Film Review: Fargo

Director: Joel & Ethan Coen

A black comedy caper which was also written by Coen's features many of the actors synonymous with their work as Steve Buscemi and Frances McDormand appear. In many ways this was the film the brothers were hoping Burn After Reading would become as a group of inexperienced criminals fail to complete a kidnapping or theft. Where Burn After Reading is uneven in plot and lacking in the subtle comedic genius that is apparent in Fargo.

The beginning of the film has the text saying "THIS IS A TRUE STORY. The events depicted in this film took place in Minnesota in 1987. At the request of the survivors, the names have been changed. Out of respect for the dead, the rest has been told exactly as it occurred." But on the special edition DVD it is revealed the inspiration came from the Helle Crafts murder in Connecticut where a man killed his wife and disposed of her in the wood chipper.

Gaear Grimsrund (Peter Stormare) and Carl Showalter (Steve Buscemi) 

The film is set in snowy state of Minnesota with a brief foray into North Dakota, the white crispness of the ever present snow is almost like a contrast to the dark actions of Jerry Lundegaard (William H. Macy) who has his wife kidnapped by Gaear Grimsrund (Peter Stormare) and Carl Showalter (Steve Buscemi) to extort money from his father in law (Harve Presnell). The Coen's grew up in the area which is why they were keen to film it here. The area is also very much small town America where most of the film takes place, the simple nature of the locals is also at odds with the devious actions of the films main characters.

The plot device of having bumbling criminals taken on a high risk/high reward crime is certainly not a new one but rarely is it performed to greater effect than here, William H. Macy is excellent as the good-natured man that you can trust but secretly is a con artist. Whilst Frances McDormand is never better as the only good force who pieces together the clues to find out what is happening, in many ways she comes across as very sheltered and naive put in her police work we see different.

3.5/4 A darkly funny and tightly written caper