Review of Fargo (1996) by Bjorn B — 07 Aug 2013

Is this the best film I have seen in a long time? Yes. Is this the best film I have seen in the last decade? Yes. Is this one of my favourites of all time? Yes. Is this on my top ten of all time? No. But in my top twenty, hell yeah. Did I love this film? What do you think. I still to this day don't understand why this took me this long to see. It is defiantly one of the best Coen Brother films to date if not their second best. The way this film is done is so unique. Yet that doesn't change anything. The story feels fresh, even though if you just read the synopsis, you get a bit of deja vu. But no sir, this film is unique alright. What invites me into this world of filming is how dark and quirky it can be at one point and then in a space of two minutes can become something much different. Its real definition is intelligent. And lets face it who does it better than the Coen Brothers. I hear they are making a series of Fargo. But how can you remake a film that was directed by the Coen Brothers. You can't. The Coens have this special zing to them. They can make a film so intriguing that you won't ever forget about it. I believe that soon there will be an era for the Coens. That era will be called quality entertainment. Call me a fan boy, it is just for some odd reason I love quality films. Weird isn't it?

Fargo tells the story of Jerry Lundegaard. Jerry Lundegaard is in a financial jam and, out of desperation, comes up with a plan to hire someone to kidnap his wife and demand ransom from her wealthy father, to be secretly split between Jerry and the perpetrators. Jerry, who is not the most astute of individuals, hires a couple of real losers from the frozen northern reaches of Fargo, North Dakota for the job. Then things begin to slip from bad to worse as Jerry helplessly watches on.

What is so redeeming about this film is the fact that it doesn't drag. It gets straight to the point. Like what I am trying to do with this review. This would make you believe that it rushes the story. But no. Amazingly this film manages to pull this whole story off, making it fairly complicated, but understandable without leaving anything out. We are talking character development, quotable dialogue and most importantly funny yet sadistic characters. Characters that we as viewers are actually interested in.

Of course Frances McDormand makes this movie. Her character kind of reminds one of a 'retired and ageing' type person, but once she gets in her chief uniform you find out she is brave, clever and uses lots of cunning. Lots of aspects in this films connotes that she is weak, hurt and weathered by the force but she is actually the complete contrary. She is also very quirky. Have I mentioned that. Not sure. But all I can say is, this film delivers. And it does it brilliantly. One of my favourites and is a must see. Its also pretty funny. This film of course gets an A+.