The Coen Brother’s “Fargo” debuted nearly twenty years ago on March 8, 2016 with a black screen that introduced the story as:
“THIS IS A TRUE STORY.
The events depicted in this film took place in Minnesota in 1987.
At the request of the survivors, the names have been changed.
Out of respect for the dead, the rest has been told exactly as it occurred.”
And yet, none of it is actually true. In fact, Ethan Coen even references the false premise on which the story is based in the published screenplay of Fargo.*
Yet, despite this elaboration on facts, Fargo still remains a prominent figure in cinematic, and, to an extent, pop culture, as it has gone on to spurn two television pilots with the first having never aired, and the second preparing to begin its third season. The latter also has gained major award recognition in the form of nominations and/or wins from the Screen Actors Guild (SAG), AFI, the Golden Globes, and the Emmys that nearly rivals the recognition of the original movie, which was also recognized by the Golden Globes and SAG, as well as the Academy Awards, BAFTA, after debuting at Cannes with an award for Joel Coen for Best Director.
First timers watching the movie will recognize William H. Macy, if not from his roles in P.T. Anderson movies or The Cooler, as Frank Gallagher from Shameless or Paul Kirby from Jurassic Park III. Steve Buscemi is notable from Boardwalk Empire, Big Fish, or pretty much any Adam Sandler movie, while fans who had already seen the movie will remember Frances McDormand for feeling like she needs to puke.
What’s perhaps one of the most iconic aspects of the movie is that it was also inducted into the National Film Registry in its first year of eligibility. To help put this achievement in perspective, Top Gun, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary later this year, The Shawshank Redemption (1994), Ghostbusters (1984), and the critically-acclaimed, award winning LA Confidential (1997) were just inducted into the same preservation registry in 2015.
So, what makes Fargo such a strong movie that is still relevant today? Watching the film for the first time recently (I know, I know, it’s been on the list for a while and then bumped down for movies that I sometimes regretted watching later), It’s good, but it also seems like a general crime movie that has the subtleness of Coen humor injected at various points throughout the film. The same humor that helped turn The Big Lebowski into a cult classic as well as popularized the White Russian and not rolling on shomer shabbos.
The Minnesota dialects that are reminiscent of the areas where the Coens grew up and that are ever present throughout the movie help make the characters seem almost foreign, and yet still give them a comic sense without even having to try. McDormand’s portrayal of Brainerd Sheriff just further helps with the comedy as she initially starts off seeming as a well-intentioned, but seemingly clueless character, who suddenly is able to pull information like she’s a member of an elite FBI task force.
Similar to its noir predecessors, Fargo also delivers numerous twists and turns built up from the flawed and failed foresight of its characters that helps a basic crime turn into something much more while not going so overboard as to turn the movie into the slapstick comedy that the is more associated with the Farrelly brothers. And while being relatively dark throughout, in some cringe worthy awkward moment, the film still manages to deliver a gratifying conclusion, preceded by one of the more horrific uses of a wood chipper that horror fans are accustomed to, but not necessarily with the same tone.
However, what likely has kept the film at the forefront of American culture is the questions of the film’s validity in terms of being based on a true story, which would likely explain the positions in the Google Search Rankings when looking for anything about the movie. Expectedly, something along the lines of “Is the Fargo Movie True” will pop up anytime someone search for anything related to the Fargo movie.
That being said, Fargo does have that noir feel that has been missing from Hollywood for quite some time. The fact that it’s mixed with the Coen brothers’ humor is all the more reason for someone to see it. So whether or not it’s easier to discover if the movie is based on a true story now due to 20 years of improved internet access is irrelevant.
These questions only help to add to the intrigue, and hopefully it’s what will continue helping drive more people to see the movie. While the uniqueness of Fargo is what helps continue to maintain its popularity as one of the better American movies in 90’s, it’s creativity is what will hopefully help continue to inspire future generations of filmmakers looking to make their mark in the cinematic world.
Here’s a look back at the initial trailer:
*http://www.telegraph.co.uk/film/fargo/truth-behind-true-story/
