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Fargo

  • 1996
  • R
  • 1h 38m
IMDb RATING
8.1/10
756K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
496
16
Fargo (1996)
Trailer for Fargo Only Be version
Play trailer0:32
12 Videos
99+ Photos
Cop DramaDark ComedyPolice ProceduralTragedyCrimeDramaThriller

Minnesota car salesman Jerry Lundegaard's inept crime falls apart due to his and his henchmen's bungling and the persistent police work of the quite pregnant Marge Gunderson.Minnesota car salesman Jerry Lundegaard's inept crime falls apart due to his and his henchmen's bungling and the persistent police work of the quite pregnant Marge Gunderson.Minnesota car salesman Jerry Lundegaard's inept crime falls apart due to his and his henchmen's bungling and the persistent police work of the quite pregnant Marge Gunderson.

  • Directors
    • Joel Coen
    • Ethan Coen
  • Writers
    • Ethan Coen
    • Joel Coen
  • Stars
    • William H. Macy
    • Frances McDormand
    • Steve Buscemi
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    8.1/10
    756K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    496
    16
    • Directors
      • Joel Coen
      • Ethan Coen
    • Writers
      • Ethan Coen
      • Joel Coen
    • Stars
      • William H. Macy
      • Frances McDormand
      • Steve Buscemi
    • 1.1KUser reviews
    • 145Critic reviews
    • 88Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Top rated movie #176
    • Won 2 Oscars
      • 84 wins & 58 nominations total

    Videos12

    Fargo
    Trailer 0:32
    Fargo
    Fargo
    Trailer 0:32
    Fargo
    Fargo
    Trailer 0:32
    Fargo
    Fargo
    Trailer 0:17
    Fargo
    Fargo
    Trailer 0:17
    Fargo
    Fargo
    Trailer 2:08
    Fargo
    Fargo
    Trailer 0:32
    Fargo

    Photos143

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    + 137
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    Top cast42

    Edit
    William H. Macy
    William H. Macy
    • Jerry Lundegaard
    Frances McDormand
    Frances McDormand
    • Marge Gunderson
    Steve Buscemi
    Steve Buscemi
    • Carl Showalter
    Peter Stormare
    Peter Stormare
    • Gaear Grimsrud
    Kristin Rudrüd
    Kristin Rudrüd
    • Jean Lundegaard
    Harve Presnell
    Harve Presnell
    • Wade Gustafson
    Tony Denman
    Tony Denman
    • Scotty Lundegaard
    Gary Houston
    Gary Houston
    • Irate Customer
    Sally Wingert
    • Irate Customer's Wife
    Kurt Schweickhardt
    • Car Salesman
    Larissa Kokernot
    • Hooker #1
    Melissa Peterman
    Melissa Peterman
    • Hooker #2
    Steve Reevis
    Steve Reevis
    • Shep Proudfoot
    • (as Steven Reevis)
    Warren Keith
    Warren Keith
    • Reilly Diefenbach
    • (voice)
    Steve Edelman
    • Morning Show Host
    Sharon Anderson
    • Morning Show Hostess
    Larry Brandenburg
    Larry Brandenburg
    • Stan Grossman
    James Gaulke
    James Gaulke
    • State Trooper
    • Directors
      • Joel Coen
      • Ethan Coen
    • Writers
      • Ethan Coen
      • Joel Coen
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews1.1K

    8.1756.2K
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    Summary

    Reviewers say 'Fargo' is acclaimed for its dark comedy and crime drama, highlighting the Coen brothers' distinct style. Frances McDormand's performance as Marge Gunderson is particularly lauded. The Minnesota setting enhances the film's atmosphere, blending tension with humor. Black humor, violence, and satire are noted as key elements. The dialogue's wit and realism contribute to the engaging narrative. Despite some critiques on pacing and character depth, 'Fargo' stands out in the Coen brothers' work.
    AI-generated from the text of user reviews

    Featured reviews

    7paul2001sw-1

    Cold-hearted

    The Coen brothers' 'Fargo' is nearly a great film: a beautifully shot, blackly comic thriller that quietly subverts every convention of the genre. This is a film where the remote mid-western city of Minneapolis plays the same role as New York in a normal crime story, a hub of civilisation and vice; where the hero is a woman (and a heavily pregnant, happily married woman at that); and the chief villain a car salesman of absolutely no slickness whatsoever. In a final irony, most of the action doesn't even take place in Fargo, but in the even more obscure town of Brainerd. Yet I found it hard to love this film. At brief moments (in depicting the relationship of policewoman Marge, played superbly by Frances McDormaid, and her husband), it feels astonishingly tender, yet at others, it feels as if it is simply making fun of the strange folks from outer America with the wacky accents and absurdly stoical demeanour. And the combination of deadpan acting and frankly silly plot excess sometimes works and sometimes doesn't. Above all else, perhaps, 'Fargo' lacks a beating heart: while nearly moving, and nearly funny, there's a part of this film that refuses to commit itself, that prefers to hold back and mock not just its subjects, but also the idea that a film should take itself seriously. The Coens are widely celebrated as among the best film-makers of our age, but watching their films, I usually end up wondering whether irony is not a slightly over-rated virtue. Fargo looks lovely, and weird, and has a wry outlook all of it's own; but it won't make you laugh out loud, or cry. If it wasn't called a masterpiece I might almost like it.
    aharmon

    You're darned tootin'!

    "What'd this guy look like anyway?" "Oh, he was a little guy, kinda funny lookin'." "Uh-huh. In what way?" "Just a general way." In that interplay between a Brainerd, MN., police officer and a witness discussing a criminal investigation, you have one of your principal pieces of dialogue from what is considered by many to be Joel and Ethan Coen's finest film. Of course you can draw comparisons to others they've made, such as Blood Simple, Raising Arizona, even Barton Fink and The Big Lebowski. But Fargo illustrates the Coen Brothers' takes on plot, art and drama more succinctly and emotionally than any of those others. Here you have a set of memorable, if not always likable, characters in a plot that goes from clunky to chaotic in the most unspoiled manner, from Jerry Lundegaard's stilted conversation with Gaear and Carl in a bar in Fargo at the beginning of the movie - the only occasion in which the movie specifically shows you Fargo, N.D. - to Marge Gunderson's confrontation with Gaear and the wood-chipper. Frances McDormand deservedly won an Oscar for playing a well-balanced, intelligent, pregnant police officer placing her own straightforward methodology on to an investigation of bizarre goings-on. And William H. Macy gives a true one-two punch playing a frenetically-charged, fearful and, in the end, inept used car salesman trying in the most remarkable manner to make money. The two best scenes in the movie are the two occasions in which Marge questions Jerry about the Brainerd murders and a car from his lot being involved -- I couldn't imagine an actress doing a better job of seriously but comically exclaiming, "He's fleeing the interview!" Notable among the actors as well are Steve Buscemi and Peter Stormare playing Carl and Gaear, the two hit men hired by Jerry to help him con his father-in-law out of money. There's comic brilliance watching Stormare silently grimace at Buscemi's violent but gregarious behavior, and Buscemi shines being able to play the most out-of-control of all the characters in the movie. Kristin Rudrüd also stands out playing Jean Lundegaard, Jerry's haplessly kidnapped wife. If you can appreciate an intelligent look at not-always-so-intelligent life on this planet, you'll enjoy the little more than the hour and a half this movie has to show you.
    8Stibbert

    Thank's a bunch for this one

    Fargo is a great piece of movie. It has a strong story and a strong cast. It's down to earth and believable.

    Jerry Lundegaard is in some trouble. He hires two small time crocks from Fargo to kidnap his wife. The plan is for her father to pay off and for Jerry to take the money. Things don't exactly goes as planned as they kill three people and get a pregnant Chief on their tail.

    The Coen brothers have does a terrific job on this movie. It's a well written, original story with an original setting and it doesn't try to be anything it isn't. Just a few characters, a simple plot and small scale. They stay away of clichés and don't even remotely try to mix in anything of that regular Hollywood crap. They manage to capture the mood, the people and the action pretty good. The characters are great, they're reasonable and believable. They manage to keep it serious, but not too serious and put inn a joke here and there.

    The actors are great. They way they manage to put on a happy smile and make it seem polite and a little, but not all too false in a great way. William H. Macy is great as Jerry Lundegaard. He gives a little nervous, kind of boy scout performance and it fits perfect. Steve Buscemi and Peter Stormare makes two great small time losers. Buscemi is great as a small, funny looking, constant talking bad guy and Stormare fits the big silent, violent, psychopath type really good and they act these characters all the way out. Kristin Rudrüd does a good job as Jean Lundegaard and Harve Presnell as the rich dad is always a winner.

    The cinematography is good. All of the shots are good looking and some of them are original, cool and extra good looking. All of the shots are well composed, the lightning is good, but not much out of the ordinary. There are a nice play with the colors in some shots involving the snow.

    The score is really nice. The theme is a little sad and so is the movie. It's moody and supports the action and fits the settings very well. It's used in a classical way between the action and that works very well, it makes the action seem more real and more close.

    Fargo is a original movie out of the ordinary. The story is good, well written and it's well brought to life and captured. The Coen brothers has made a timeless and very enjoyable movie. See it!
    8Sleepin_Dragon

    It's such an entertaining film.

    Jerry Lundegaard is sick of working for his father in law, sick of his wife, and decides it's time to get rid of his challenging relatives, he employs hitmen, but things don't go according to plan.

    Fargo is one of those films that didn't finish with time, arguably it gets better with subsequent viewings. Yes it's a thriller, but it's way too comical to be a straight up action thriller, the humour is prevelant throughout, it's a black comedy, and for my money, it's one of the best of them, some of the situations are outrageous.

    It's almost a little surreal at times, let's be clear, this is not based on any real life events, what it is however is thoroughly entertaining. It will make you want to watch the TV series.

    I will never tire of hearing the word 'Marge,' and if you're watching for the first time, you'll hear it a lot, you'll also hear some curious accents.

    Very well acted, William H. Macy and Steve Buscemi nailed it for me.

    I'd have gone crazy at that lake too!

    8/10.
    tfrizzell

    One of Those Rare Gems in the Cinema

    With all the sorry films these days it is good to see a movie as funny, wicked, dramatic, and utterly demented as "Fargo". It's one of those films that you just have to see. William H. Macy gives an Oscar-nominated performance as a car salesman who hires two thugs (one a know-it-all-know-nothing and the other a demented psychopath) to kidnap his wife so that he can keep half the ransom from her well-off father. Needless to say nothing goes right and Brainerd sheriff Frances McDormand (in an Oscar-winning role) comes in to save the day. I won't give anything away because the material is too good to tell those who haven't seen this inventive film. "Fargo" was ranked on the 100 Greatest Films list in 1996 and it was well-deserved. In this age of by-the-numbers film making, this film was a refreshing flashback to the risk-taking style that made the 1970s such a great decade for movies. 5 stars out of 5.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The snow plow that drives past the motel at the end of the film was not part of the script. Signs in the area warned motorists not to drive through due to filming, but a state employee ignored them.
    • Goofs
      Jean Lundegaard dials 911 from a phone in the upstairs bathroom. A few seconds later, the phone is disconnected. While modern 911 systems could automatically identify the address, that was not the case in 1987. The dispatcher might not have been able to take any further action.
    • Quotes

      Marge Gunderson: [to Gaear] So, that was Mrs. Lundegaard on the floor in there. And I guess that was your accomplice in the wood chipper. And those three people in Brainerd. And for what? For a little bit of money? There's more to life than a little money, you know. Don'tcha know that? And here ya are, and it's a beautiful day. Well. I just don't understand it.

    • Crazy credits
      A symbol similar to the Artist Formerly Known as Prince is in the credits as "victim in field", but it is not him, it is J. Todd Anderson, the storyboard artist.
    • Alternate versions
      Polygram Filmed Entertainment sold most of its film library to MGM in 1999. As a result, post-1999 MGM prints have an opening and closing logo except for the 1999 VHS reissue which contained neither logo. In addition, both MGM logos are both plastered in other releases like the 2001 variant in the Blu-ray prints, and 2012 variant in Shout!'s Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD prints.
    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Up Close and Personal/Muppet Treasure Island/Fargo/Heidi Fleiss: Hollywood Madam/The Young Poisoner's Handbook (1996)
    • Soundtracks
      Do You Know the Way to San Jose
      Written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David

      Published by Blue Seas Music, Inc. and JAC Music Co., Inc.

      Recording courtesy Alshire International

      Muzak heard playing while Marge and Norm Gunderson are at an all-you-can-eat buffet

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 5, 1996 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Fargo. Secuestro voluntario
    • Filming locations
      • Grafton, North Dakota, USA(Burying the money in the snow)
    • Production companies
      • Polygram Filmed Entertainment
      • Working Title Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $7,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $24,611,975
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $730,265
      • Mar 10, 1996
    • Gross worldwide
      • $60,611,975
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 38 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby SR
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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