Fargo (1996)
- Starring:
- Frances McDormand, William H. Macy, (more)
- Director(s):
- Joel Coen
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- R
Member Rating
My RatingSynopsis of Fargo
Filmmaking siblings Joel Coen and Ethan Coen both embraced and poked satirical fun at their Minnesotan roots with this comedy-drama-thriller that earned seven Oscar nominations, winning for Best Actress and Best Original Screenplay. Frances McDormand stars as Marge Gunderson, a pregnant police chief whose affable, folksy demeanor masks a whip-smart mind. When a pair of motorists are found slain not far from the corpse of a state trooper, Marge begins piecing together a case involving a pair of dopey would-be kidnappers, Carl (Steve Buscemi) and Gaear (Bergman stock player Peter Stormare). They've been hired by Jerry Lundegaard (William H. Macy), a car salesman under the thumb of his wealthy, overbearing boss and father-in-law, Wade (Harve Presnell). Jerry's raised some money illegally through a petty scam he's run on General Motors and he's about to get caught. When Wade sours a business deal that could save his son-in-law's hide, the desperate Jerry hires Carl and Gaear to kidnap his wife and hold her for ransom. Things go predictably wrong and a series of murders occur, with Marge, waddling along behind her enormous belly and ever-hungering for an all-you-can-eat buffet, hot on the trail of the killers. Although the credits for Fargo state that the film is loosely based on real events, the story is entirely fictional, the claim being just an ironic jibe on the part of the Coens. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
- Theatrical Feature Running Time:
- 98 mins
Complete Cast of Fargo
- Frances McDormand - Marge Gunderson
- Steve Buscemi - Carl Showalter
- Harve Presnell - Wade Gustafson
- Kristin Rudrud - Jean Lundegaard
- Stephen Park - Mike Yanagita
- Warren Keith - Reilly Diefenbach
- José Feliciano - Himself
- Gary Houston - Irate Customer
- William H. Macy - Jerry Lundegaard
- Peter Stormare - Gaear Grimsrud
- John Carroll Lynch - Norm Gunderson
- Larry Brandenburg - Stan Grossman
- Steve Reevis - Shep Proudfoot
- Sharon Anderson - Morning Show Hostess
- Bruce Campbell - Soap Opera Star on TV
- Cliff Rakerd - Officer Olson
- Director(s):
- Joel Coen
- Writer(s):
- Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
- Producer(s):
- John Cameron, Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- R(Graphic Violence, Adult Humor)
- 1998 - American Film Institute - 100 Greatest American Movies
- 1996 - Broadcast Film Critics Association - Best Picture
- 1996 - Broadcast Film Critics Association - Best Actress
- 1996 - Cannes Film Festival - Best Director
- 1996 - Chicago Film Critics Association - Best Picture
- 1996 - Chicago Film Critics Association - Best Original Score
- 1996 - Chicago Film Critics Association - Best Screenplay
- 1996 - Chicago Film Critics Association - Best Director
- 1996 - Chicago Film Critics Association - Best Actress
- 1996 - Chicago Film Critics Association - Best Screenplay
- 1996 - Independent Spirit Awards - Best Picture
- 1996 - Independent Spirit Awards - Best Cinematography
- 1996 - Independent Spirit Awards - Best Actor
- 1996 - Independent Spirit Awards - Best Actress
- 1996 - Independent Spirit Awards - Best Screenplay
- 1996 - Independent Spirit Awards - Best Director
- 1996 - Independent Spirit Awards - Best Screenplay
- 1996 - Los Angeles Film Critics Association - Best Screenplay
- 1996 - Los Angeles Film Critics Association - Best Screenplay
- 1996 - National Board of Review - Best Actress
- 1996 - National Board of Review - Best Director
- 1996 - New York Film Critics Circle - Best Picture
- 1996 - Screen Actors Guild - Best Actress
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