Cold, cold, cold

Rating: 9/10 (5 October 2016)

A guy in the community message boards described this movie as "cold, cold, cold" in reference to Fargo's emotional callousness. Unlike me, he didn't like the movie, but I do agree with his assessment of Fargo's coldness. This film is cold, literally and figuratively.
As you probably know, this movie is about car salesman called Jerry who finds himself in need of a large sum of money for reasons which are never really explained. Jerry hires two ruthless but inept killers to kidnap his wife, collect a ransom from his wife's rich family, and turn the ransom back in to Jerry. What was supposed to be a "no-rough-stuff type deal" quickly turns deadly.
Contrast is a vital element in Fargo, both in the characters and the cinematography. Bright red blood stands out against white snow. Gunshots echo through the silence of winter. Our two bad-mouthed, stone-cold killers are shown in contrast with the squeaky-clean Minnesota folks. Brutally cold snow provides the perfect backdrop for the brutally cold murders in Fargo. Periodically throughout the movie, we also get these very interesting artistic shots, including a memorable bird's-eye-view of Jerry walking to his car in the snow.
The little "slice of life" segments of the film are satisfying as well. I have never been to the North so I can't tell you if the "Ooh, yahh"'s are overdone or not, but it was definitely entertaining to listen to. Even minor characters, like the hookers in the bar, are well-developed and endearing. Unlike No Country For Old Men, which I feel was "made" by one certain character (if you've seen NCFOM, you know who I'm talking about), Fargo thrives on its diverse ensemble of characters. There are no cardboard cutouts here--everyone is fully developed, human, and original.
Fargo pulls no punches when it comes to shocking its viewers. Lurid scenes of violence are displayed in full view. Many scenes, especially those involving Jerry's wife and her kidnappers, leave you wondering whether to laugh or to be horrified. You end up with your mouth just hanging open in equal parts shock and amusement. This is where the "cold, cold, cold" part comes in. Though this film is technically a comedy, a bleak feeling permeates the movie from start to finish. Fargo can be hard to watch at times. But ultimately, it grabs you, horrifies you, makes you laugh, makes you feel guilty for laughing, and never lets you go.
Overall, Fargo is well worth a watch. It is a well-written, well-shot work of art that fully deserves its position as a beloved cult classic. Fargo is another piece of evidence of the Coens' marvelous talent.
P.S.--It's not really based on a true story.
P.P.S.--Go Bears!