"Whoa, daddy(!)."

Rating: 10/10 (16 May 2015)

A violently funny crime caper is what 'Fargo' might appear to be, but that is really not the essence. The actual protagonist is not introduced until a half hour into the film (something that reminds me of 'Psycho', which did pretty much the opposite). By then, we have met a load of shady characters and mutually uninvolved family members. And things are already way out of hand. It is as if we wake up with Margie to a world of horrors, but her up-and-at-'em demeanor helps us pull through. There is a final moment of utter disbelief that wells up inside her, but the cozy, hopeful finale is nothing short of uplifting.
While much of the customs and language of these Minnesota inhabitants may seem funny if you're not from there, but this sort of 'funny' is ultimately in the mind of the beholder. The melancholy soundtrack underlines this, as does the magnificent cinematography, with overwhelming images, such as that little car with Carl and Gaear driving in the distance, under an enormous gray sky, or when Jerry walks back to his car, as possibly seen by Wade and Stan.
Some people complain that the Coens' interpretation of the Minnesotans was insulting, probably being Minnesotans themselves? Personally, I don't believe the Coens set out to do that, and that should appear particularly improbable when the final result is such a fine piece of cinema - with a heart. And where are the Coens themselves from, by the way? That's right...
10 out of 10, as always.