Watch Fargo
- R
- 1996
- 1 hr 38 min
-
8.1 (727,301)
In 1996's Fargo, directed by Joel and Ethan Coen, William H. Macy stars as Jerry Lundegaard, a car salesman in a small Minnesota town who is desperate for money. When he hires two criminals, Carl (Steve Buscemi) and Gaear (Peter Stormare), to kidnap his wife and demand a ransom from her wealthy father, things quickly spiral out of control.
Frances McDormand plays Marge Gunderson, a pregnant police chief investigating the triple homicide that ensues. She is kind, practical, and good-natured, yet constantly underestimated by the male characters in the film.
The story takes several twists and turns as the characters interact with each other and attempt to cover up their crimes. The dialogue is darkly funny and the violence is sudden and shocking.
The setting of the film is crucial to its overall aesthetic. The snow-covered landscape of the Midwest is both beautiful and cold, while the accents and mannerisms of the characters add to the film's unique atmosphere.
The performances in Fargo are outstanding, particularly McDormand's portrayal of Marge Gunderson. She won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her role, and it is easy to see why. Macy is also exceptional in his portrayal of Jerry Lundegaard, a character who is both pitiable and despicable. Buscemi and Stormare make for a fantastic duo, with Carl's fast-talking personality and Gaear's silent brutality.
The Coen Brothers are known for their unique visual style, and Fargo is no exception. The film is shot in a way that emphasizes the starkness of the landscape and the coldness of the characters. They also make use of several tracking shots, which add a sense of tension and unease to several key scenes.
The film's score, composed by Carter Burwell, also adds to the unsettling atmosphere. The main theme, "Blood Simple," is haunting and memorable.
Fargo is a film that is both thrilling and darkly comedic. It explores the lengths that people will go to in order to achieve what they want and the consequences that come with those actions. The setting and characters are unforgettable, and the Coen Brothers' unique style is on full display. It is a must-see for fans of crime thrillers and dark comedies alike.
Fargo is a 1996 crime movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 38 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 8.1 and a MetaScore of 86.