Fargo Movie
Storyline
TAGLINES
A homespun murder story.
Small town. Big crime. Dead cold.
A lot can happen in the middle of nowhere.
An ordinary place, an extraordinary thriller
Fargo is based on true events that occurred in Minnesota in 1987 with the names changed to protect the victims. Jerry works in his father-in-law's car dealership and has gotten himself in financial problems. He tries various schemes to come up with money needed for a reason that is never really explained. It has to be assumed that his huge embezzlement of money from the dealership is about to be discovered by father-in-law. When all else falls through, plans he set in motion earlier for two men to kidnap his wife for ransom to be paid by her wealthy father (who doesn't seem to have the time of day for son-in-law). From the moment of the kidnapping, things go wrong and what was supposed to be a non-violent affair turns bloody with more blood added by the minute. Jerry is upset at the blood shed, which turns loose a pregnant sheriff from MN who is tenacious in attempting to solve the three murders in her jurisdiction.
| William H. Macy | Jerry Lundegaard |
| Steve Buscemi | Carl Showalter |
| Peter Stormare | Gaear Grimsrud |
| Kristin Rudrüd | Jean Lundegaard |
| Harve Presnell | Wade Gustafson |
| Tony Denman | Scotty Lundegaard |
| Gary Houston | Irate Customer |
| Sally Wingert | Irate Customer's Wife |
| Kurt Schweickhardt | Car Salesman |
| Larissa Kokernot | Hooker #1 |
| Melissa Peterman | Hooker #2 |
| Steve Reevis | Shep Proudfoot |
| Warren Keith | Reilly Diefenbach |
| Steve Edelman | Morning Show Host |
| Sharon Anderson | Morning Show Hostess |
| Ethan Coen |
| Joel Coen |
8.20 out of 10 (105357 votes)
Visitor Reviews
It was all going so nicely...
posted on 27 Aug 2009This film is a fine, fine, piece of cinema from a couple of the neatest, slickest and most original directors in the business. Only one thing stops it from claiming its rightful place among the industry's finest - that makes it a great film rather than a classic film - and that's that it's too damn short! Admittedly, it doesn't cut you off with the same degree of frustrating incompletion that, say, 'Unbreakable' does, but to compare the two films at all would be insulting to the Coens. All the same though, the style and quality of the film just makes its brevity all the worse. Frances McDormand turns in one of the finest acting performances of recent years as the just-too-damn-smart detective, and the whole film is staged superbly - the Coen brothers' creation of a very dark movie in a very white setting is slick to the point of arty, but engaging enough to become too over-indulgently picturesque. The film is neat, clipped and wonderfully aesthetic. The comedy is as dark as it comes, but all the same entertaining - you find yourself laughing out loud at stuff you might feel you really shouldn't; it's more of an atmosphere of set-piece humour at times in the film, rather than anything deliberately comic about the script. So hey, maybe I'm being slightly picky about criticising the abrupt end to the film. Maybe it shouldn't really be any longer - perhaps to be longer would be to be make 'Fargo' less well-formed, and that would be unforgivable. I suppose it's just a personal thing - as a tragic product of the MTV generation I was hoping for a more dramatic ending, though the classic 'disposal' scene certainly added a certain uniqueness to the film, though it would be shame if such a fine work were to be remembered for just a woodchipper. Again coming from an MTV-generation point of view, I suppose the one thing this film lacks is a feeling of suspense, an adrenalin rush of some kind. But then a film doesn't need that sort of thrill factor to be good. This is not a film you see if you want the kind of high-octane entertainment that, say, 'Bad Boys' or 'Terminator' will supply. Having said that, I can think of few people who would crack open the beers and watch 'Schindler's List' with a pizza - this is a film treat, an artistic, phenomenally slick and polished work with a well-picked, select cast that features not a single wooden line, and along with McDormand's masterful performance there are fine roles by Buscemi and Macy as the cuss-filled crook and the chirpy-to-the-point-of-irritating loser car salesman who hires him. A great lesson in how to make a film - the plot is very simple, but the way it unravels, as well as the style of the piece as a whole, make Fargo a winner. Watch with a glass of something warming, while in a contemplative, patient mood for best results.
Great, now wood chippers are ruined for me (minor spoiler)
posted on 24 Aug 2009Joel Coen gives us God's second son, a movie named Fargo.William H. Macy gives us a first (and not the last, I'm sure) Oscar nominated performance as Jerry Lundegaard, a car salesman at his father-in-law's dealership. He also, for reasons unknown, is in debt. Instead of asking his wealthy father-in-law, he hires two goons, Carl Showalter (played by Steve Buscemi, whose Oscar nomination is hiding somewhere,) and Gaear Grimsrud (played eerily by Peter Stormare,) to kidnap his wife, and split the ransom with him. After Gaear and Carl kidnap Jerry's wife, a cop pulls them over for having no tags on the car, only DLR plates, that Jerry gave them. When the cop asks Carl to step out of the car, Gaer blows the cop's brains out, then kills two witnesses who were just driving by. Now, pregnant police Chief Marge Gunderson is on the case.I loved this film, but it did one of my pet peeves in a movie, introduces an unnecessary character, Mike Yanagita, I really didn't see why he was necessary.
A CLEVER DARK-HUMORED THRILLER
posted on 15 Aug 2009This is a movie of abundance. First of all, it is abundant with fabulous acting by people, neither of whose names, I was familiar with, when I saw the movie: everybody is perfect in the movie. Each one of the actors fits perfectly for the role assigned to him/her. Secondly, it is abundant in innocence: Though the deeds of the villainous characters are contemptuous to the highest degree, they, along with of course, the `YA' -ing Frances Mc Dormand seem as lovable as Winnie The Pooh! Thirdly, it has an abundance of brilliant photographic shots: The shots, mainly capturing frosty harsh landscapes, in every mood, from every angle, are not only awe-inspiring, but also perfectly fit the downcast and stolid mood of the movie.Above everything else, the movie is more abundant in subtlety, more than anything else. This flick is supposed to be a thriller. But, it is more humorous than it is violent; though it's few violent moments are really shocking. However, even in the violent scenes, there is a delicate humor, hidden somewhere in the scene. Though done deliberately, the movie is fraught with subtle humor, which gives the flick, a charming personality. The acting is brilliant, in the manner that just the straight faces and controlled emotions of the actors are enough to make us laugh, in the most serious situations. A prime example of the kind of outré humor in this movie, is the scene where Steve Buscemi, a crook, has a business-like conversation with a prostitute while hiring her for the night, in which he asks her whether she gets job-satisfaction in this profession or not: all in a manner, which seems as if two company executives are discussing the NASDAQ!Seeing Marge Gunderson, (played by Frances McDormand) a beady-eyed seemingly innocuous sweet and homely cop, solve the crime with the encumbrance of pregnancy, is quite a change to the quintessential smart-aleck cop who arrives at a solution, in a trice over a cup of coffee. Every character, be it the crooks - hyper-talkative Carl (Steve Buscemi) and funereal Gaear (Peter Stormare) or the avaricious and confused Jerry Lundegaard (William H. Macy) and his naïve wife Jean (Kristin Rudrud) or the super-cop `Margie' and her hubby, has this little goofy innocence, which adds to the humor of this anomalously dark and comical thriller.The clever mélange of the unique set of characters made to act in an even more unique way (especially the `YA'-laden accents), the outrageously subtle humor, and the grossly funny violence make the movie, humorous and subfusc, all at the same time. A movie, way far from the ordinary, FARGO deserves a heartening applause.Rating-10/10
miscategorized but good
posted on 12 Aug 2009This movie is often miscategorized in video rental stores as "mystery" or"suspense." It's really neither, so many people I talk to who didn't like the movie
have that attitude because they expected more intrigue and complexity from it.
There's not much to this movie, but it's still good.William H. Macy's character makes the viewer wince again and again at hispoor judgement and its consequences. He's a really lamentable figure, andprobably tied for best character in the film with that of Frances McDormand, who
uses sensibility and "Minnesota nice" to bring justice to the guilty.Of course, the whole Scandinavian accent thing is really overdone in this film,
but to good effect. It lends a level of absurdity to every character who uses
those mannerisms...a level of absurdity that's present in most real people, even
though they try to mask it.
Strong movie with a twist of reality!
posted on 06 Aug 2009Another victory for the Coen brothers! They bring reality to the movie with a low budget and how! The main-reason, that I found, this movie to coming across so strong is its constant hold on the real elements of the script. The annoying repetition of the word 'yeah' in combination with the thoughtful consideration for the things that a real person would do in reality, make this film rise out above the rest even with just a small budget. The cast form a coherent link between the story and how its told despite the horrific reality on which it is based. The truth of the matter is that Fargo with the Coen brothers' extreme precision to detail is in all respects a masterpiece.
interesting
posted on 03 Aug 2009Fargo? Let's face it, the Cohen's didn't think "Bemidji" made a good sounding title. Being from Fargo, I remember when they were shooting the outdoor scenes (it was a warm winter and they were having trouble finding snow). The only scene in Fargo (and it wasn't even shot here) is at the very beginning. Everything else takes place in Minnesota. Some people criticized the accents (but I've been in a lot of little towns where the people sound exactly like that).That being said, I did like the movie. The pace was rather slow, but it was funny, maybe a little to violent for violence sake. It's good movie to rent if you've got nothing to do on a Sunday night.
What set off the trooper?
posted on 22 Jul 2009I'm sure that many have commented on this, but I haven't heard any discussion of this point. When the Buscemi character and his cohort were pulled over outside of Brainard (with Mrs.Lundegaard tied up in the back seat), was it the suspicion of bribe (Money was protruding out of his wallet when he presented his license and registration) that caused the trooper to ask Buscemi to "step out of the car"? Or was there something else? Also, the younger Lundegaard had a poster of a master accordion player on the inside of his doorway. Is accordion music a popular genre for the youth in Minnesota? or was a humorous take on the quaintness of the region?
Very well-made, and yet something's missing...
posted on 01 Jul 2009I liked "Fargo." It is a very good movie, with a great deal of originality and spectacular performances by Frances McDormand and William H. Macy. McDormand definitely deserves her Oscar, although it's a bit tragic that Macy didn't get one, since he gives the better performance (although I emphasize that both performances are spectacular). The film also presents an interesting contrast, with complications, violence, and sin on one side, and simple folksy down-home humanity on the other. It is this contrast that makes "Fargo" difficult to categorize. Crime plays a central role in the story and yet it's not a crime story, thriller, or mystery. The scenes with Frances McDormand are laugh-out-loud hilarious (and she is a true master of the art of awkward smiles for awkward moments), and yet the film is not a comedy (not even a black comedy). It's a different kind of film altogether.And yet, I can't quite join the critics in calling this "one of the greatest films ever made" or "the best film of 1996" or anything like that. It is a very good movie. The Coen brothers are talented filmmakers. But, when I watched "Fargo," I felt like something was missing. I can't quite put my finger on what, though. There's just some je ne sais quoi that's missing from this film.Maybe I felt like the link between the violent plot and the comedic plot was not strong enough, that they were connected, but not strongly enough. Maybe I thought the movie was driven too strongly by the characters and not enough by the plot. I usually love character-driven stories more than plot-driven ones. (The character-driven films of Martin Scorsese, especially "Taxi Driver," are probably my favorite films). Yet, maybe I was looking for a bit more plot in "Fargo." I really don't know. But there's something that's preventing "Fargo" from being one of the greatest films of all time, and I don't know what it is.
My Review of far go
posted on 28 Jun 2009"Fargo" is one of those movies you watch a dozen times a month then forget about it for a few months. After the few months hiatus, you pop it in again and the whole movie is brand new again. The "True Story" Focuses Around Jerry Lundegaard, a loving husband who is down on his luck financially. Through a friend, Shep Proudfoot, he hires two mischief men to kidnap his wife. The father of the wife is real well off and it is Jerry's idea to exploit that. Jerry's plan is to have his wife's father pay the ransom of a million dollars for his wife, but Jerry would keep all the money except for 40 thousand which is going to the kidnappers. The plan goes wrong early in the movie and situations get more complex than they already are."Fargo" is my favorite Cohen brothers movie. The greatness of "Fargo" surpasses even "The Big Lebowski" in my book. I recommend everyone watch this movie even if you are not a Cohen Brothers fan. The great thing about the brothers movies is that even if you don't share their same sense of humor and don't laugh once, the movies they make still hold up with their great stories. But if you do share the same sense of humor, the comedy is just another layer of greatness. Fargo has everything; suspense, a good story, humor, brilliant acting and a score that accompanies the visuals perfectly.Steve Buscemi, and William H. Macy put out top-notch performances as usual. Out of my 200+ DVD collection, Fargo is one of my most watched (along side my Kubrick collection)
A lot can happen in the middle of nowhere.
posted on 19 Jun 2009The Coen Brother's masterpiece of the 1990s is Fargo, an incredibly twisted, sick, yet funny and quirky story about a kidnapping plot gone wrong. William H. Macy is spectacular as the befuddled yet conniving car salesman Jerry Lundegarrd, a man trying to make his way in the world but decides to do so by having two not-so-smart henchmen kidnap her. From here, everything that can go wrong does and we see all that Jerry thought was going to work turns out to come and bit him in the butt.What really is memorable about this film is not only the great performances by Macy, Frances McDormand, Steve Buscemi and Peter Stormare but also the amazing settings the Coens gave themselves to set each scene up to be exactly as they wanted it. Collaborating with the genius that is Roger Deakins, they give us a bleak and ugly landscape that sets the tone for the rest of the story. This is certainly the type of movie perfectly watchable in the dead of winter, especially if you live in an area where snow is constantly looming above. The writing is nothing short of incredible as it moves flawlessly from each characters' situation until it all comes together in the end. Certainly one of the best films of the 1990s, if you are at all interested in the Coen Brothers, this film represents them best.
A true modern classic!
posted on 19 Jun 2009One of the greatest films of the 90's was this beautifully quirky and darkly suspenseful thriller from Joel and Ethan Coen.Minnistota man hires some thugs to fake a kidnapping with his wife, but the foolish team quickly fouls things up and a small-town policewoman is about to uncover the crime.Recalling a lot of the elements of the Coen's debut thriller Blood Simple (1984), Fargo also proves to be a unique and smartly told drama/thriller. The story is more complex this time, with an even larger band of colorful (and often dim-witted) characters. Fargo is one of those rare films that has a little bit of every film genre in its story. You have film noir, slick comedy, suspense-thriller, parody, and even small-town drama all weaved into one terrifically amusing gem of a film. The direction is wonderfully well-done, as is the beautifully atmospheric music score.The cast of this film is excellent. Frances McDormand is perfectly lovable as the films rather unlikely heroine, a pregnant small-town cop. William H. Macy is subtly funny as the films desperate conspirator. Steve Buscemi is a stand out as one of the idiot kidnappers. The rest of the cast is also solidly good!A masterpiece of a movie, probably the Coen's best, that's a true must-see for all film fans!**** out of ****
One of the darkest, funniest comedies ever made
posted on 26 May 2009You might recall me saying, in the BL review, that that was the Coens Bros' biggest and best film to the day. I still maintain that, but Fargo is pretty close. In fact, all of their movies are pretty close. (you might say that Intolerable Cruelty wasn't THAT good, and I would probably agree with you).Anyways, what makes Fargo such an enjoyable experience? Well, for starters, the really dark comedy. The script is quirky, the characters are well-developed and above all, the comedy is cutting-edge smart, with an array of dark and satirical moments that make it all the more pleasurable to see.Secondly, all of the actors are great in this movie. Frances Macdormand is excellent in her Academy-Award winning role as Marge Gunderson, speaking in that strange and often annoying dialect, Minnesota Nice. Along with great performances by William H. Macy, Peter Stormare and a hilariously twisted one by Steve Buscemi as the out-of-control Carl Sholwalter, Macdormand absolutely shines in what is, doubtless, the best performance of her career. All in all, we get powerful performances by all involved, making this movie one of the true classics of our time.As for the the story, it is both incredibly original and refreshing, an innovative version of the exhausted kidnap-for-ransom theme, as only the Coens could make it.I would recommend this movie to anyone (over the age of 15), for it is one of the day's truly exceptional films, and another Coen Bros masterpiece.10/10
The Coen Brothers' best film (and that's saying a lot!)
posted on 05 May 2009This review contains potential spoilers, but nothing major.The one-line summary above was hard to write; the brothers Coen, always as a team, consistently deliver solid and usually masterful films with their beautiful visual style and amazingly realistic dialogue. Barton Fink and Miller's Crossing are very closely behind this as their best production. However, Fargo's mix of quiet, intellectual comedy and hard-hitting crime thriller is really amazing. The film can be compared to their debut, the 80's thriller "Blood Simple", only with a slightly lighter tone and less disturbing environment; both involve a husband/wife heist gone wrong, only in Fargo it comes together perfectly.The acting leaves nothing to be desired. Put simply, they are up there with the best of the 90's; Steve Buscemi is awesome as the constantly-cursing smart guy behind the scheme; William H. Macy, a loser in just about every role he plays, delivers here in his best performance; and Frances McDormand is absolutely incredible as the pregnant cop on the trail of the kidnappers.Fargo has many classic scenes. In one of the most intense sequences ever filmed, Buscemi's character drags a dead cop off the highway as an onlooker drives by to witness the action. Afterwards, he is hunted down by the other kidnapper and shot to death in the dead cold snow. To see two innocent people killed by a hardened criminal is not only chilling, it's downright disturbing. Many other great scenes precede and follow this one. To list them all would be futile; every scene is perfection. Fargo is a masterpiece and MUST be seen by any serious film buff, and most definitely by any Coen Brothers fan. "A+"
ya it's good.
posted on 29 Apr 2009When I first saw this movie in the theater, I felt the way I imagine people must've felt when "The Wizard of Oz" premiered in 1939. Or when Gregory Peck first appeared on screen in "To Kill A Mockingbird" in 1962. Or the first appearance of Hannibal Lector in "The Silence of The Lambs" in 1991. The incomparable Frances McDormand's performance as Margie is the stuff of film lore. She hits every note right. Insanely funny but never really clown-like. But also benevolent and tough, without doing a personality 180. It's legendary.Everything else about "Fargo" is utter cinematic perfection. No filmmakers on Earth can tell a story like the Coens. It's the perfect mix of dark humor, creepy atmosphere, and genuine humanity. It unfolds flawlessly. Every artistic tool in the Brothers' box is perfectly utilized. It's their magnum opus. Highly recommended!
Kidnapping going bad : Coen style
posted on 23 Apr 2009Coen brothers are known to be one of the most original film making duo working in Hollywood.A lot of adjectives can be used to describe their films and the great thing is that no two films made by them are same. Fargo is a great film as it doesn't hover around neither Hollywood type conventional narrative structure nor sometimes hard to fathom independent cinema style.It is a film in which mystery elements are revealed following a chronological order.Coen brothers have taken proper care of the screenplay as they have added their own material to a real life event which took place years ago.It is not at all a film about mistakes made while killing people. It is a film about human sentiments such as greed,helplessness and dedication to work.All those who like films with story are going to enjoy it.There are no special effects,animation and other high tech elements.What is to be seen in the film is pure emotional poetry-a poetry of human sentiments.The cast is outstanding especially Frances McDormand who makes a good try at being a workaholic pregnant policewoman.
Is this the idea of a good movie ?
posted on 20 Apr 2009I was shocked when I left the cinema after seeing "Fargo", mostly because of the high antecipation due to all those Academy Awards' nominations. "Fargo" is nothing more than a dull and pointless film. Frances MacDormand surely did not deserve the Oscar. "Fargo" is a movie I have been trying to forget.
Underrated. Not for all but for the some, a great movie.
posted on 08 Apr 2009This movie definitely was worthy of the top movies of 20th century. The movie isnt a complete comedy but the humor behind it is only funny because of my rather twisted sense of comedy. The matter of factualness of people to what is going on and the overall plot made for a good movie. This movie makes my top 10 list. Unfortunately it isn't easily availible on DVD :(. The most memorable line in this movie is also my favorite line of all time "I assume that's your accomplice in the wood chipper"
"High end" level picture
posted on 05 Apr 2009Brothers Coens decided filming true story. Outstanding work came out. One of best cast used by brothers...only big stars. It was such big risk. We are known star cast went out the flop. But not that time. All actors were on height. And one of strong parts of picture is the cinematography. Roger Deakins used all his beautiful talent to improve Coens ideas. Great artwork was made. Decorations were very nice-offbeat. Acting: Frances McDormand was very natural. She is very good analyzed character of policewoman Marge Gunderson. The mark for acting is 10/10. William H. Macy played clamp and sly man. Went out very truthful but in some episodes were noticeable make up on his face. The mark for acting is 9/10. Evil men by Steve Buscemi and Peter Stormare are very comic. And performance by Steve Buscemi was very outstanding. He played 9/10. Character of his work-mate is very difficult for performing, but Peter Stormare didn't strike to mud by face. The mark for acting is 8/10. Picture "Fargo" came in to golden part of movies.
The Coens at their best
posted on 02 Apr 2009I absolutely loved Fargo. Every bit of acting is great, the script is inspired, the humor fits my taste perfectly (you may not feel the same way), the direction is, of course, flawless (I'd expect nothing less from a titan like Joel Coen), and the music is great (especially Carter Burwell's theme); this film is an example of when everything falls together perfectly and a masterpiece is created.I'd also just like to say that Frances McDormand is the best actress I can think of right now. Her performance in Fargo is one of the best (female or male) that I've seen in a really long time. She was also good in "Almost Famous" (I suggest you watch the DVD version called "Untitled" if you haven't seen it yet, it's a lot longer, but the vision is more developed) and she was good in "The Man who Wasn't There".
Satirical thriller with atmosphere
posted on 27 Aug 2009Fargo is the kind of movie that appeals to people who have seen a lot of movies because everything is surprising and unexpected. The cop's a woman (Frances McDormand). Pregnant. The perps are psychos of course, but there are three of them and each is a different breed of psycho. William H. Macy is a car salesman who dreams up a scheme to cheat his rich father in law out of a million dollars by getting some degenerates to kidnap his wife. He's a white collar sociopath who always lies whenever his lips are moving unless there is some very good reason to tell the truth. One of the degenerates is a big silent guy (Peter Stormare) who kills people as one squishes bugs.
The other (Steve Buscemi) is an ugly little bantam who lies and cheats and kills and steals and whines until finally somebody puts him out of his misery.This is Fargo, North Dakota, where people are country and it's cold and not very sophisticated. The movie makes gentle fun of the locals while guiding us to identify with them. McDormand eats a whole lot of Hardee's and Arby's and greasy dishes from the cafeteria piled high on her plate. She's eating for two. She loves her husband and he loves her. They lie in bed at night and watch TV. She's the police chief. She meets an old admirer in the big city. He's Asian. She is just curious. He is desperate. She has a self-effacing, aw-sucks, I'm not too bright (but I really am) style reminiscent of Tyne Daly in TV's "Cagey and Lacy" from some years back.
Her husband Norm is a big guy who cooks for her and is an artist who paints wildlife. One of his duck paintings becomes a postage stamp. They all say "Yaw" a lot.The forlorn cold and desolate landscape of North Dakota is a Americana locale not used cinematically since I don't know when-Clint Eastwood's High Plains Drifter (1973), I guess. The script and direction are tidy without being too flashy. Everything is designed to surprise or bemuse the audience. Even the accents. There is the requisite quota of bright red blood; plenty of bullets puncture flesh and split bone. There's some gutter sex and a few shocking sights (one of the perps stuffs the other into a wood chip machine). All in all it's a slick, carefully crafted thriller with an artistic veneer, nicely photographed. It's clear that Coen and Coen have watched the movies of Atom Egoyan, Gus Van Sant, David Lynch, Oliver Stone, etc., and here pay them the sincere compliment of imitation with variation-or is it the other way around?