A complex masterpiece of American cinema

Rating: 10/10 (10 December 2003)

I don't have too many comments on FARGO (well-dissected here by others), other than to say that it's one of my favorite American films of recent years, and the definite high-water mark for the always interesting Coen brothers.
One of the most successful aspects of FARGO is its' agile blend of styles - modern film noir thriller, dark comedy, Americana-flavored drama, and the Coen's genuine affection for the regionalisms of America - shown here in the oft-commented-upon Minnesota accents - is on beautiful display. And - unlike some other of the Coens' films - I never got the feeling that they were looking down on their characters (which is usually true in identifiable 'regional' film).
The cinematography is unforgettable, making the bleakest of Minnesota's famous winters into something eerie and gorgeous (the opening scene will go down as a classic), and the razor-sharp black humor (my favorite scene: the parking deck "Where's my daughter?" scene, which is both brutal and very uncomfortably funny) is flawless throughout. A masterpiece.