What can I say that hasn't already been said?

Rating: 10/10 (18 February 2006)

Fargo remains, to this day, the epitome of the crime-caper gone wrong. The film works on so many levels, it's one of the few films that were nominated for Best Picture that broke the typical mold and was nominated for it's creativity. Everything about this movie seems to click together perfectly, the writing, the acting, and the execution... no pun intended.
William H. Macy and Frances McDormand, in her Oscar-Winning role, perfectly characterize, if not stereotype a little, the thick-accented North-Westerner. William H. Macy excellently portrays Jerry Lundegaard in such a way that we admire his determination and care enough for him and his crazy plight, but not too much, so when we see Jerry get his final retribution, we aren't too upset, and know enough to know that he got what he deserved. Frances McDormand comes off as very likable and admirable as the pregnant police officer Marge Gunderson. She is portrayed as a smart cop, and very stern when it comes to her job. But she is also gentle and safe, perfectly exhibited in the final scene of the film. Steve Buscemi and Peter Stormare have in this film what I call 'Anti-Chemistry' as the comically notorious Carl and Gaer. Anti-Chemistry is when we have two characters so different, that they create very interesting chemistry on screen, proving that opposites attract. Steve Buscemi, in his Oscar-worthy role, is hilariously annoying as Carl, butting heads with Peter Stormare's chilling yet blunt portrayal as the sociopathic Gaer. Next is the writing and directing. Definitely deserved the Oscar it won for Best Original Screenplay, it unfolds as Film Noir, but the Coen brothers, knowing better, set the film in the most un-Noir setting imaginable: Minnesota. This interesting twist allows the Coens to insert dark humor, which plays off perfectly from the simple and dim-witted sounding people from which the film takes place. I'd like to briefly note the Score, which wasn't nominated for any special awards, but I think it's one of the best film-scores I've heard. The employment of fiddles and violins give us a very small and closed feeling, but it becomes quite grand and epic, matching the seemingly small aesthetic of both the music and the film, giving it much more meaning to what's happening.
Overrall, excellent crime caper/black comedy, with great acting, writing, and cinematography to boot.