A dark tale of Crime and Consequences in the Frozen North...

Rating: 10/10 (16 April 2002)

If you think this movie was poking fun of "Scandinavian accents", (they were much more similar to the Canadian accents just a hundred miles or so north, eh!) or was stereotyping pregnant women, Asians, rural people, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Norwegians, North Dakota etc., etc, you really are far too "sophisticated" to be watching movies in the first place!
This is one of the finest "black comedies" I have ever seen, (and I am not much of a fan of the genre.) I'm sure that many who have posted negative comments are simply overwhelmed by their own "political incorrectness" during the movie.
There are several moments in this movie when it is totally inappropriate to let out a good laugh, but also unavoidable. (When Mrs. Lundegard jumps out of the car blindfolded and tries to escape from her kidnappers through the snow, for example. Its a moment of obvious pure terror for her, but her callous and brutal kidnappers break down laughing and I'm afraid we do too.) That is what makes it so very good!
If you don't feel right laughing at black humor, DON'T WATCH THIS MOVIE!
And those who critisize the well-deserved oscar of Frances McDormand just don't get it at all. The very pregnant and rustic Chief of Police, Marge Gunderson, whose husband likes to paint mallards and ice fish, may be a little "folksy," for some, but believe it or not, most people in the States aren't actually from New York City or LA! Some of them really do have to jump start their "prowlers" at 4:00 AM in 15 below zero weather.
There are actually small town police chiefs just like Marge all over America. And let's not forget that as "goofy" as she may look and talk, when she gets on the case, she is onto the bad guys almost from the start and pursues them with the single minded tenacity of a laser guided missile. I'm sure that there are real cops across America for whom "Marge Gunderson," represented a very realistic portrayal.
No, I'm sorry some of you didn't like this movie, but for me it was a surprisingly deep, dark and astute piece of work for an American film. And I place Brainard Chief of Police Marge Gunderson right up there with Sam Spade, Columbo and Hercule Poirot among my all time favorite detectives and I would simply love to see her in action again.
If you still haven't seen it, you owe it to yourself to give this one a shot. Its a solid 9 out of 10!