Excellent independent film

Rating: 10/10 (6 March 2007)

Stars: Frances McDormand, William H. Macy, Steve Buscemi, Peter Stormare.
This is what would be known as a very small movie. It takes place in very few places, has only a few main characters, and the whole movie just seemed really small, which turns out to be a good thing. You really get to know and love every character, no matter how much they have to say. The order by which the character's are introduced are quite odd, where the first 1/3rd of the film is about Jerry Lundegaard (Macy) and his wife's set-up kidnap by Carl (Buscemi) and Gaear (Stormare). The last 2/3rds are about Marge Gunderson (McDormand), a police officer, trying to solve three murders in the process of kidnapping Jerry's wife. The whole film I was glued to the screen, and when it ended, I kind of went "Oh." It's not a tricky film to follow, it doesn't have any interesting plot twists or any amazing ending, it's just a wonderfully written, directed and acted simple film, that instead of ending with a big bang shoot 'em up, ends with more of a simple and effective whimper.
My rating: **** out of ****. 93 mins. Rated R for language, gory violence and some sex/nudity.