The same can be said for the folks behind this particular entry, Joel and Ethan Coen, sibling writers/directors/producers extraordinaire. Once again, while I haven’t seen all of the films that the Coens have been involved with, I can’t say I’ve seen one yet that I’ve haven’t loved. In fact, 1998’s The Big Lebowski has occupied a spot on my Top 10 Movies list for years, ever since watching the horribly butchered version on Comedy Central (this is also where I saw Ghostbusters 2 before Ghostbusters, because somebody doesn’t know how to run a TV station). While Gilliam might be considered a cult or a niche director, as far as millionare filmmakers go, the Coen Bros. have too many awards and accolades to be anything other than Hollywood mainstays at this point. The Ladykillers might be their only recent fumble that I can think of, and even that was 7 years ago. Other than that though, it’s a track record not many in their generation can compete with. So instead of making an effort to be topical by checking out the currently recent Inside Llewellyn Davis, I’ve decided to go back and look at a film oft-regarded as one of their best. We’re heading to the frozen North ladies and gents, to a little town named Fargo.
Supposedly based on real life events, the story of Fargo is a typical Coen Bros. plot. Things start off simply enough, then quickly snowball into mystery, intrigue and deception. It all begins with Jerry Lundegard (William H. Macy) walking into a Minnesota bar in the winter of 1987 (or maybe it was summer, you never can tell with those states). Jerry, by all appearances a nice guy, is there to meet with two rather seedy looking gentlemen, venomous shit-talker Carl (Steve Buscemi at his most weasley) and the silent Scandinavian Gaere (Peter Stormare) for a clandestine meeting. Mr. Lundegard is a man looking for wealth and respect you see, chiefly that of his wealthy father-in-law Wade, who is not that impressed by Jerry’s fatherly lifestyle and car salesman career. Eager to grab a piece of the money pie for himself and stick it to Big Poppa, Jerry has hatched upon a plan to hire Carl & Gaere to kidnap his own wife and hold her for ransom, with the intention of splitting the hefty ransom between the three of them and impress Wade with his Colt 45 handling of the whole situation. It’d be a fool proof plan, if only everyone involved weren’t vain, greedy and ultimately doomed by their own ineptitude.
Lo and behold, the plan goes spectacularly awry. The wife is kidnapped, but the problems that occur in the process push Carl to demand the entire ransom for him and Gaere. Wade, completely uninterested in having Jerry handling his money and daughter, decides to take matters into his own hands and totally fucks up that formerly foolproof plan. As everything starts to unravel, it’s actually Margie (Francis McDormand), the homespun, very pregnant police officer that starts to piece everything together that threatens to destroy Jerry’s scheme once and for all. And so on as movies are wont to do.
The Coens are undoubtedly fantastic characterization, it just might be their strongest points as filmmakers, and Fargo is no exception. Every character feels unique, the world they inhabit feels vibrant and alive, yet they are also very real if that makes sense. Of course I’ve never been to that part of the country, and the ‘folky Midwesterner’ stereotype might not be all that appreciated over there, but it’s an easy way to give the setting a familiar-but-alien flavour. The endlessly flat snow white plains might also have something to do with it.
Whether or not Fargo is actually based on true events might be a matter of debate, but the fact that it’s just weird enough to be believable really helps establish the reality of the world. Sure, a car salesman hiring guys to kidnap his wife while a pregnant cop investigates may seem bizarre, but it isn’t any less implausible than whatever happens in Florida on any given week. In fact it may be even more believable than today’s news, which is a horrifying thought.
Fargo is a great crime thriller in the body of a particularly black comedy. Not an unfamiliar topic for the Coen Bros., but when they do it so well you can’t help but be impressed. If you’re interested at all in their filmography, this is as good a starting point as you’re likely to get. Chalk up another (past) success for Joel & Ethan, and if you’re visiting North Dakota, make sure you’re packing heat. You never know what kinda psychos are out there.
Result: Recommended
