JoBlo reviews "Fargo"

FARGO
RATING: 7 / 10 --> Good film

Review Date:                  March 18, 1998
Writers:                         Joel & Ethan Coen
Director:                        Joel Coen
Producer:                       Ethan Coen
Actors:                           Frances McDormand as Marge Gunderson
                                      William H. Macy as Jerry Lundegaard
                                       Steve Buscemi as Carl Showalter
                                       Peter Stormare as Gaear Grimsrud
Genre:                             Kidnapping Dramedy
Year of Release:              1996

This movie was nominated for Best Picture in 1996, and won the Best Screenplay Oscar for its creators, the wildly talented, Coen brothers. The Coen brothers are known for their quirky, unique and stylish films that include BLOOD SIMPLE (8/10), RAISING ARIZONA (8/10), MILLER'S CROSSING (7.5/10) and BARTON FINK (6.5/10).

PLOT:
A husband (Jerry) finds himself stuck in a situation where he needs a lot of money. He hires two men (Showalter and Grimsrud) to kidnap his wife, so that he could collect the ransom money from his wife's father, who is filthy rich. Mayhem ensues, as the husband continues to keep his head above the chaotic water.

CRITIQUE:
I'm a big fan of the Coen brothers, but this film wasn't anything more than average in my view. The pacing was slow, the accents were overplayed, and many of the scenes seemed to stretch out for more than they needed. The cinematography was really beautiful, as the white landscape of the American North-West's wintertime complimented the film's lazy pace, but nice scenery does not a movie make.

The acting was also very good by all involved, and especially William H. Macy as the man who thinks he could outsmart everyone, but fools nobody. Steve Buscemi is also very funny as the "funny-looking" kidnapper, and look for Frances McDormand's Oscar-winning role as Margie the Chief of Police.

Overall, the movie's plot-line is so-so, the acting is above par, the soundtrack is original, and some memorable scenes reside. All in all, it could be considered to be a small little entertaining film, with a slow pace, but definitely not the "masterpiece" that many a critic hailed it during the year of 1996 (I'm talking to you, Siskel & Ebert).

Little Known Facts:
The authenticity of the Coen brothers' claim that this film was based in fact is very much up to debate.
Steve Buscemi has appeared in five of the seven Coen brother feature films.

(c) 1998 Berge Garabedian