Drama Pick: Fargo (1996)
FX’s excellent miniseries Fargo is currently amazing audiences on the small screen, so what better time is there to revisit the classic that made it all possible? As directed by Joel and Ethan Coen, Fargo is one of those gifts that just keeps giving every time you watch it. I used to think that it was hard to describe what makes the film so amazing – but I’ve since realized that absolutely everything in this film works together to create a masterful cinematic experience.
It’s hard to point to just one character as the protagonist in Fargo because the Coen Brothers do such a tremendous job of making every character essential. However, the action of the film can be traced back to car salesman Jerry Lundegaard (William H. Macy), who concocts a harebraiend scheme to kidnap his infuriating wife Jean (Kristin Rudrud) with the help of professional criminals Carl Showalter (Steve Buscemi) and Gaear Grimsrud (Peter Stormare). Things turn bloody when three locals see the kidnapping and are promptly gunned down. Enter pregnant sheriff Marge Gunderson, (Frances McDormand), whose thorough investigation of the three murders complicates matters for Jerry. As she grows closer to learning the truth, the characters intersect in unexpected, violent and often hilarious ways.
McDormand’s performance won her an Oscar, and the script also won in Best Original Screenplay – both well deserved. There are many amazing performances in Fargo, however, so don’t think that McDormand’s work alone is what elevates Fargo. Rather, every performance is sublime, and all of them neatly capture the spirit of smalltown life in the Midwest.
I struggled with classifying Fargo as a drama, because it really isn’t in a lot of ways. It’s a black comedy and a crime thriller with seemingly half a dozen other genres quietly mixed in, but Netflix has spoken, and I’m more than happy to recommend Fargo – no matter what genre it falls into. The writing is sharp, the acting is all brilliant and the Coens expertly shoot the frigid landscape of Minnesota and North Dakota to create images of jaw-dropping beauty and emotion. Fargo is like a feast for cinephiles, with countless delectable ingredients coming together and being stirred to perfection by master chefs.