Movie Monday Jan. 24: Fargo

It’s post-holidays winter and, as much as I love sweaters and snow, this time of year can get a bit monotonous. Sometimes, though, the everyday can be weird and my movie monday pick for this week reflects that sentiment: Fargo. It’s one of my favorite black comedies and has inspired a cult following and a hit TV show.

**Warning, mild spoilers ahead, so if you haven’t watched the movie yet, what are you doing?**

In North Dakota, Jerry Lundegaard (William H. Macy), a cash strapped car dealership manager, decides to hire two men to kidnap his wife Jean (Kristin Rudrüd) in order to extort money from his father-in-law Wade (Harve Presnell). The kidnappers Carl (Steve Buscemi) and Gaear (Peter Stormare) end up killing three people in the process, including a state trooper. Pregnant police chief Marge Gunderson (Frances McDormand) leads the murder investigation, initially unaware that someone has been kidnapped. All of this leads to a chain of events including a botched ransome drop, additional murders, reconnecting with former classmates, and the most iconic scene with a woodchipper. Eventually, Marge is able to put the pieces together and solves the case.

The first time I watched Fargo, I found it a bit boring. I didn’t understand some of the humor for a movie set in rural North Dakota. The second time around I was a bit older and had developed a love for black comedies. Part of the humor is laughing at things no one in their right mind should find funny. The scenes go between inane, everyday conversations and heightened moments of confrontation and violence. This contrast is one of the elements that makes Fargo one of my favorite black comedies

I love this cast, especially Frances McDormand and pre-celebrity Steve Buscemi. The whole bit with him being a “funny-looking guy” can easily sum up his early career, but this film in my mind cements him as one of the best character actors of our time. I also can’t get over the VERY midwestern North Dakota accents.

Overall, Fargo is a great film for lovers of black comedies or the midwest. The little, everyday things add so many wonderful comedic moments. The pace and timing of the movie are perfect and the unexpected moments really do come out of nowhere.

One moment that made me laugh: The first time the audience meets Marge. She’s an unexpected protagonist and her accent kills me.

One moment that I loved: Do I even have to say is? Hands down the woodchipper scene. That or the pancakes conversation.

I’d give Fargo 9 “Dontcha Know”s out of 10.