Jeri Jacquin, Movie Maven
On Blu-ray from directors/writers Joel & Ethan Coen, MGM and 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment is a look at a place called FARGO.
This film tells the story of pregnant Police Chief Marge (Frances McDormand), law in the town with a good attitude about life. That is until one of its towns people go missing! Wife of car dealer Jerry Lundegaard (William H. Macy) is kidnapped and Chief Marge begins the process of elimination.
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What she doesn’t know is that Jerry is up to no good! Hiring Carl (Steve Buscemi) and Gaear (Peter Stormare), the intent was to hold her for ransom and get a few bucks from Jerry’s rich father-in-law.
Not everything goes as planned, in fact things go a little whackadoodle but it’s Chief Marge who holds it all together and sees it all to the end you betcha!
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FINAL WORD: McDormand as Marge is just breathtaking to watch. Her calm demeanor and positive attitude seem so out of place yet exactly how I’d want my town’s police chief to be. Her wide eyed belief in humanity is never clouded, even when she discovers there is some craziness in the world. The scene with at the buffet just cracked me up – possibly because I’ve seen it in person before. McDormand is just amazing!
Macy as Jerry is a man living in his own world. Somehow believing he is smarter than everyone else is a jaw dropper. When he becomes flustered the character becomes hysterical which seems wrong since he’s a criminal! Thanks Coen Brothers, now I have to work that out in my psyche!
Buscemi as Carl is straight forward and a lot angry. He has no more patience than Jerry does and jumps around like a cat on a hot tin roof. I always thought how interesting it was that he didn’t stand out in a crowd – then I remember, this is FARGO. Buscemi takes his different Hollywood looks and is able to create a character within it. In this film it works to his advantage and works brilliantly.
Stomare as Gaear is just out and out creepy – period. Once again, an actor that can take his own looks and weave it into a character that shocks audiences. Up to the very end I wait to see what he will do next – I mean come on…a wood chipper?!?
Other cast include: Kristin Rudrud as Jean Lundegaard, Harve Presnell as Wade Gustafson, Tony Denman as Scotty Lundegaard and Steve Reevis as Shep Proudfoot.
TUBS OF POPCORN: I give FARGO four tubs of popcorn out of five. The first time I saw this film all I could think was ‘what the heck????’ because it was amazingly different from anything I’d seen before.
The story is so deliberate and the characters engaging and so much so this is the type of film where I find myself leaning in closer and closer to the screen. I do love the Coen Brothers work but I think FARGO is my personal favorite.
The cast is magnificent in roles that can never be repeated (and please don’t try) in a location that is an added character in the film. The DVD includes audio commentary with Roger Deakins, Trivia Track, Still Photo Gallery, “Minnesota Nice” featurette and “American Cinematographer” article.
FARGO is a film of perfection and those are hard to come by so get your copy and enjoy every moment of it.
In the end – it’s a homespun murder story!
To win a copy of FARGO email your name and address to hellomoviemaven@aol.com and good luck!
