Rent Fargo (1996)
4.2 of 5 from 681 ratings
1h 34min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
- Jerry (William H. Macy), a small-town Minnesota car salesman is bursting at the seams with debt... but he's got a plan. He's going to hire two thugs (Steve Buscemi and Peter Stormare) to kidnap his wife in a scheme to collect a hefty ransom from his wealthy father-in-law. It's going to be a snap and nobody's going to get hurt... until people start dying. Enter Police Chief Marge (Frances McDormand), a coffee-drinking, parka-wearing - and extremely pregnant -investigator who'll stop at nothing to get her man. And if you think her small-time investigative skills will give the crooks a run for their ransom... you betcha!
- Actors:
- William H. Macy, Frances McDormand, Steve Buscemi, Peter Stormare, Kristin Rudrüd, Harve Presnell, Tony Denman, Gary Houston, Sally Wingert, Kurt Schweickhardt, Larissa Kokernot, Melissa Peterman, Steve Reevis, Steve Edelman, Sharon Anderson, Larry Brandenburg, James Gaulke, J. Todd Anderson, Michelle Suzanne LeDoux, John Carroll Lynch
- Directors:
- Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
- Voiced By:
- Warren Keith, Rose Stockton
- Narrated By:
- Don Wescott
- Writers:
- Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
- Others:
- Joel Coen, Ethan Coen, Roger Deakins, Roderick Jaynes
- Studio:
- MGM
- Genres:
- Comedy, Drama
- Collections:
- Award Winners, BAFTA Nominations Competition 2023, BAFTA Nominations Competition 2024, Best Film Quests and Adventures, Films by Genre, Getting to Know..., Getting to Know: Frances McDormand, Hare We Go Again! - Bunny Movies For Easter: Part 2, Holidays Film Collection, Oscar Nominations Competition 2023, Oscar's Two-Time Club, Oscars: Winners & Losers, Remembering Gena Rowlands, Top 10 Films Turned Into TV Series, Top 10 Winter and Snow Films, Top 100 AFI Laughs, Top Films
- Awards:
- BBFC:
- Release Date:
- 04/05/2009
- Run Time:
- 98 minutes
- Languages:
- English Dolby Digital 2.0, English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, French Dolby Digital 5.1, French DTS 5.1, German DTS 5.1, Italian DTS 5.1, Japanese DTS 5.1, Portuguese Dolby Digital 5.1, Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1, Spanish DTS 5.1
- Subtitles:
- Cantonese, Croatian, Czech, Dutch, English Hard of Hearing, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish, Thai, Turkish
- Formats:
- Pal
- Aspect Ratio:
- Widescreen 1.85:1
- Colour:
- Colour
- Bonus:
- Audio commentary with director of photography Roger A. Deakins
- Trivia track
- 'Minnesota Nice' documentary
- Photo gallery
- TV spot
- American cinematography article
- Theatrical trailer
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Reviews (7) of Fargo
Brilliantly realised tragi-comedy. The Coen brothers best ever film. Five stars well deserved. - Fargo review by PV
This movie is the Coen Brothers best ever movie - it is a brilliantly realised tragi-comedy, where one man's decision leads to both his downfall and the demise of many others. It is straight out of ancient Greek drama actually - but none the worse for that.
The snowbounds scenes are beautifully filmed and make a great change for the usual Noo Yoik or LAla land settings. The Montana (?) accents show a little seen US Scandinavian ancestry, yah!
Superb acting all round; superbly structured unfolding of the tragedy; unusual and excellent music; intricate and believable plot. Everything in this film is spot-on!
The script is where it all starts and that is superb: the main plot is deepened by subplots - the police officer's pregnancy, her old mental friend etc.
The tragedy unfolds inevitably - like watching a car crash in slow motion: there is no way of stopping this juggernaut of consequences, not after the main character Jerry (who has money problems left unspecified) stars it rolling down the hill. You know people are gonna get hurt. Everyone in this movie is attempting to swindle everyone else, with tragic consqeuences. It's like Hamlet in the snow!
Those will small attention spans who want shoot-em-ups and car chases may be bored (but there are actually both in this). This unusual film makes a change from most Hollywood crime stories or TV series.
The acting and direction are brilliant throughout.
This movie well-desrved all its awards and probably should have won the best film Oscar too (I think that pile of piffle Braveheart beat it that year?).
I have watched this movie 3 times and loved it every time!
Highly Recommended. Maximum marks! Five stars with bells on and a sprinkle of snow on top!!!
1 out of 1 members found this review helpful.
Good but not that good - Fargo review by JD
I think the awards were a little generous. This story is a blend of brutal, unemotional killings and homely scenes of a small town pregnant detective that provides plenty of variety and an interesting plot but the direction was not outstanding, nor the acting. The murders are a fashionable spectre of splashing viscera which I do not think adds to the excitement value. I would rather recommend an episode of Columbo.
1 out of 6 members found this review helpful.
Wrong order - Fargo review by CB
Saw the TV series first, then this film.
Now I know why the TV series was so good...it was developed on the back of this film. Both female police officers were excellently portrayed, the out of control roller coaster sent events crashing to the inevitable dire conclusion. Excellent film! And TV series...
0 out of 0 members found this review helpful.