass cop or even a bitchy person since she was pregnant. She was a pleasure to be around, caring, and actually never raised her voice. Her accent was spot on, and she was just a warm character.
William H. Macy, as Jerry Lundegaard, was also great in his role. I don’t know what it is about the North Dakota accent, but it seems like no one gets angry, and that is what Macy showed with Jerry. He showed a man that was beaten and saw no other options. He was a car salesman who got shit on by customers and his father. Yet, he sounded so nice and pleasant like nothing was ever wrong. He did think of an idea to have his wife kidnapped, and he did flip out on his car, but once again, he was outstanding in his role.
Steve Buscemi as Carl Showalter was Steve Buscemi. He always plays the loudmouth person that talks more shit than his bite. He is someone that plays the same exact role in almost every film, and you just want to see him get his ass beat. His character is the exact reason why they get caught because he can’t keep his mouth shut. His partner, Peter Stormare as Gaear Grimsrud, is the exact opposite. He is quiet but more ruthless. His one scene with the woodchopper is insane and a major twist in the whole entire film.
Fargo is one of the best films around. It is entertaining, fun to watch, somewhat a crime drama, and overall fun. The accents and settings are new and great to watch. Frances McDormand is excellent in her role and should be watched. Watch the film before watching the tv series. You will honestly love both of them.
