intense thriller! a modern film-noir

Rating: 9/10 (29 July 2005)

Director: Joel Coen, Script: Ethan and Joel Coen, Cast: Frances Mcdormand, William H. Macy, Steve Buscemi, Peter Stormare, Kristin Rudrud, Harve Presnell.
This might just be the Coen brothers at their best. This film is funny, suspenseful and at times shocking. I just recently saw Raising Arizona again and although it is also a great film I think I prefer the dark comedy and 'film noir' elements of Fargo. Set in the heartland of Minnosota, this film is about a sales manager (Jerry played by William H. Macy) who is in deep financial trouble. He tries to con his rich father in-law out of a large sum of money by staging a kidnapping of his wife for ransom. He hires a couple of thugs (Steve Buscemi and Peter Stormare) to do the job but things don't go quite as planned. People end up dead and now Jerry is in all kinds of trouble. The local police chief Marge (a very pregnant police chief played by Frances McDormand) gets involved in the case.
I thought the Minnosota location in winter time was a perfect setting for this kind of film. It represents middle America turned upside down! Frances McDormand was great as the small town police chief. She was very funny and did a great job impersonating the Minnosota accent and words--yaw! Steve Buscemi is good as usual. Even as a tough bad guy his nerdy self still comes across! It is funny how he can be a absolute nerd like he was in Ghost World and a total bad ass in this film yet pretty much act the exact same way! This move is very violent and unsettling at times but it is offset somewhat by Marge and Norm (her husband). They offer some normalcy in this film. We take comfort in them.
This film has the offbeat characters that the Coen brothers are known for. The excellent setting and cinematography, black humour and suspense make this film a must see. One of the best films of the 90's. A modern classic.