The weather today is as "wintry" as it gets in California, with lots of rain, which made it the perfect afternoon to try the snowy FARGO (1996) for the first time.
Although I've heard many positive things, I've been a bit leery of this film due to its R rating. At the same time, I've been intrigued by the fact that so many people I respect have enjoyed it, and the nice things I've heard about Frances McDormand's character made me especially curious.
It was indeed a very "R" film, but I quite enjoyed it, thanks to both McDormand and the evocative snowy scenery. (In that regard, this film would make a great double bill with
WIND RIVER.) It was violent yet not overly graphic, and its 98 minutes move briskly.
As the movie begins, car salesman Jerry Lundegaard (William H. Macy) is contracting with two scary types, Carl and Gaear (Steve Buscemi and Peter Stormare), to kidnap his wife (Kristin Rudrud - who IMDb says was born in Fargo!).
Jerry has gotten himself into a bad financial bind and has a scheme in mind in which his wife's wealthy father (Harve Presnell) will pay a ransom for her, which he'll split with the bad guys. (You see, the father-in-law doesn't like Jerry and won't just lend him money...) Jerry stipulates no violence...but absolutely nothing goes as planned.
Before we know it, not one, not two, but three bodies are found in the snow next to a highway thanks to Carl and Gaear. A (very pregnant) police chief from Brainerd, Minnesota, is soon on the case. More bodies pile up as the calm, intelligent Marge works her way through the clues...
Marge is a truly wonderful character, marvelously played by McDormand (
MISS PETTIGREW LIVES FOR A DAY), who won a Best Actress Oscar for her performance. She's clearly good at her job and also has a warm relationship with her supportive husband (John Carroll Lynch). I loved Marge's unfazed positivity.
Marge is also very funny in a quiet sort of way. Her reactions when she interviews two hookers (Larissa Kokernot and Melissa Peterman) are hilarious. (I just realized writing this that Peterman is also one of the key comedic characters in Hallmark's
HAUL OUT THE... movie series.) Marge really makes the movie.
Marge's lifestyle, skill, and overall wholesome character provide a needed contrast from the film's many absolutely deranged -- or at least angry -- characters. She quickly sizes up situations and handles crime scenes matter-of-factly.
A scene with Marge having an awkward meeting with an old friend (Steve Park) initially puzzled me, until I realized it might have been the linchpin for Marge realizing bad happens in unexpected places, causing her to revisit Jerry at his work to ask more questions.
The only time Marge seems truly sad and understandably troubled is near the end, contemplating the pointless loss of life over money.
I think my only criticism of Marge is that she should have called for backup near the end, but the scene certainly shows her bravery!
I don't typically enjoy Macy but that works out here, as he's very good indeed in an Oscar-nominated performance as a desperate man.
Like Marge in the film, I found myself contemplating how someone could sink so low, as Jerry's stupidity ultimately leaves his young son (Tony Denman) without a family. Macy is pitch perfect in his desperation, especially in a scene where he struggles to avoid providing information to someone on the phone.
FARGO was written and directed by Joel and Ethan Coen, although Ethan did not receive any onscreen directing credit. Some of the dialogue is quite great, including the lines "Blood has been shed" and Marge saying she's "investigating some malfeasance."
The movie was filmed by
Roger Deakins. Many of the film's visuals are quite memorable, including shots of a giant statue of Paul Bunyan outside Brainerd.
Little details also resonate, whether it's the wall phone and Smiley the Pig cookie jar in Jerry's kitchen or Marge and Norm wearing a sweater and a sweatshirt to bed, underlining how cold it is. The set and wardrobe designers deserve applause.
Parental Advisory: This film is rated R for violence, language, and a couple brief raunchy moments; it deserves the rating. In terms of the violence, for the most part the film isn't overly graphic; indeed, the scenes which bothered me most were disturbing but not bloody, focused on the kidnapped wife's terror.
The trailer is on YouTube.
I watched FARGO on a remastered Blu-ray. It's available in several different formats.
As an aside, FARGO inspired the much later crime anthology series FARGO (2014-24).
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