Fargo
1996
*****
Director: Joel Coen
Cast: Frances McDormand, Steve Buscemi, William H. Macy, Peter Stormare, Harve Presnell, Kristin Rudrüd, Tony Denman, Steve Reevis, Larry Brandenburg, John Carroll Lynch, Steve Park
A Minneapolis car salesman in dire financial straits hires two goons to kidnap his wife in order to keep the ransom money paid by his wealthy father-in-law, but the plan goes horribly wrong. This quintessential Coen brothers film is a masterpiece of black humour. The story is gruesome but funny, and the dialogue and performances are all top class. The Oscar winning Frances McDormand is adorable as the pregnant police chief, and William H. Macy and Steve Buscemi are equally unforgettable. The Coens themselves won an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. The film spawned a TV series in 2014.
