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Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Binding: DVD
Brand: MCDORMAND,FRANCIS
EAN: 9780792858058
Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD-Video, Full Screen, Special Edition, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
ISBN: 0792858050
Label: MGM (Video & DVD)
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: MGM (Video & DVD)
Region Code: 1
Release Date: September 30, 2003
Running Time: 98 minutes
Sales Rank: 622
Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
Theatrical Release Date: March 08, 1996
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Editorial Review:
Product Description:
A persistent, pregnant police chief tries to solve the disappearance of a wife and mother from Fargo.
Genre: Feature Film-Drama
Rating: R
Release Date: 11-JAN-2005
Media Type: DVD
Amazon.com essential video:
Leave it to the wildly inventive Coen brothers (Joel directs, Ethan produces, they both write) to concoct a fiendishly clever kidnap caper that's simultaneously a comedy of errors, a Midwestern satire, a taut suspense thriller, and a violent tale of criminal misfortune. It all begins when a hapless car salesman (played to perfection by William H. Macy) ineptly orchestrates the kidnapping of his own wife. The plan goes horribly awry in the hands of bumbling bad guys Steve Buscemi and Peter Stormare (one of them being described by a local girl as 'kinda funny lookin'' and 'not circumcised'), and the pregnant sheriff of Brainerd, Minnesota, (played exquisitely by Frances McDormand in an Oscar-winning role) is suddenly faced with a case of multiple murders. Her investigation is laced with offbeat observations about life in the rural hinterland of Minnesota and North Dakota, and Fargo embraces its local yokels with affectionate humor. At times shocking and hilarious, Fargo is utterly unique and distinctly American, bearing the unmistakable stamp of its inspired creators. --Jeff Shannon
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating:  - Didya hear the one about the guy who couldn't afford personalized plates, so he went and changed his name to J3L2404?
Fargo is among the better efforts of the Coen Brothers. Frances McDormand won an Oscar for her portrayal of Brainerd Police Chief Marge Gunderson. It was well deserved, as she not only mastered the Midwest accent but created a complex character that was almost naive, always seeing the good in people and situations; but nevertheless, was a clever detective who relentlessly pursued criminals in spite of the fact that she was pregnant. William H. Macy and Steve Buscemi were also great in this movie. They captured the flaws and weakness in their respective characters well. The whole darn cast was excellent, and everything worked. You might be laughing at the quirky Midwest characters and their funny accents, but then you have to admire the son-of-a Gundersons.
Of the Coen Brothers' films I have seen, I felt that 'The Man Who Wasn't There' and 'Barton Fink' simply didn't work (still interesting though more like failed experiments), but 'O, Brother, Where Art Thou?' 'Raising Arizona,' and of course cult classic 'The Big Lebowski' were superb. 'Fargo' might just seem like a lot of quirks and foibles but actually there is a lot of keen observation of human behavior, and after a while all those quirks and foibles add up to very memorable characters whose stories are told in quite compelling narratives.
I also like the visual symbolism, like the statue of Paul Bunyan who not only resembles (William H. Macy) Jerome 'Jerry' Lundegaard's father-in-law, (Harve Presnell) Wade Gustafson, ... Read More
Rating: - Who's the oriental guy?
I agree with the positive reviews here 100%, but apparently this must be your type of movie for this to apply - some do not get it. I notice a sub-plot that is intriguing - seemingly completely unnecessary (I'm waiting to hear the interviews) - and would like opinions from others. There's a scene where the sheriff (McDormand) meets what seems like an old friend/acquaintance from school, an oriental-looking guy - sorry can't remember his name. She meets him at the Radison I believe for lunch. Its a totally weird encounter as he begins seeming normal and progresses to trying to put the make on this obviously pregnant woman, which she skillfully rebuffs, and then turns tragic. Later in the movie McDormand talks on the phone with another school chum who fills her in that nothing the oriental guy disclosed to her as highly personal tragic info - none of it was true. He was totally deranged mentally. Like I said, its a captivating subplot, but what the Hell is it about?
Rating:  - Dissapointing
I keep hearing such wonderful things about this film. How original and quirky it is; how funny it is, etc. However, those people failed to mention that there is also a lack of plot. We get just a glimpse of the plot, that was truly never really resolved and had no beginning. Not to say that there aren't plenty of films like that. But Fargo wasn't doing anything for me. There was nothing shocking, or gruesome, or innovative about this film. And those accents were overdone. From what I hear, people really do talk like that in those parts. But it FELT overdone in the film to the point of annoying.
I am giving this 3 stars because of the acting, accents aside. William H. Macy is a true genius of an actor, no matter what role he plays. Steve Buscemi is in a class of his own and Frances McDormand is always spot on. They really made the most of the lacking script. I won't go so far as to call this film boring, but it certainly wasn't riveting.
Rating: - offbeat classic
There's plenty of info and deserved praise in the already-written reviews about the storyline, the great acting, atmospherics, dialogue, awards etc
Macy and McDormand rightfully take most of the focus, but look for the tiniest gem of a scene where Mr. Mohra, a quiet local shovelling snow, talks with a cop. It's the most understated of exchanges, practically a monologue, and it is just tight, polished and pitch perfect. It's a turning point in the movie, and two men are trading important info that changes everything, while barely looking at each other, before moving on to talk about the weather.
The take-home message for the scene, as well as the whole film is "if someone is quiet and kind, don't underestimate them."
Rating: - Suspenseful and unsettling. I still felt uncomfortable 3 days after watching it. No wonder it got 2 Oscars in 1997.
It's suspenseful and unsettling. I still felt uncomfortable 3 days after watching this movie. The acting is entertaining and engaging. It kept my eyes glued to the screen from the beginning till the end. The plot is deceptively simple. It could have happened in real life too. It's about a man tried to kill his wife. Yet the directing and acting make it gripping.
No wonder it got 2 Oscars in 1997. One was given to the Coen brothers for best original screenplay. The other was given to Frances McDormand for best actress.
Other good suspense movies are U 571, The Usual Supsects and 28 days later.
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