Critic Reviews

Fargo (1996) Rank 5 Reviews

Expert Review Summary
Movie critics combined give Fargo (1996) a score of 3.1783 out of 4
based on (78) reviews
Click on the numbers to the right of the graph to see reviews of that rating
2
Good
(7)
Fair
1
Fair
(0)
Poor
0
Poor
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Reviews by Score:
Fargo (1996) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Jerry SaraviaJerry Saravia
"Fargo" is directed by Joel Coen and written by Ethan and Joel Coen, and the film certainly benefits by not being as simplistic or inane as any murderoftheweek TV movie. "Fargo" has gobs of wit and malicious black humor but its main strength is derived ...read the complete Fargo movie review at Jerry Saravia
Fargo (1996) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Media-Assault.com (Sean Caszatt)Media-Assault.com (Sean Caszatt)
The Coen Brothers are responsible for some of the weirdest movies to come down the pike in Hollywood history. Movies like Blood Simple, Raising Arizona, Barton Fink and Miller's Crossing are examples of their sheer, odd genius. Fargo is their best and ...read the complete Fargo movie review at Media-Assault.com (Sean Caszatt)
Fargo (1996) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Movie Reviews UKMovie Reviews UK
Compelling, beautiful and unique; Fargo exploits new angles on kidnapping, constantly surprising by virtue of its real-life basis. Set during the typical Minnesotan winter, ever-present snow provides a stark backdrop to the shenanigans of car salesman ...read the complete Fargo movie review at Movie Reviews UK
Fargo (1996) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Kevin PattersonKevin Patterson
FARGO is far from the typical crime/suspense thriller. It is "about" this kidnapping scheme, but it is about a lot of other things too. It is about Northern accents and expressions like "you betcha." It is about ice on the windshield and large ...read the complete Fargo movie review at Kevin Patterson
Fargo (1996) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for filmcritic.com (Christopher Null)filmcritic.com (Christopher Null)
The Coen brothers are back and in a big way. Bigger, as a matter of fact, than ever before, because with Fargo, the Coens have produced a masterpiece of a film that outclasses anything they've done yet--from Raising Arizona to Barton Fink to even Blood ...read the complete Fargo movie review at filmcritic.com (Christopher Null)
Fargo (1996) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Steve RhodesSteve Rhodes
Carl Showalter (Steve Buscemi) and Gaear Grimsrud (Peter Stormare) are the incompetent but cold blooded kidnappers and killers. Carl talks incessantly while Gaear rarely speaks and is more frightening. Gaear has a constant gaze as if he has no morals or ...read the complete Fargo movie review at Steve Rhodes
Fargo (1996) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Movie Hell (Michael J. Legeros)Movie Hell (Michael J. Legeros)
In the remarkably rich and furiously funny FARGO, brothers Joel and Ethan Coen have returned to their roots, both thematically and geographically. The "brats," as they are called by some, have effectively remade their first film, BLOOD SIMPLE, as a ...read the complete Fargo movie review at Movie Hell (Michael J. Legeros)
Fargo (1996) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Chicago Sun-Times (Roger Ebert)Chicago Sun-Times (Roger Ebert)
`Fargo" begins with an absolutely dead-on familiarity with smalltown life in the frigid winter landscape of Minnesota and North Dakota.Then it rotates its story through satire, comedy, ...read the complete Fargo movie review at Chicago Sun-Times (Roger Ebert)
Fargo (1996) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Looking Closer (Jeffrey Overstreet)Looking Closer (Jeffrey Overstreet)
Starring Frances McDormand, William H. Macy, Steve Buscemi "Fargo" is dark comedy against a snow-white landscape, with a whole mess of bright blood on the snow. It was my favorite movie of 1996 because it's good storytelling -- hilarious, ...read the complete Fargo movie review at Looking Closer (Jeffrey Overstreet)
Fargo (1996) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for DVD Clinic ("Indiana Sev")DVD Clinic ("Indiana Sev")
A Minnesotan car salesman, Jerry Lundegaard (Macy) hires two men to kidnap his wife so that he can get his hands on some of his father-in-law’s ransom loot for an idea he’s got cooking. Things go from bad to worse as the kidnapping goes wrong, blood ...read the complete Fargo movie review at DVD Clinic ("Indiana Sev")
Fargo (1996) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for ToxicUniverse.com (John Nesbit)ToxicUniverse.com (John Nesbit)
If you have a hard time handling blood and/or don't appreciate dark humor, focus on Marge more. She's the character who ...read the complete Fargo movie review at ToxicUniverse.com (John Nesbit)
Fargo (1996) scores a combined 3.75 out of 4 stars for Reel.comReel.com
"Minnesota Nice," a featurette on both the movie and the northern Midwest region where it was filmed (to find enough snow, the cast and crew went nearly to Canada), is a sort of explanation of and apology to the people of Minnesota. It's a ...read the complete Fargo movie review at Reel.com
Fargo (1996) scores a combined 3.50 out of 4 stars for Cinematter (Matt Williams)Cinematter (Matt Williams)
Fargo is the latest film from Joel and Ethan Coen, and their most realistic, if not quite their best. William H. Macy is a used car salesman in Minneapolis. When he is overwhelmed by debt, he hatches a scheme to kidnap his wife and get her rich father ...read the complete Fargo movie review at Cinematter (Matt Williams)
Fargo (1996) scores a combined 3.50 out of 4 stars for Dragan AntulovDragan Antulov
If Coens' first feature BLOOD SIMPLE was known as film noir, FARGO could be best described as "film blanc". This is due to the whiteness that dominates the winter scenery of Minnesota, their home state. In FARGO the audience is going to experience ...read the complete Fargo movie review at Dragan Antulov
Fargo (1996) scores a combined 3.50 out of 4 stars for Pedro SenaPedro Sena
The story is basic enough. A man who has grand designs for financial gains, trying to do what others with the capital do harmless enough, hires two bums to kidnap his wife and set up a ransom situation, where upon he would split the money with the bums ...read the complete Fargo movie review at Pedro Sena
Fargo (1996) scores a combined 3.50 out of 4 stars for Q Network Film Desk (James Kendrick)Q Network Film Desk (James Kendrick)
Brought to life with wonderful affection by Frances McDormand, Marge is such a fundamentally decent person that you have to wonder how she manages to get mixed up in all "malfeasance" (as she puts it) going on in this movie. Her affable personality is ...read the complete Fargo movie review at Q Network Film Desk (James Kendrick)
Fargo (1996) scores a combined 3.50 out of 4 stars for Movie Gazette (Andrea Chee)Movie Gazette (Andrea Chee)
An odd cross between a farcical comedy and a crime thriller, with some peculiar characters in an unusual setting. It shouldn't work but it does, resulting in a fine film that defies expectations. ...read the complete Fargo movie review at Movie Gazette (Andrea Chee)
Fargo (1996) scores a combined 3.50 out of 4 stars for DVD Talk (James W. Powell)DVD Talk (James W. Powell)
If you never bought one of the previous lackluster DVD editions of Fargo now's the time to do it. If you did buy one or both of them, it's time to upgrade. Although not perfect, the extra features are worth the $20 you'll be spending on this new disc. ...read the complete Fargo movie review at DVD Talk (James W. Powell)
Fargo (1996) scores a combined 3.50 out of 4 stars for Kevin PattersonKevin Patterson
Yet "Fargo" is more than just a crime/suspense thriller. It is "about" this kidnapping scheme, but it is about a lot of other things too. It is about Northern accents and expressions like "you betcha." It is about ice on the windshield and large ...read the complete Fargo movie review at Kevin Patterson
Fargo (1996) scores a combined 3.25 out of 4 stars for Qwipster's Movie Reviews (Vince Leo)Qwipster's Movie Reviews (Vince Leo)
Although the blurb at the beginning states that FARGO is based on a true story, it's actually not. Oh, those wacky Coen boys are an odd couple, aren't they? The film starts off with William H. Macy, desperate for funds now that he has run into financial d ...read the complete Fargo movie review at Qwipster's Movie Reviews (Vince Leo)
Fargo (1996) scores a combined 3.25 out of 4 stars for JoBlo's Movie Emporium ("JoBlo")JoBlo's Movie Emporium ("JoBlo")
I'm a big fan of the Coen brothers, but this film wasn't anything more than average in my view. The pacing was slow, the accents were overplayed, and many of the scenes seemed to stretch out for more than they needed. The cinematography was really ...read the complete Fargo movie review at JoBlo's Movie Emporium ("JoBlo")
Fargo (1996) scores a combined 3.25 out of 4 stars for UpcomingDiscs.com (David Annandale)UpcomingDiscs.com (David Annandale)
Terminal loser William H. Macy hatches a scheme to get out of his debt problems: hire Steve Buscemi and Peter Stormare to kidnap his wife, then get the ransom from his father-in-law. Naturally enough, everything goes spectacularly wrong. Bodies ...read the complete Fargo movie review at UpcomingDiscs.com (David Annandale)
Fargo (1996) scores a combined 3.25 out of 4 stars for DVDActive (David Beamish)DVDActive (David Beamish)
This is a great film and I really enjoyed the extra features. The video is presented well however I couldn’t compare it to the prior release which was a shame. I approached the film with a little trepidation as there was a lot of hype surrounding ...read the complete Fargo movie review at DVDActive (David Beamish)
Fargo (1996) scores a combined 3.20 out of 4 stars for Washington Post (Rita Kempley)Washington Post (Rita Kempley)
Gunderson (Frances McDormand) [is] the most endearing, hilarious and wholly feminine heroine since Thelma or Louise. ...read the complete Fargo movie review at Washington Post (Rita Kempley)
Fargo (1996) scores a combined 3.20 out of 4 stars for DVDTown.com (John J. Puccio)DVDTown.com (John J. Puccio)
...one of the most hilariously twisted murder mysteries to come along since, well, since never. ...read the complete Fargo movie review at DVDTown.com (John J. Puccio)
Fargo (1996) scores a combined 3.20 out of 4 stars for EmanuelLevy.com (Emanuel Levy)EmanuelLevy.com (Emanuel Levy)
Much less vain, flamboyant, and showy than their other pictures, Fargo bears the thematic influence of Samuel Beckett and the stylish coolness of Finland's Aki Kaurismaki, but the violence is all Coens. ...read the complete Fargo movie review at EmanuelLevy.com (Emanuel Levy)
Fargo (1996) scores a combined 3.20 out of 4 stars for New York Times (Janet Maslin)New York Times (Janet Maslin)
The Coens are at their clever best with this snowbound film noir. ...read the complete Fargo movie review at New York Times (Janet Maslin)
Fargo (1996) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for Mr. Brown's Movies (Michael Dequina)Mr. Brown's Movies (Michael Dequina)
Fargo (1996) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for ReelViews (James Berardinelli)ReelViews (James Berardinelli)
It's easy to admire what the Coens are trying to do in Fargo, but more difficult to actually like the film. The absence of viable characters limits any dramatic impact, making this more of a laid back, lightly entertaining ...read the complete Fargo movie review at ReelViews (James Berardinelli)
Fargo (1996) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for Tim VoonTim Voon
So the Coen brothers get this idea for a picture about real life, yah. It's about life in Minnesota where everybody speaks like this, yah. It's very cold, and people are a bit strange, yah. So this car sales man wants to get some money from his mean ...read the complete Fargo movie review at Tim Voon
Fargo (1996) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for Courier-Journal (Louisville, KY) (Judith Egerton)Courier-Journal (Louisville, KY) (Judith Egerton)
The brothers have returned to their roots, both visually and literally. Their new film is reminiscent of their debut movie, Blood Simple , and its wry look at murder. ...read the complete Fargo movie review at Courier-Journal (Louisville, KY) (Judith Egerton)
Fargo (1996) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for Ben HoffmanBen Hoffman
A few mishaps and the whole scheme falls apart when several people get shot. This brings in the local police chief, Marge Gunderson (Frances McDormand) who is several months pregnant. She can still say "Yah" (for "yes") with the best of them. While ...read the complete Fargo movie review at Ben Hoffman
Fargo (1996) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for Michael RedmanMichael Redman
Remarkably enough, most of the movie is played for laughs.Even more remarkably, it works.The only likable person in the film is the very pregnant sheriff (Frances McDormand) who hunts down the killers while eating at every possible opportunity.With ...read the complete Fargo movie review at Michael Redman
Fargo (1996) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for ReelViews (James Berardinelli)ReelViews (James Berardinelli)
Fargo takes the usual "caper gone wrong" storyline and applies a new twist. Based on a supposed series of "true events" from 1987 (a tongue-in-cheek claim made by a screen caption), the film examines what can happen when the police and criminals are equal ...read the complete Fargo movie review at ReelViews (James Berardinelli)
Fargo (1996) scores a combined 2.75 out of 4 stars for Deep Focus (Bryant Frazer)Deep Focus (Bryant Frazer)
Caveat: I've never had all that much use for the Coen brothers. ...read the complete Fargo movie review at Deep Focus (Bryant Frazer)
Fargo (1996) scores a combined 2.57 out of 4 stars for Ozus' World Movie Reviews (Dennis Schwartz)Ozus' World Movie Reviews (Dennis Schwartz)
Fargo (1996) scores a combined 2.56 out of 4 stars for Chicago Sun-Times (Roger Ebert)Chicago Sun-Times (Roger Ebert)
The telephone rings at 3 a.m. and a pregnant woman puts on her police uniform to go out into the Minnesota winter and investigate a homicide. ``Eggs,'' her sleepy husband says. He'll make her eggs. We see the them eating on a Formica table in the kitchen; ...read the complete Fargo movie review at Chicago Sun-Times (Roger Ebert)
Fargo (1996) scores a combined 2.25 out of 4 stars for Chicago Reader (Jonathan Rosenbaum)Chicago Reader (Jonathan Rosenbaum)
A central point of postscreening discussions about Fargo, a Coen brothers crime story about a botched kidnapping set in wintertime Minnesota and North Dakota, is whether this story is based on fact, as it claims to be--discussions that invariably lead ...read the complete Fargo movie review at Chicago Reader (Jonathan Rosenbaum)
Fargo (1996) scores a combined 2.11 out of 4 stars for Xi-online Xi-online
Na films als Blood Simple, Raising Arizona, The Hudsucker Proxy en Barton Fink komen de 'Coen Brothers' met deze zwarte komedie gebaseerd op een waar gebeurd verhaal. Fargo is door beiden geschreven, geregisseerd door Joel Coen en geproduceerd door Ethan ...read the complete Fargo movie review at Xi-online
Fargo (1996) scores a combined 2.07 out of 4 stars for Xi-online Xi-online
Na de commerciële (maar niet artistieke) flop van hun dure laatste film, The Hudsucker Proxy, komen de gebroeders Coen wijselijk terug met een minder ambitieus en goedkoper project. Fargo is hun meest uitgebalanceerde en beste film tot nu toe. Er zijn ...read the complete Fargo movie review at Xi-online
Fargo (1996) scores a combined 1.60 out of 4 stars for TIME Magazine (Richard Corliss)TIME Magazine (Richard Corliss)
All attitude and low aptitude. Its function is to italicize the Coens' giddy contempt toward people who talk and think Minnesotan. ...read the complete Fargo movie review at TIME Magazine (Richard Corliss)

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Ratings and rankings are based on number of movie, review scores, awards & other criteria.
Overall Rating:
3.2586
Fargo (1996) is ranked overall as  out of 4 stars
Avg Critic Score:
3.1783
Fargo (1996) is ranked overall as  out of 4 stars
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