Fargo (1996)

Today's film is Fargo.  It is based on a true story.  This is a typical Coen brothers movie - overly violent, dramatic with a little comedy mixed in. Interesting fact: Not one single shot was actually filmed in Fargo. I give this movie an 8/10.  I absolutely adore the actors' accents too.

Jerry (played by ) is a mousy, timid who desperately needs money.  He hires two shady men, Carl and Gaear, to "kidnap" his wife to force her rich dad to pay the ransom (so he'll get a cut).  However, her dad agrees to look at another deal he has and may pay him money anyway, so he may want to take the deal back.  When I first saw the film as a kid, I didn't understand all the financial stuff, but it makes more sense to me know.  Why does Jerry need so much money?  I also think that he has been embezzling money from his car dealership.

Meanwhile, the shady men enter the house to kidnap Jerry's wife.  However, in her panic to escape, she falls down the stairs and passes out.  At night, while driving in Brainerd, a cop stops them for not having tags on their car.  Carl tries to talk his way out of it, but Gaear simply shoots the cop.  Carl struggles to drag the cop off the road.  Another car passes by, and Gaear, not wanting any witnesses, hops into the driver's seat and takes off after them.  He finds their car upside down in a snow-filled ditch, and shots both people in the car.  So, now a simple kidnapping to steal money from a rich father-in-law has turned into a murder-fest.

 In the middle of the night, Marge is called into work.  Marge is played by Frances McDormand, and she does an amazing job.  Her husband is sweet and fixes her breakfast before she has to go. After all, she is eating for two.  Marge is quick-witted and lets nothing gets past her.

The rich father-in-law decides to pay the ransom money himself and gets shot too!  Then, Carl comes to steal the ransom money and buries it in the snow.  His accomplice kills him and throws him in the woodchipper.  So, pretty much everyone dies in this film except Gaear, Jerry, and the police.  Marge comes to arrest Gaear and the other cops arrest Jerry.  Marge has some words of wisdom for Gaear, telling him that there is more to life than money.  Today is a beautiful day outside and he is on his way to jail. The film ends with Marge returning to her husband, whose painting is going to appear on the latest stamp.  In a few more months, she will have her baby.  So the bad guys all either die or get arrested, and the good guys win.