Sometimes the humour is so dark, we wonder if we're supposed to be laughing but I gotta say, it's without doubt in my top 25 of all time. Very, very re-watchable and with magnificent performances from Steve buschemi, William Macy and Frances Mcdormand. It set the standard high for Joel and Ethan and except for one disappointing 2004 slip up they have succeeded in meeting it everytime. Be warned however the film is incredibly bloody but if not squeamish (there's one particularly visceral moment) this is a hilarious, smart, perfect comedy that taught me how depraved my humour really was! Seriously everything about this movie is brilliant!… Expand

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 never funny, never believable, never exciting. In short, a waste of time.

Fargo is not thrilling nor is it funny nor is it great. The Coen brothers film lack's suspense because most of the story is layed out for the viewer. The character's are all jerks except for Marge who is slightly annoying and stupid. Many people will say im not respecting the art that is put into Fargo but I just don't see it. The film's simplicity does not go to it's advantage because it does not give the viewer anything special about it. In the end Fargo is a crime comedy that is average with it's crime story and is a film that is not very funny.… Expand

A real stunner of a film. Unique, satisfying, and memorable, Fargo is a real winner, not to be missed.

Screw the violence, leave likability behind, and let your senses realize, that "Fargo" is one of the greatest thrillers of all-time.

The Coen brothers' films tend to rely heavily on regional caricature for their impact, and bless 'em, they do it well. In Fargo the brothers turn their camera on their own native state of Minnesota. The result is a guilty pleasure of a comic thriller, right down to the mayonnaise-laden buffets. More than a little mean-spirited, yes, but funny and gripping in spite of itself. Kudos to William H. Macy as the unforgettable Jerry Lundegaard, to the Mutt-and-Jeff duo played by Steve Buscemi and Peter Stormare, and to the great Frances McDormand as a Minnesota-riffic pregnant cop. For a more respectful, and brilliant, take on the snowy-upper-Midwest thriller, try "A Simple Plan."… Expand

How can they be laughing at Minnesotans? They ARE Minnesotans, f'crying out loud. Either way, this is one of the very best films ever made, brutal and disturbing, garaunteed (sic) to leave you aghast at the very notion of criminal activity. Have the Coen brothers made a bad film yet? No, of course not. And they never will.

This is the funniest, best, most original film I have ever seen. Great acting from all the actors!

Kind of an annoying joke repeated over and over again. How many "eh's" can you laugh at? Apparently, a lot for most audiences. Reminded me of the MacKenzie Brothers with a little more drama and weight. The Coen brothers put out some great stuff, but I'd say this ain't one of them.

Great movie! I may take offense if I were from North Dakota or Minnesota but they were exaggerating the accent a little. I thought all the actors were great.

A classic that still seems fresh, funny and completely new over a decade later. P.S. I know it seems nitpicky, but Metacritic, you have in the synopsis that Frances McDormand is the wife who gets kidnapped. She's not. She's the cop. Just thought I'd let you know.

I am a fan of the Cohen brothers films since seeing "Barton Fink" years ago. This film Fargo left me annoyed and empty. Lots of quirky characters and absolutely no theme or anything worthwhile to think about. Not even very humorous, just mean. And yet for some reason this is their most well know film?! Sad.

This and "Miller's Crossing" are the two most brilliant Coen bros. films! This film is flawless!

This film is the greastest film of all time. It might have some greusome violence, but it is highly necessary to capture the feeling of rawness that is being portrayed. In addition, the Coen Brothers keep one entertained with non stop laughs and Frances McDormand give a simply breath taking performance as the pregnant cop Margie.

I'm a huge fan of the Coens, especially the Big Lebowski, but I just felt this was a total waste of my time...i laughed only when Buscemi forced out another awkward F bomb.

For all its intelligence and dedication, this is ultimately another smarmy Coen Brothers film. The movie is condescending toward white and blue collar criminals alike, toward law enforcement officers and other square folk. I guess only the Coens know best. It's feels as though everyone in the movie is a psycho of one sort of another. You got the dangerous psychos but the female officer is a kind of a psycho too; she's so sure of her duties as officer and her sense of right and wrong that she's as blind to the human complexity as anyone else. Still, suspenseful as crime drama, as ensemble acting, and as surehanded directorial exercise, this qualifies as one of the key films of the 90s. … Expand

Ingenious!

Ingenious!

Easily one of the greatest films of all time.

One of the funniest movies of all time. This is definitely going into a favorites list. Oh gosh!

One of the finest films ever made. It's been said over and over that this is a modern American classic. They say that because it's true. Just watch the movie, and you'll see how the perfect movie is made. It's incredibly difficult to provide specifics about why this movie succeeds, perhaps because there are no glaring flaws that work to contrast with the film's strengths. It's simply perfect, isn't it.… Expand

Violent, bloody... but the most important thing is... it´s great. Frances McDormand is the best performance of the film, Buscemi and Macy are brilliant too!! A really master piece.10

Fargo is a great movie. It is by far the best Coen Brothers movie and also one of the greatest of all time. It is amazing how it can be intense and brutal while three minutes later, funny.

Macy is great and McDormand is very good, but I think The Hudsucker Proxy is a slightly better film.

A classic...suspenseful at times...horrifying at others...hilarious at times, too. It's got it all.

Meanspirited is right. No depth to speak of. A waste of time. the only scene worth watching is the relationship between the loving wife (detective) and her husband the stamp illustrator. Other than that, no one really cares about anyone else in this movie, the screenwriter patronizes them all, and the viewer is left with a shallow movie that simply is not worth caring about. All that was left was an attempt at comedy, and it was nothing more than dopey humor, which was not the least bit amusing. Bummer of a film.… Expand

Best viewed knowing little or nothing about the Coen brothers and their work. I am speaking from experience because I saw Fargo when it first came out on video (a good 5 yrs ago) and at the time I had not seen nor even heard of the Coens' films. I am sure that primarily because of this, I was hit for six (cricket term) by this oddball of a movie. I loved it. I told everyone I knew about it, remarking "I have just seen this amazing film, it's so unique and funny and different, you've got to see it, you'll love it".....blah blah.....you get the idea, it was words to that effect. Anyway, my point being that if you watch this film without any pre-conceived notions and perceptions, you should adore it. Even if you're familiar with the Coens' work, this one should impress and entertain highly. The script is very clever, the setting is appropriately very unattractive, the actors are very skilled, and the two men in control are very very inspired!… Expand

A film more flawless than "Fargo" doesn't come to mind because there isn't one. It is the epitome of the pitch-perfect motion picture, and it features two of the most superb performances in recent history by William H. Macy and Frances McDormand. It's simply one of the greatest thrillers of all-time.

Just average. this is one of the most overhyped movies i seen in a while. it was decent. its by no means a bad movie but damn this movie was really overated thats all i got to say. i dont see alot thats so special about it.

Face it, Coen films are quirky, and their best moments are when their quirks ring true. For me, who has survived 3 winters in eastern Montana, this is their quirk masterpiece and a 10 movie. Not only was it cold and blizzarddy, but creative beyond expectation. McDormand nailed it when she noted it's a beautiful day, despite it being only a typical horribly ugly miserable prairie winter day. Have to give it a 9 because, yes it's film gothic, but even a slow Swede doesn't have the hood up on his parka when the neighborhood is awash in melt water. … Expand

Having lived in the city of Fargo from 1998 to 2009, I can tell you a fair amount of people there don't like this movie. I, however, think it's great. Of course, most anything directed by the Cohen brothers will be good. And Steve Buscemi makes any movie even better.

Definitely not the worst film - but my least favourite film of the Coens, I was bored with the plot and it tried to be a dark comedy, but it was just dark. Frances McDormand is cute as Marge but she gives a very plain performance if you ask me. But watch this for Peter Stormare's disposing of the body technique. That's it.

fantastic film very good would highly reccomend i was speachless at the ending of it people who gave it negative should really watch it again and see it for its true beauty

Since Minnesota is the star of this film, an undiscovered cinematic landscape, expectations as an audience will be understated as a new frontier is established. The premise is noir-ish, a slick crime caper with twists, and the Coen's batter you with their isolated sense of belonging where character is not representative of action. Kind hearted men make mistakes, arrogant patriarchs are heroic and women are almost childlike. These examples build a topsy-turvy world where the stability of the wintry environment is redemptive and though not able to offer peace, it incubates life. Behind an implicit sense of humour that is never exploited is the warm tale of a cold world where beauty is detached from humanity. Possibly one of the greatest achievements in cinema to date. 100/100… Expand

Very gruesome and that was with seeing it on TV. However, a great black comedy. When it was funny, it was funny. The acting was superb. The setting great. Directing outstanding. It was the violence that had me put it at an 8. That's just the way I am even though it was integral to the movie.

When I first heard of Fargo, I thought from all these reviews that it was a comedy. When I read the genre, it told me it was a crime-thriller. And before I watched it on Epix, I learned it was a dark comedy. Then I thought I was gonna hate this movie, for the film "A Serious Man" was a dark-comedy and was also directed by the Coen brothers, was a complete and utter failure to me. But I soon came to realize something during the film; this movie is amazing. It started as a comedy, in which the laughs were very dark and enjoyable, then grew into a problematic drama, which grew into a crime film, and then quickly into a thriller. All the genres that I expected were in the film, but never was my first thought about it. Fargo is a film that surprised me completely. Winning two academy awards (Best Actress and Best Original Screenplay), Fargo is an exciting adventure to watch. Based in small cities of Minnesota, Fargo is about a car salesman who tries to buy an investment on a parking lot. He needs money, so he decides to hire two thugs to kidnap his wife and ask for ransom from her father (who is extremely wealthy) so he can get the money to invest. But not all goes as planned, and murder, lying, robbery, and much more occur in the events that happen afterwards. Joel and Ethan always seem to make me happy (besides "A Serious Man"), and not many directors can do that. The Acting was very well done, and I disagree with the Academy at not giving William H. Macy a nomination for Best Lead Actor, and not giving him a win for Best Supporting Actor. I believe his acting was more better than Francis McDormand, although she also did deserve her win. Steve Beschumi also played his part as a villain well, as he always does. The Cinematography of this film was good. But I am also upset with the Academy for not giving this film a nomination for the score, which was excellent. It was perfect for the film, and fit the scenes well. If I heard this score again, I'd know it was from Fargo. The film really revolves around the characters alot in the film, and I give much respect for the film. The different character's lives and feelings were depicted in a very different way, with scenes that just brought happiness, terror, or humor to the eyes of the character's, and the audiences. But, there were little parts in the film that I didn't like, starting with some unnecessary scenes. There were amounts of sex in the film which didn't need to be there, and some scenes that didn't make any sense. And then there was the fact that the police officer was pregnant, which brought a few laughs to the film, but no actual meaning to the plot. That's really all. All in all, this was a film that should be viewed by any happy, mature audience, and should be praised highly by everyone.… Expand

If someone dares to say that Fargo is not one of the greatest films of all time, promptly slap them over the head, walk into the nearest hunting supplies store, return with an axe, chop the nay-sayer in half, and feed the corpse into a wood chipper. If that seems too harsh, you don't get Fargo.

I can't really say what's wrong with this film cause I loved it while it lasted but when it ended I felt kind of disappointed. I guess that makes it perfect for the second viewing. By the way, Frances McDormand won an Oscar for this film as a leading actress but she is actually a supporting. And most of her scenes were distracting from the central plot, but she gave it a comic relief. William H. Macy is lead but he was nominated for supporting. Buscemi and Stormare are standout.… Expand

Uma das grandes obras dos irmãos Coen. Um festival de trapalhadas vai moldando um clássico do humor negro graças a Steve Buscemi e Frances McDormand e ogrande roteiro dos irmãos.

It stands as one fine achievement. It accomplished so much in storytelling yet it was incredibly simplistic. Very funny with heavy use of satire. The atmosphere around Fargo proves that the Coen brothers know how to direct a movie. And what a movie it is.

A classic. A very interesting, yet simplistic story, some very interesting characters and brilliant acting. Also has a fantastic atmosphere. I recommend this great movie.

I really enjoyed this film, it is a twisted comedy which really works because of the innocents of Midwest America. It is easy to see why Frances McDormand won a Oscar for her role as the pregnant police chief, she was believable and warm while trying to track down murderers while their list of victims keeps growing. I don't think this film could of worked in many other locations then North Dakota/Minnesota, just the subtle charm and innocents of the people is what makes this film in my mind. I give it a 7.4 out of 10, definitely will be watching the one again.… Expand

When I first watched this i didn't know it was another Cohen film I liked. Love this film cuz' of the heavy accents (from "da norte US, eh") but also cuz of the simple story as well. Macey steels this flick in his role. And although their is inherent violence, you can easily begin to identify with with each character. Which, goes a long way about describing this movie.

Fargo is a movie that can certainly be slow at times, but the plot always keep you interested in the movie and overall, it is certainly a great movie. The acting and directing were both on point.

Oh ya, you betcha. Fargo's definitely one the most original, darkly funny, and ultimately maniacal movies I've seen. It's ring is almost that of a Pulp Fiction that takes place in Minnesota. It has all the same quirks.

Either I don't understand Fargo or..The movie isn't good. I love Coen films like No Country For Old Men or The Big Lebowski but Fargo isn't how they are.The story is terrible,the characters are annoying. I don't understand the many good reviews.