Yah

Rating: 9/10 (28 February 2008)

Fargo is arguably the Coen Brothers' best movie (though personally I think it's their second-best, after No Country For Old Men). I was pleasantly surprised by the simplicity of the storyline, as many movies concerning crime are often too fast paced and reliant on plot twists. Instead, Fargo's plot develops more through the characters than through what is actually occurring on the screen. The characters themselves, especially Jerry Lundegard, are very well thought out and work in perfect unison with the simplicity of the story. There are no hard-boiled, cynical detectives here, just a simple policewoman who uses basic techniques to outwit her inexperienced counterparts. While I believe William H Macy's performance was stronger than Frances McDormand's, he also had more to work with. The Coen Brother's dialog and direction must be noticed here, as they create many moments of subtle humor which are very entertaining without distracting from the plot. Examples of this include the bartender's "crazy down there by the lake" story, and the infamous wood-chipper scene. The ending is very satisfying, as the bad guys get what they deserve, and life goes on.