So Fargo has always been one of those movies that’s been on my list forever. My mom is a big fan and always brings up the wood chipper scene like it’s the peak of cinema, which, honestly, now that I’ve seen it, she might be right. It’s this iconic moment I’ve heard about for years, but for whatever reason, the movie just kept slipping past me. One of those “I’ll get to it eventually” kind of films. Well, I finally did… and I loved it.
First off, the Coen Brothers are just masters of tone. The way they balance crime, bleakness, and absurd humor is genius. What really got me, though, was the nonchalant attitude that everyone in this movie seems to have, no matter how intense the situation gets. Whether it’s a kidnapping, murder, or just small talk over eggs, everybody’s got this calm, polite, “yah sure” vibe that is absolutely hilarious. It makes everything feel even more bizarre and off-kilter, in the best way.
Frances McDormand as Marge is perfection. She’s so down-to-earth and easy to root for. Her quiet competence and cheerful attitude in the middle of all this chaos is kind of comforting, actually. And William H. Macy plays such a weaselly wreck of a man, he’s so awkward and desperate, I almost felt bad for him… almost.
It’s a movie full of contradictions: it’s cold and warm, violent and cozy, serious and ridiculous. And that Minnesota nice? It’s real, and it’s comedy gold when placed next to criminal insanity.
Anyway, I’m glad I finally watched Fargo. Now I totally get why my mom kept talking about it—and yeah, that wood chipper scene is burned into my brain forever now.
