Review of Fargo (1996) by Turner E — 01 Jan 2014

This is it. Films don't get much better or more original than this. This is by far, one of the greatest films ever made. I've always been a fan of the Cohen Brothers. And with all the great films they have made, who couldn't get caught up in their charm. While it is not for the weak of heart, it is by far one of the best films ever to hit the screen.

The story follows Jerry, played by the amazingly pathetic William H Macy, as he hires two thugs, played by Steve Buscemi and Peter Stormare, in order to get money from his estranged father in-law. Of course, being a Cohen brothers film, things go from bad to worse to horrible faster than you can say "fuck me." What follows is murder, comedy, and beautiful shots of North Dakota.

The cast is uniformly excellent, but it is Frances McDormand who shines in the role as the kind but intelligent pregnant cop. She earns the Oscar that she so rightly deserved.

Containing many of the Cohen brother's many tropes, from the McGuffin money, the idiot villains, the quirky accents, the compelling story, Fargo remains one of their best films. The only film yet to top it is No Country For Old Men.

It is odd, because this film is essentially the antithesis of their magnum opus. Fargo acknowledges the darkness and evils of humanity, but Francis McDormant is ultimately successful in bringing down the idiot thugs. Her final monologue is the most heartwarming thing you will ever hear in such a dark film. In short, it is just her saying she doesn't understand why people would commit such horrifying acts just to get some extra cash. That is so little, and yet sums up so much about the human condition.

In short, I love this movie. It is one of the funniest and yet thought provoking films. How it ever lost to that boring drivel The English Patient I will never know. It doesn't matter though. This is true filmmaking.

Final Score: A.