Fargo

Name: Fargo
Genre: Drama, Thriller, Crime
Released: March 8, 1996
Duration: 98 min
Rating: 88
Cast: Frances McDormand, Steve Buscemi, William H. Macy

1996

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 26 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 799 Ratings

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8.6

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8.6	User Score Universal acclaim based on 799 Ratings

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Fargo

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Movie Details & Credits

Gramercy Pictures (I) | Release Date: March 8, 1996 | R

Starring: Frances McDormand, Steve Buscemi, William H. Macy

Summary: Jerry Lundegaard (William H. Macy) is a car salesman in Minneapolis who has landed himself deep into debt. Desperate for money, he hires two inept crooks to kidnap his own wife in the hope that her wealthy father will pay the ransom, giving him enough cash to pay off his associates and clear his debts.

Director: Ethan Coen and Joel Coen

Genre(s): Drama, Thriller, Crime

Rating: R

Runtime: 98 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

TNT RoughCut Gabriel J.P. Goldberg

As gruesome as Fargo is, the Coens keep us laughing with a Hollywood-centric view of middle America.

100

Film.com Keith Simanton

Uniquely fascinating.

100

The Guardian Peter Bradshaw

McDormand is perfect in the role. Read full review

Leonard Klady

In the darkly humorous Fargo, iconoclastic filmmakers Joel and Ethan Coen manage the precarious balancing act of respecting genre conventions and simultaneously pushing them to an almost surrealistic extreme. Very funny stuff. Read full review

Marc Savlov

An immersion into the characters' world in toto, from the "Oh geezes" and the "Oh, yaahs" to the dark and flinty core beneath. Read full review

Jonathan Rosenbaum

What mainly registers is the quiet desperation and simple pleasures of ordinary midwestern lives, the fatuous ways that people cover up their emotional and intellectual gaps, and the alternating pointlessness and cuteness of human existence. This may be a masterpiece of sorts, but it left me feeling rotten. Read full review

Richard Corliss

All attitude and low aptitude. Read full review

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User Reviews

ethanstapley

Dec 20, 2017

Ohh yaaaaah I loved this film. Blending a dark story with comedy fantastically results in one of the Coen's finest. Entertaining performances throughout and a unique crime setting on the big screen.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Robwinz

Dec 11, 2020

Fargo is actually a brilliant movie and it's honestly a masterpiece and a half. The movie's got such a brilliant story with such a strong script, which has been well written.

The movie's got some brilliant performances from each character throughout this movie, especially from Carl (SteveFargo is actually a brilliant movie and it's honestly a masterpiece and a half. The movie's got such a brilliant story with such a strong script, which has been well written.

The movie's got some brilliant performances from each character throughout this movie, especially from Carl (Steve Buscemi) he's honestly amazing throughout this movie.

The dialogue which is given from each character throughout this movie is honestly very strong dialogue, each piece of dialogue is received so beautifully and it's so well done.

Also, the movie's got some great humour from each character throughout this movie. All of the humour throughout this movie works really well in making me laugh in some sort of way.

The movie's pacing is honestly great, each main moment is built up so well and non of the moments start to feel like they drag, which is quite good.

The movie's cinematographer Roger Deakins does such a beautiful job on capturing each moment so beautifully. He's honestly one of the best cinematographers to this day, he always does such a beautiful job on capturing these moments so beautifully.

Finally, the movie's got some very gory moments scattered throughout, they're all very well made. Also, the gory moments are all well built up with the great pacing throughout this movie and they all work so perfectly well.

The makeup artist who's called John Blake does such a brilliant job on making the gory look to the characters come to life.

Overall, Fargo is honestly a brilliant movie and it's even a masterpiece and a half. The movie's got a brilliant story, brilliant performances, strong dialogue, great humour, great pacing, beautiful cinematography, lots of gory moments and a brilliant makeup artist.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

RamonGuerrero

May 1, 2014

A comedy thriller by the hand of Ethan Coen, and a sharp script that makes us laugh while being at the edge of the seat. Short, Entertaining, funny, brutal, unforgettable performances, murders, jokes. What's not to love in this masterpiece?

9 of 11 users found this helpful92

DirectorCritics

Apr 15, 2017

I LOVE THIS MOVIE SO MUCH, is not my fave coen brothers movie, but is really great, the best part obviously is Frances Mcdormand, god damned she is perfect in the film.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

eva3si0n

Jun 3, 2017

Excellent movie. On the stylistics very much reminds the Pulp fiction and in general Tarantino's style. Action is developed slowly, the movie and characters deride all situation which happens to them. Dialogues are very abrupt, especially constant repetition "Yes?". I have decided to watchExcellent movie. On the stylistics very much reminds the Pulp fiction and in general Tarantino's style. Action is developed slowly, the movie and characters deride all situation which happens to them. Dialogues are very abrupt, especially constant repetition "Yes?". I have decided to watch the movie, before the series of the same name, I have never regretted.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

Conair

Oct 18, 2020

They really beat the whole Minnesota thing to death, yeah? Oh yeah, you betcha, they sure did. I would hardly call Fargo a thriller. Just because a movie has thrilling scenes doesn't make it a thriller. With all it's letdowns, Fargo is still a quirky, charming movie with great performances,They really beat the whole Minnesota thing to death, yeah? Oh yeah, you betcha, they sure did. I would hardly call Fargo a thriller. Just because a movie has thrilling scenes doesn't make it a thriller. With all it's letdowns, Fargo is still a quirky, charming movie with great performances, interesting cinematography and an atmosphere that hugs you and then shoves you down a woodchipper.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Nazgulero

Jul 6, 2011

This movie won two Oscars...it must have been a bad year at the movies. The movie never can decide if it wants to be a comedy or a thriller. Dorky cops, quirky characters that seem to have escaped from a slapstick flick, yet a brutal killer is at work, too. It doesn't go together. It's neverThis movie won two Oscars...it must have been a bad year at the movies. The movie never can decide if it wants to be a comedy or a thriller. Dorky cops, quirky characters that seem to have escaped from a slapstick flick, yet a brutal killer is at work, too. It doesn't go together. It's never funny, never believable, never exciting. In short, a waste of time.… Expand

4 of 31 users found this helpful427

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2	#2 Best Movie of 1996
3	#3 Most Discussed Movie of 1996
7	#7 Most Shared Movie of 1996