I like all the Coen brothers films, but...

Rating: 7/10 (4 September 2001)

Like all the other Coen brothers films, this is crafted with expertise (well, at least that kind of expertise distinctive to their style) and makes for good entertainment, but -- purely aside from the artistic merits of the film -- it isn't what I consider their MOST entertaining movie. The first time I saw this, I considered it pretty good thriller-entertainment, but not as spectacular or amazing or all that extraordinary as the critics seemed to think. After the second time through, I figured the same thing. Finally, after some more cinematic maturation, I watched it a third time, and basically think the same thing.
The story is based on real events (warning: I may not be particularly drawn toward movies based on real events, as they strike me as too journalistic for the medium, but that may be one of my idiosyncracies); it is particularly appropriate for a Coen brothers film because of the way the events transpire. It revolves around a real slimeball's attempt to "solve" his monetary crises by having his wife kidnapped and held for ransom, and the money then funneled back to him. Of course, what makes it all interesting is how things get increasingly screwed up and gruesome as the story goes on. The Coen brothers obviously embellish events and characters with their own quirky twists and mannerisms -- e.g., from the slimy but incompetent maneuverings of the husband, to the cheery-and-cute-but-very-smart cop (played by Frances McDormand), to the criminal duo of the whiny tactician (Steve Buscemi) and his sullen but very dangerous sidekick (Peter Stormare).
It's most definitely better than the usual action/thriller/mystery flick, though that by itself doesn't say a lot. My impression is that the Coen brothers put together a film that for them was pretty "standard" but happened to hit it on with a lot of viewers and critics; they were probably as surprised at all the attention as I was. It's pretty middle-of-the-road for fans of the little genre that is the films of the Coen brothers. For Coen brothers films that I both liked a lot and regard as "distinctively Coen brothers" (come to think of it, is there any movie they've made that isn't?), I recommend _Miller's Crossing_, _Barton Fink_, _The Hudsucker Proxy_, and _The Big Lebowski_. (I am more mixed or undecided when it comes to the others, which includes _Fargo_.)
All in all this means at minimum that it's well worth watching at least once, but not a "must buy." On my scale, that's a 7 out of 10.