Fargo
The theatrical poster.
Directed by	Joel Coen
Produced by	Ethan Coen
Written by	Joel and Ethan Coen
Starring	Frances McDormand William H. Macy Steve Buscemi Peter Stormare Harve Presnell
Music by	Carter Burwell
Cinematography	Roger Deakins
Editing by	Roderick Jaynes
Distributed by	Gramercy Pictures
Release date(s)	United States: March 8, 1996 Canada: April 5, 1996 United Kingdom: May 31, 1996 Australia: June 6, 1996
Running time	98 min.
Country	UK US
Language	English
Budget	$7 million (est.)
Allmovie profile
IMDb profile

Fargo is a 1996 American film written, directed and produced by the Coen Brothers. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (482x720, 134 KB)original movie poster source:www. ... Joel and Ethan Coen, known as The Coen Brothers, are Oscar-winning American filmmakers. ... Joel and Ethan Coen, known as The Coen Brothers, are Oscar-winning American filmmakers. ... Joel and Ethan Coen, known as The Coen Brothers, are Oscar-winning American filmmakers. ... Frances Louise McDormand[1] (born June 23, 1957) is an Academy Award-winning American film, stage, and television actress. ... Not to be confused with Bill Macy. ... Steven Vincent Buscemi (born December 13, 1957) is an Emmy- and Golden Globe-nominated American actor and film director. ...   (born August 27, 1953) is a Swedish film, stage, voice and television actor as well as a theatrical director and playwright. ... Harve Presnell (born September 14, 1933, Modesto, California) is an American actor. ... Carter Burwell (born November 18, 1955, in New York) is a composer of film soundtracks. ... Roger Deakins (born May 24, 1949 in Torquay, Devon, England) has established himself as a successful cinematographer in America and Britain. ... Joel and Ethan Coen, known as The Coen Brothers, are Oscar-winning American filmmakers. ... Gramercy Pictures was a major film distributor, a joint venture of Polygram Filmed Entertainment and Universal Pictures. ... is the 67th day of the year (68th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 95th day of the year (96th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 151st day of the year (152nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 157th day of the year (158th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... American cinema has had a profound effect on cinema across the world since the early 20th century. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... USD redirects here. ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... This article is about motion pictures. ... Joel and Ethan Coen, known as The Coen Brothers, are Oscar-winning American filmmakers. ...

Set in the Upper Midwest United States (the opening and closing scenes are set in North Dakota and the rest in Minnesota), it is the tale of a car salesman (William H. Macy), who has hired two men (Steve Buscemi and Peter Stormare) to kidnap his wife for a ransom of $80,000. The crime sets off a chain of murders, which are in turn investigated by pregnant policewoman Marge Gunderson (Frances McDormand). In fiction, the setting of a story is the time and location in which it takes place. ... Regional definitions vary from source to source. ... Official language(s) English Demonym North Dakotan Capital Bismarck Largest city Fargo Area  Ranked 19th in the US  - Total 70,762 sq mi (183,272 km²)  - Width 210 miles (340 km)  - Length 340 miles (545 km)  - % water 2. ... Capital Saint Paul Largest city Minneapolis Largest metro area Minneapolis-St. ... Salesman is a 1969 cinema verité documentary film which follows four salesmen of expensive Bibles door-to-door in a low-income neighborhood which cannot afford expensive Bibles. ... Not to be confused with Bill Macy. ... Steven Vincent Buscemi (born December 13, 1957) is an Emmy- and Golden Globe-nominated American actor and film director. ...   (born August 27, 1953) is a Swedish film, stage, voice and television actor as well as a theatrical director and playwright. ... Kidnapper redirects here. ... The term ransom refers to the practice of holding a prisoner to extort money or property extorted to secure their release, or to the sum of money involved. ... USD redirects here. ... When chain refers to a sequence, it can refer to: A chain of islands such as in an archipelago A chain of molecules such as in Nylon A chain of hills or mountains such as would form a mountain range Terms which use the term chain to refer to a... Murder is the crime of causing the death of another human being without lawful excuse, and with intent to kill or to cause grievous bodily harm. ... A pregnant woman Pregnancy is the process by which a mammalian female carries a live offspring from conception until it develops to the point where the offspring is capable of living outside the womb. ... For the band, see The Police. ... Frances Louise McDormand[1] (born June 23, 1957) is an Academy Award-winning American film, stage, and television actress. ...

At the 69th Academy Awards, Fargo won two Oscars, for best original screenplay and for best actress in a leading role for Frances McDormand. The film also won the British BAFTA Award and several other international film awards, including the Award for Best Director (Joel Coen) at the Cannes Film Festival of 1996. The 69th Academy Awards were dominated by movies produced by independent studios, financed outside of mainstream Hollywood, leading to 1997 being dubbed The Year of the Independents. All but one of the nominees for Best Picture were low-budget independent movies (the next ceremony dominated by indie fims would be... // The Academy Award for Writing Original Screenplay is the Academy Award for the best script not based upon previously published material. ... Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role is one of the Academy Awards of Merit presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) to recognize an actress who has delivered an outstanding performance while working within the film industry. ... BAFTA Award The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA), is a British organisation that hosts annual awards shows for film, television, childrens film and television, and interactive media. ... The Cannes Film Festival (French: le Festival de Cannes), founded in 1939, is one of the worlds oldest, most influential and prestigious film festivals. ... The Cannes Film Festival (French: le Festival de Cannes), founded in 1939, is one of the worlds oldest, most influential and prestigious film festivals. ...

Plot summary

In 1987, Jerry Lundegaard (William H. Macy), a Swedish-American Oldsmobile car salesman from Minneapolis with unspecified but severe financial troubles, hatches a plan to end his money difficulties. Through a mechanic at the car dealership, a Native American ex-convict named Shep Proudfoot, he enlists the service of Swedish ex-convict Gaear Grimsrud (Peter Stormare) and Carl Showalter (Steve Buscemi), at a bar in Fargo, North Dakota, to kidnap his wife, Jean, who will be returned unharmed for a payment of $80,000, half of which is to go to Jerry. Jerry's greater plan is to tell his wealthy but antagonistic father-in-law and boss, Wade Gustafson, that the ransom is $1 million intending to use the large difference to settle the debts he has accrued. This article is about the year 1987. ... Not to be confused with Bill Macy. ... Swedish Americans are U.S. Americans with Swedish heritage, most often related to the large groups of immigrants from Sweden in the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century. ... Oldsmobile is a brand of automobile produced for most of its existence by General Motors. ... Minneapolis redirects here. ... This article is about the people indigenous to the United States and their history after European contact, chiefly in what is now the United States. ...   (born August 27, 1953) is a Swedish film, stage, voice and television actor as well as a theatrical director and playwright. ... Steven Vincent Buscemi (born December 13, 1957) is an Emmy- and Golden Globe-nominated American actor and film director. ... Motto: Gateway to the West Location in North Dakota Coordinates: , Country State County Cass Founded 1871 Government  - Mayor Dennis Walaker Area  - City 37. ... Official language(s) English Demonym North Dakotan Capital Bismarck Largest city Fargo Area  Ranked 19th in the US  - Total 70,762 sq mi (183,272 km²)  - Width 210 miles (340 km)  - Length 340 miles (545 km)  - % water 2. ...

Initially, Jerry attempts to get the money from his father-in-law legitimately, as an investment in a parking lot business plan. When Wade shows interest in the deal, Jerry contacts Shep Proudfoot, attempting to have the kidnapping plan called off, but he quickly relents once Shep tells him he has no contact with the two. Meanwhile, Wade, refusing to trust Jerry with the investment principal, refuses Jerry's deal and instead announces plans to finance the carpark plan indepentently of Jerry.

Jerry's half-hearted attempt to abort the kidnapping plan being unsuccesful, Jean is kidnapped from her home while Jerry is at work. When Jerry returns to his ransacked house, he calls and tells Wade about the situation. Jerry claims that the kidnappers insist that the police not be contacted or they will harm Jean. Wade relunctantly takes his advice, but only after the concurrence of his business partner Stan Grossman.

Later that night, the kidnapping plan takes a dramatic turn for the worse when a state trooper pulls over the two kidnappers on Minnesota State Highway 371 near Brainerd, Minnesota, as Carl has forgotten to replace the temporary car-dealership license plates on the car. After Carl botches an attempt at a bribe, Grimsrud pulls a pistol out of the glove compartment and kills the trooper. Two witnesses happen to drive by the crime scene and Grimsrud pursues and kills them as well. The Minnesota State Patrol is the statewide police force in the state of Minnesota. ... Minnesota State Highway 371 is a 110-mile long highway connecting Minnesotas northern lakes with the Twin Cities. ... Brainerd is a city located in Crow Wing County, Minnesota. ... Capital Saint Paul Largest city Minneapolis Largest metro area Minneapolis-St. ... A license plate (or licence plate), number plate or registration plate is a small plate attached to a vehicle. ...

The deaths are investigated the next morning by the local police chief and seven-month-pregnant Marge Gunderson (Frances McDormand). She quickly figures out the chain of events and follows leads such as the dealer tags in place of license plates on the murderers' vehicle and an interview of two prostitutes the kidnappers had sex with earlier. She discovers that Shep is linked to the murderers through phone records from a truck stop where the kidnappers met with the hookers. Marge decides to take a trip to Minneapolis for investigations and to get together with an old friend from high school named Mike Yanagita who tells her he is now a widower and awkwardly tries to flirt with her, before breaking down in tears. This article is about pregnancy in female humans. ... Frances Louise McDormand[1] (born June 23, 1957) is an Academy Award-winning American film, stage, and television actress. ...

Marge interviews Shep and Jerry who both claim not to be involved in the situation. Shep later goes after Carl (who has come to Minneapolis to collect the money from Jerry), interrupts him having sex with a hooker and beats him up for getting him in trouble and threatening his freedom on parole. Recovered, but humiliated and angry, Carl demands Jerry deliver him the money atop a parking garage; Wade, mistrustful of his son-in-law, decides to deliver the ransom himself but attempts to bully Carl, refusing to hand over the money until his daughter is returned. Carl and Wade exchange gunfire, leaving Wade dead and Carl bleeding heavily from a bullet wound to the jaw. Leaving the parking garage, Carl also shoots and kills the lot attendant when the attendant does not open the gate.

Meanwhile, Jerry must field phone calls from a GMAC representative from whom he has obtained a fradulent loan, ostensibly for the purchase of cars for the dealership. The GMAC rep complains that he cannot read the vehicle identification numbers on the financing documents he faxed, and therefore cannot correlate the money ($320,000) with actual vehicles. The GMAC rep threatens legal action and an anxious Jerry sees his schemes collapsing around him. VIN redirects here. ...

Discovering that the case contains a million dollars, Carl buries most of the money by the side of a remote, snowy prairie highway and crudely marks the location with an ice scraper so he can find it later. Carl returns to their backwoods hideout on Moose Lake (with the expected $80,000). Grimsrud has murdered Jerry's wife for simply annoying him. Carl initiates a dispute over who gets the car, and Grimsrud kills him with an axe. Moose Lake is a city located in Carlton County, Minnesota. ...

Before leaving Minneapolis on her way back to Brainerd, Marge learns that her friend Mike lied to her about being a widower (he was really stalking the girl he claimed to be his late wife and now has a restraining order). After hearing this, Marge returns to the car dealership and questions Jerry again because she suspects he too lied to her. Thinking he has been caught when Marge asks to see Wade, Jerry panics and flees the interview. Following up on a tip, she discovers where the kidnappers are hiding and comes on the property just in time to see Grimsrud pushing the last of Carl into a wood chipper. As Grimsrud flees, Marge shoots him in the leg and arrests him. On the drive back to the station, Marge talks to Grimsrud, unable to comprehend how he can do what he does "for a little bit of money." A portable tree shredder and truck. ...

Jerry is later arrested in a motel outside Bismarck, North Dakota whileon the run. In the final scene, Marge and her husband, Norm, sit in bed together watching television, and they discuss his mallard artwork winning the three-cent-stamp award. The fate of the hidden $920,000 remains unknown. Location of Bismarck in Burleigh County, North Dakota Coordinates: , Country State County Burleigh Founded 1872 Government  - Mayor John Warford Area  - City 27. ... Official language(s) English Demonym North Dakotan Capital Bismarck Largest city Fargo Area  Ranked 19th in the US  - Total 70,762 sq mi (183,272 km²)  - Width 210 miles (340 km)  - Length 340 miles (545 km)  - % water 2. ...

Cast and characters

Frances McDormand as Marge Gunderson.

• Frances McDormand as Marge Gunderson, the pregnant chief of police in Brainerd, Minnesota, investigating the murder of three people near her city. While seemingly simple in character, she is not naive and demonstrates significant police-work and intelligence.
• William H. Macy as Jerry Lundegaard, a Twin Cities car dealer who is heavily in debt and hires two men to kidnap his wife so he can collect the ransom from his wealthy father in law.
• Steve Buscemi as Carl Showalter, a talkative small-time crook who is hired by Lundegaard to kidnap Lundegaard's wife. The people who run into him invariably describe him as "kinda funny-lookin'."
• Peter Stormare as Gaear Grimsrud, Showalter's sociopathic partner. He is mostly silent and is capable of extreme violence. He is a heavy smoker of Marlboros.
• Harve Presnell as Wade Gustafson, the wealthy owner of the Oldsmobile dealership where Jerry Lundegaard works and the father of Jerry's wife.
• Kristin Rudrüd as Jean Lundegaard, Jerry Lundegaard's wife, who is kidnapped.
• Tony Denman as Scotty Lundegaard, Jerry and Jean's middle-school-age son.
• Larry Brandenburg as Stan Grossman, accountant and business partner of Wade Gustafson.
• Steve Reevis as Shep Proudfoot, an ex-convict and mechanic at the car dealership. He puts Jerry in contact with Carl and Gaear.
• John Carroll Lynch as Norm Gunderson, husband of Police Chief Marge Gunderson, and a wildlife artist vying to have his work selected for use on a postage stamp.
• Steve Park as Mike Yanagita, a high-school classmate of Marge Gunderson.
• In the credits the modified symbol for Prince—a native of Minneapolis—is cited as playing the role of "Victim in Field". In fact the actor was J. Todd Anderson.

Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1024x576, 277 KB) This image is a screenshot from a copyrighted film, and the copyright for it is most likely owned by the studio which produced the film, and possibly also by any actors appearing in the screenshot. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1024x576, 277 KB) This image is a screenshot from a copyrighted film, and the copyright for it is most likely owned by the studio which produced the film, and possibly also by any actors appearing in the screenshot. ... Frances Louise McDormand[1] (born June 23, 1957) is an Academy Award-winning American film, stage, and television actress. ... This article is about pregnancy in female humans. ... Brainerd is a city located in Crow Wing County, Minnesota. ... Capital Saint Paul Largest city Minneapolis Largest metro area Minneapolis-St. ... Not to be confused with Bill Macy. ... Minneapolis-Saint Paul is the most populous urban area in the state of Minnesota, United States, and is composed of 188 cities and townships. ... Steven Vincent Buscemi (born December 13, 1957) is an Emmy- and Golden Globe-nominated American actor and film director. ...   (born August 27, 1953) is a Swedish film, stage, voice and television actor as well as a theatrical director and playwright. ... For the food preparation, see Smoking (cooking). ... Marlboro logo Marlboro is a brand of cigarette made by Altria. ... Harve Presnell (born September 14, 1933, Modesto, California) is an American actor. ... Oldsmobile is a brand of automobile produced for most of its existence by General Motors. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... John Carroll Lynch (born August 1, 1963) is an American actor. ... A selection of Hong Kong postage stamps A postage stamp is evidence of pre-paying a fee for postal services. ... Steve Park is a Korean-American comedian. ... For other uses, see Prince (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Prince (disambiguation). ...

Production

Fact vs. fiction

Fargo opens with the following text:

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.

Although the film itself is completely fictional, the Coen brothers claim that many of the events that take place in the movie were actually based on true events from other cases that they threw together to make one story. Joel Coen said, "We weren't interested in that kind of fidelity. The basic events are the same as in the real case, but the characterizations are fully imagined." He later noted, "If an audience believes that something's based on a real event, it gives you permission to do things they might otherwise not accept."

The Coens claim the actual murders took place, but not in Minnesota.^[1] The main reason for the film's Minnesota setting was based on the fact that the Coens were born and raised in St. Louis Park, a suburb of Minneapolis.^{[citation needed]} Capital Saint Paul Largest city Minneapolis Largest metro area Minneapolis-St. ... Location in Hennepin County Coordinates: Country United States State Minnesota County Hennepin County Founded 1852 Incorporated November 19, 1886 Government  - Mayor Jeff Jacobs (DFL) Area  - City  10. ...

On the special edition DVD's trivia track for Fargo, it is revealed that the main case for the movie's inspiration was based on the infamous 1986 murder of Helle Crafts from Connecticut at the hands of her husband, Richard, who killed her and disposed of her body through a wood chipper.^[2] Helle Crafts (July 4, 1947 - November 19, 1986) was a flight attendant who is famous for her brutal death at the hands of her husband, Richard Crafts. ... Official language(s) none (de facto English) Demonym Connecticuter or Connecticutian[2] Capital Hartford Largest city Bridgeport[3] Largest metro area Hartford Metro Area[4] Area  Ranked 48th in the US  - Total 5,543[5] sq mi (14,356 km²)  - Width 70 miles (113 km)  - Length 110 miles (177 km...

The end credits to Fargo bear the standard "all persons fictitious" disclaimer for a work of fiction.^[3] An All persons fictitious disclaimer is an disclaimer in which a work of fictional media states that all people out of it are completely fictitious. ...

Title

The title to the film, "Fargo," is taken from the North Dakota city of Fargo, which plays a small role in the beginning of the film seen only in a wideshot for only a few seconds following a short scene set in a bar. Although a subtitle states the scene is set in Fargo, the actual shooting location for the bar was in central Minneapolis. The rest of the film is completely set around Minnesota, mostly in Minneapolis and Brainerd. However, due to the mild winter of Minnesota during production, much of the film was, in fact, shot in North Dakota. On an interview on the special edition DVD, the Coens stated that they titled the movie "Fargo" because it sounded more interesting than "Brainerd". Also, there could be a thematic double meaning, suggesting how "far" would someone "go" for "a little money." Official language(s) English Demonym North Dakotan Capital Bismarck Largest city Fargo Area  Ranked 19th in the US  - Total 70,762 sq mi (183,272 km²)  - Width 210 miles (340 km)  - Length 340 miles (545 km)  - % water 2. ... Motto: Gateway to the West Location in North Dakota Coordinates: , Country State County Cass Founded 1871 Government  - Mayor Dennis Walaker Area  - City 37. ... Minneapolis redirects here. ... Brainerd is a city located in Crow Wing County, Minnesota. ... Official language(s) English Demonym North Dakotan Capital Bismarck Largest city Fargo Area  Ranked 19th in the US  - Total 70,762 sq mi (183,272 km²)  - Width 210 miles (340 km)  - Length 340 miles (545 km)  - % water 2. ...

Locations

The unseasonably mild winter weather of early 1995 forced the crew to move locations frequently to find suitable snow-covered landscapes. Fake snow had to be used for many scenes. Pools and streams of meltwater are visible in many scenes. Fargo was also shot very cheaply after the Coens' recent box office failure, The Hudsucker Proxy. The Hudsucker Proxy (1994) is a screwball comedy film directed by Joel and Ethan Coen, telling a fictitious story about the rise and fall of a naive executive and the invention of the hula hoop. ...

Locations used during production include:

• King of Clubs, a bar shown at the beginning of the film was located in Northeast Minneapolis on Central Avenue.^[4] It has since been razed to make way for housing for people who are HIV-positive.^[5]
• The Pillsbury Ave. Minneapolis home of Doug Melroe and Denny Kemp includes the kitchen of the Lundegaards' house.^[6]
• The "Wally McCarthy Oldsmobile" car dealership located in the Minneapolis suburb of Richfield, located off of Interstate 494 and Penn Avenue. It has since been razed, and the site is currently home to Best Buy's corporate headquarters. The two other Wally McCarthy dealerships still exist; the Wally McCarthy's Chevrolet Cadillac dealership in Forest Lake, and the Wally McCarthy Cadillac Hummer dealership in Roseville.
• Ember's, a restaurant just west of the Louisiana exit on the frontage road (Wayzata Blvd.) of Interstate 394 in St. Louis Park. The location is now out of business and the building has been razed. It is now the location of an office building.
• The kidnappers' hideout cabin is located north of Stillwater, Minnesota.
• The Edina, Minnesota Police Station was used for interior shots of the Brainerd Police Station.^[7]
• Carl steals a license plate from the parking lot of the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport.
• Chanhassen Dinner Theatres was used for the José Feliciano concert.
• The Minneapolis Club Parking Ramp (located on 8th St. and 3rd Ave, Minneapolis, Minnesota) was used for the scene where Wade delivers the money to Carl.
• Lakeside Club (located 10 Old Wildwood Rd, Mahtomedi, Minnesota) was used for the scene where Marge questions the hookers who were apparently hired to service the hired goons (one who was "funny-lookin'", and the other who was older and "looked like the Marlboro man").
• West of Bathgate, North Dakota on Pembina County Highway 1 was the location of the statue of Paul Bunyan.^[8]
• The scene where the old bartender is shoveling his driveway as he describes to the police officer the story of the man "goin' crazy out there at the lake" was filmed in the small town of Hallock, Minnesota (one of the town's grain elevators is visible in the background).^[9]

The gateway to Northeast: the Hennepin Avenue Bridge and the landmark Grain Belt beer sign. ... location in Hennepin County, Minnesota Coordinates: Country United States State Minnesota County Hennepin Founded 1850s Incorporated 1908  - Mayor Debbie Goettel (elected 2006) Area    - City 18. ... Interstate 494 is a spur route of Interstate 94 circling through the southern and western portions of the Minneapolis-St. ... For the defunct chain of catalog showrooms, see Best Products. ... Forest Lake is a city located in Washington County, Minnesota. ... Roseville is a city in Ramsey County, Minnesota, just north of Saint Paul and east of Minneapolis. ... ... Interstate 394 heading Eastbound toward Downtown Minneapolis - Notice the right lane MnPass toll lane Interstate 394 is also a hypethetical future route designation for Michigan State Highway 14. ... Location in Hennepin County Coordinates: Country United States State Minnesota County Hennepin County Founded 1852 Incorporated November 19, 1886 Government  - Mayor Jeff Jacobs (DFL) Area  - City  10. ... A Stillwater city limit sign Stillwater is a city located in Washington County, Minnesota (coordinates, 45. ... location in Hennepin County, Minnesota Coordinates: , Country State County Hennepin Founded 1860s Incorporated 1888 Government  - Mayor James Hovland Area  - City  16. ... Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (IATA: MSP, ICAO: KMSP) is the largest and busiest airport in the five-state upper Midwestern region of Minnesota, Iowa, South Dakota, North Dakota, and Wisconsin. ... José Montserrate Feliciano García (born September 10, 1945) is a Puerto Rican singer and guitarist. ... Bathgate is a city located in Pembina County, North Dakota. ... Pembina County is a county located in the state of North Dakota. ... For other uses, see Paul Bunyan (disambiguation). ... Hallock is a city located in Kittson County, Minnesota. ...

Reception

A motion picture rating system categorizes films with regard to suitability for audiences in terms of issues such as sex, violence, substance abuse, profanity, impudence or other types of mature content. ... Alberta Film Ratings is a motion picture rating system administered by the Ministry of Tourism, Parks, Recreation and Culture of the Canadian province of Alberta, used to regulate theatrical showings of motion pictures. ... The Ontario Film Review Board uses the following motion picture rating system for theatrical releases in the Canadian province of Ontario under the Theatres Act: General. ... The Manitoba Film Classification Board is part of the Ministry of Culture, Heritage and Tourism of the government of the Canadian province of Manitoba. ... The Régie du cinéma is a government agency responsible for the motion picture rating system within the Canadian province of Quebec. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... The Office of Film and Literature Classification (OFLC, Māori: ) is the government agency in New Zealand that is responsible for classification of all films, videos, publications, and some video games in New Zealand. ... British Board of Film Classification logo The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC), originally British Board of Film Censors, is the organisation responsible for film and some video game classification and censorship within the United Kingdom. ... The Motion Picture Association of Americas film-rating system is used in the U.S and its territories to rate a films thematic and content suitability for certain audiences. ...

Critical response

Fargo was met with universal critical acclaim.^[10][11] Film critic Roger Ebert named Fargo as his fourth favorite film of the 1990s (he also named it 'best of 1996'). In his original review Ebert called it "one of the best films I've ever seen" and explained that "films like Fargo are why I love the movies." Many prominent critics named it 'best of the year' including Joel Siegel, Lisa Schwartzbaum of Entertainment Weekly, Gene Siskel, and Leonard Maltin. Fargo has the honor of being one of the very few films to ever receive a unanimous 'A' rating from the critical mass of ratings at Entertainment Weekly. Roger Joseph Ebert (born June 18, 1942) is a Pulitzer Prize-winning American film critic. ... Joel Siegel (July 7, 1943 – June 29, 2007) was an American film critic for the ABC morning news show Good Morning America for over 25 years. ... Entertainment Weekly (sometimes abbreviated EW) is a magazine published by Time Inc. ... Eugene Gene Kal Siskel (January 26, 1946 – February 20, 1999) was one of the worlds most successful film critics. ... Leonard Maltin (born December 18, 1950 in New York City) is a widely known and respected American film critic. ... Entertainment Weekly (sometimes abbreviated EW) is a magazine published by Time Inc. ...

The film was ranked #84 on the American Film Institute's "100 Years...100 Movies" list in 1998, although it was removed from the 2007 version, and #93 on its "100 Years...100 Laughs" list. The character Marge Gunderson was ranked #33 on AFI's 100 Years... 100 Heroes and Villains. In 2006, this film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry as being deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" and is one of the leading examples of the neo-noir and comedy genre. This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The first of the AFI 100 Years. ... The 100 funniest American films. ... AFIs 100 Years. ... The National Film Registry is the registry of films selected by the United States National Film Preservation Board for preservation in the Library of Congress. ...

Popular reaction

The film's use of "Minnesota nice" and a "singsong" regional accent are remembered years later, with locals fielding requests to say "Yah, you betcha", and other lines from the movie.^[12] According to the film's dialect coach, Liz Himelstein, "the accent was another character." She coached the cast using audio tapes and field trips.^[13] Another dialog coach, Lisa Kokernot (who appeared onscreen playing a prostitute), notes that the "small-town, Minnesota accent is close to the sound of the Nords and the Swedes," which is "where the musicality comes from." She also helped McDormand understand Minnesota nice and the practice of head-nodding to show agreement.^[14] Critic James Lileks, who grew up in Fargo and works in the Twin Cities, reacted by "scowling". He pointed out that very little of the film takes place in Fargo, and claimed he didn't know "a single Fargoan" who liked the film. He admits that "People in Minnesota do talk that way, ya know," but took umbrage at people asking him since, "Did you like that Fargo movie, then? Ya?" To him, familiarity means the accent isn't "inherently funny". He was also displeased with the amount of grisly violence.^[15] Look up Minnesota nice in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Prostitution is the sale of sexual services (typically manual stimulation, oral sex, sexual intercourse, or anal sex) for cash or other kind of return, generally indiscriminately with many persons. ... Look up Minnesota nice in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... James Lileks (born August 9, 1958 in Fargo, North Dakota) and educated at the University of Minnesota, is an American journalist, columnist, and blogger living in Minneapolis, Minnesota. ...

Film festivals

Fargo was screened at many film festivals. It was in the main competition at the 1996 Cannes Film Festival, where it won the prize for best director. Other festival screenings included the Pusan International Film Festival, the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival and the Naples Film Festival. On March 1, 2006, for the film's tenth anniversary, the annual Fargo Film Festival showed Fargo by projecting the film on the side of the Radisson Hotel (the city's tallest building) in downtown Fargo. The Cannes Film Festival (French: le Festival de Cannes), founded in 1939, is one of the worlds oldest, most influential and prestigious film festivals. ... Pusan International Film Festival(PIFF, 부산국제영화제), taking place in Busan, South Korea, is one of the most significant film festivals in Asia. ... Karlovy Vary - venue The Karlovy Vary International Film Festival is a film festival held annually in July in Karlovy Vary (Carlsbad), Czech Republic. ... Location of the city of Naples (red dot) within Italy. ... is the 60th day of the year (61st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Fargo Theatre is an art deco movie theatre in downtown Fargo, North Dakota. ...

Awards

Wins

• Academy Award for Best Actress (Frances McDormand)
• Academy Award for Writing Original Screenplay (Joel and Ethan Coen)
• BAFTA David Lean Award for Direction (Joel Coen)
• Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Director (Joel Coen)
• New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Film
• National Board of Review for Best Actress (Frances McDormand)
• National Board of Review for Best Director (Joel Coen)
• Screen Actors Guild Awards for Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role (Frances McDormand)
• Writers Guild of America Award for Best Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen (Joel and Ethan Coen)
• 2006 National Film Registry

Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role is one of the Academy Awards of Merit presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) to recognize an actress who has delivered an outstanding performance while working within the film industry. ... Frances Louise McDormand[1] (born June 23, 1957) is an Academy Award-winning American film, stage, and television actress. ... // The Academy Award for Writing Original Screenplay is the Academy Award for the best script not based upon previously published material. ... Joel and Ethan Coen, known as The Coen Brothers, are Oscar-winning American filmmakers. ... The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA), is a British organization that hosts annual awards shows for film, television, childrens film and television, and interactive media. ... Joel and Ethan Coen, commonly called The Coen Brothers in the film business, are United States directors best known for their quirky comedies like Fargo and Raising Arizona; the brothers write their own scripts and alternate top billing for the screenplay. ... The Cannes Film Festival (French: le Festival de Cannes), founded in 1939, is one of the worlds oldest, most influential and prestigious film festivals. ... Joel and Ethan Coen, commonly called The Coen Brothers in the film business, are United States directors best known for their quirky comedies like Fargo and Raising Arizona; the brothers write their own scripts and alternate top billing for the screenplay. ... New York Film Critics Circle Awards are given annually to honor excellence in cinema worldwide by an organization of film reviewers from New York City-based publications. ... Frances Louise McDormand[1] (born June 23, 1957) is an Academy Award-winning American film, stage, and television actress. ... Joel and Ethan Coen, commonly called The Coen Brothers in the film business, are United States directors best known for their quirky comedies like Fargo and Raising Arizona; the brothers write their own scripts and alternate top billing for the screenplay. ... Frances Louise McDormand[1] (born June 23, 1957) is an Academy Award-winning American film, stage, and television actress. ... The Writers Guild of America (WGA) is the collective bargaining representative, or labor union, for writers in the motion picture and television industries in the United States. ... The National Film Registry is the registry of films selected by the United States National Film Preservation Board for preservation in the Library of Congress. ...

Nominations

• Academy Award for Best Picture
• Academy Award for Directing (Joel Coen)
• Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor (William H. Macy)
• Academy Award for Best Cinematography (Roger Deakins)
• Academy Award for Film Editing (Ethan Coen & Joel Coen)
• Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy
• Golden Globe Award for Best Director - Motion Picture (Joel Coen)
• Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy (Frances McDormand)
• Golden Globe Award for Best Screenplay - Motion Picture (Joel & Ethan Coen)

©A.M.P.A.S.® The Academy Award for Best Motion Picture is one of the Awards of Merit presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) to artists working in the motion picture industry. ... The Academy Award for Directing is one of the awards given to directors working in the motion picture industry by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. ... Joel and Ethan Coen, commonly called The Coen Brothers in the film business, are United States directors best known for their quirky comedies like Fargo and Raising Arizona; the brothers write their own scripts and alternate top billing for the screenplay. ... The Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor is one of the awards given to male actors working in the motion picture industry by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences; nominations are made by Academy members who are actors and actresses. ... Not to be confused with Bill Macy. ... Charles Rosher the first recipient in 1928 The Academy Award for Best Cinematography is awarded each year to a cinematographer for his work in one particular motion picture. ... Roger Deakins (born May 24, 1949 in Torquay, Devon, England) has established himself as a successful cinematographer in America and Britain. ... The Academy Award for Film Editing was first given for films issued in 1934. ... Joel and Ethan Coen, commonly called The Coen Brothers in the film business, are United States directors best known for their quirky comedies like Fargo and Raising Arizona; the brothers write their own scripts and alternate top billing for the screenplay. ... Joel and Ethan Coen, commonly called The Coen Brothers in the film business, are United States directors best known for their quirky comedies like Fargo and Raising Arizona; the brothers write their own scripts and alternate top billing for the screenplay. ... Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy has been awarded annually since 1952 by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. ... Golden Globe Award for Best Director - Motion Picture has been awarded annually since 1944 by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. ... The Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy was first awarded by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association as a separate category in 1950. ... Frances Louise McDormand[1] (born June 23, 1957) is an Academy Award-winning American film, stage, and television actress. ... The Golden Globe Awards are American awards for motion pictures and television programs, given out each year during a formal dinner. ...

Soundtrack

Fargo/Barton Fink: Music by Carter Burwell
Soundtrack by Carter Burwell
Released	May 28, 1996
Genre	Film score
Length	43:15
Label	TVT
Professional reviews
Allmusic link Movie Music UK
Coen Brothers film soundtracks chronology
The Hudsucker Proxy (1994) Fargo (1996) The Big Lebowski (1998)

As with all the Coen Brothers' films, the score to Fargo is by Carter Burwell.^[16] Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... In film formats, the soundtrack is the physical area of the film which records the synchronized sound. ... Carter Burwell (born November 18, 1955, in New York) is a composer of film soundtracks. ... is the 148th day of the year (149th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... A film score is a set of musical compositions written to accompany a film. ... In the music industry, a record label can be a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. ... TVT Records is an independent record label founded in 1985 by Steve Gottlieb. ... The All Music Guide (AMG) is a large, comprehensive and high quality metadata database about music. ... Image File history File links 4. ... Image File history File links 4_stars. ... Joel and Ethan Coen, known as The Coen Brothers, are Oscar-winning American filmmakers. ... The Hudsucker Proxy (1994) is a screwball comedy film directed by Joel and Ethan Coen, telling a fictitious story about the rise and fall of a naive executive and the invention of the hula hoop. ... The Big Lebowski is a 1998 American comedy film written and directed by Joel and Ethan Coen. ... Joel and Ethan Coen, known as The Coen Brothers, are Oscar-winning American filmmakers. ... Carter Burwell (born November 18, 1955, in New York) is a composer of film soundtracks. ...

The main musical motif is based on a Norwegian folk song^[17] called "The Lost Sheep", or natively "Den Bortkomne Sauen". It has been recorded by Norwegian musician Annbjørg Lien on her album "Felefeber".^[18] In music, a motif is a perceivable or salient reoccurring fragment or succession of notes that may used to construct the entirety or parts of complete melodies, themes. ... Annbjørg Lien (b. ...

Other songs in the film include "Big City" by Merle Haggard, heard in the Fargo, North Dakota bar where Jerry Lundegaard meets with kidnappers Carl Showalter and Gaear Grimsrud, and "Let's Find Each Other Tonight", a live nightclub performance by José Feliciano that is viewed by Showalter and a female escort. Neither song appears on the soundtrack album. Merle Ronald Haggard (born April 6, 1937) is an American country music singer, guitarist and songwriter. ... Motto: Gateway to the West Location in North Dakota Coordinates: , Country State County Cass Founded 1871 Government  - Mayor Dennis Walaker Area  - City 37. ... José Montserrate Feliciano García (born September 10, 1945) is a Puerto Rican singer and guitarist. ...

The soundtrack album was released in 1996 on TVT Records, combined with selections from the score to Barton Fink.^[16] TVT Records is an independent record label founded in 1985 by Steve Gottlieb. ... Barton Fink is a 1991 film by Joel and Ethan Coen. ...

Track listing

All selections composed by Carter Burwell. Carter Burwell (born November 18, 1955, in New York) is a composer of film soundtracks. ...

1. "Fargo, North Dakota" – 2:47
2. "Moose Lake" – 0:41
3. "A Lot of Woe" – 0:49
4. "Forced Entry" – 1:23
5. "The Ozone" – 0:57
6. "The Trooper's End" – 1:06
7. "Chewing on it" – 0:51
8. "Rubbernecking" – 2:04
9. "Dance of the Sierra" – 1:23
10. "The Mallard" – 0:58
11. "Delivery" – 4:46
12. "Bismark, North Dakota" – 1:02
13. "Paul Bunyan" – 0:35
14. "The Eager Beaver" – 3:10
15. "Brainard Minnesota" – 2:40
16. "Safe Keeping" – 1:41
    • Album has an additional eight selections from the 'Barton Fink soundtrack.

Approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes into the film there is an instrumental (piano) rendition of Sometimes In Winter (Blood, Sweat & Tears) in the background. Motto: Gateway to the West Location in North Dakota Coordinates: , Country State County Cass Founded 1871 Government  - Mayor Dennis Walaker Area  - City 37. ... Capitol building Bismarck is the capital of North Dakota, a state of the United States of America. ... For other uses, see Paul Bunyan (disambiguation). ... Barton Fink is a 1991 film by Joel and Ethan Coen. ...

Releases

• The film has been released in several formats: VHS, Laserdisc and DVD.
• A special edition VHS release came in 1996 that along with the video tape, also included a snow globe depicting the wood chipper scene. When shook, both snow and blood stirred up.
• The film was first released on DVD on July 8, 1997 in a bare-bones edition and widescreen transfer.^[19] A "Special Edition" DVD was released on September 30, 2003.^[19]

This article is about the video format. ... Not to be confused with disk laser, a type of solid-state laser in a flat configuration. ... DVD (also known as Digital Versatile Disc or Digital Video Disc - see Etymology) is a popular optical disc storage media format. ... July 8 is the 189th day of the year (190th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the band, see 1997 (band). ... is the 273rd day of the year (274th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Television spin-off

In 1997, a pilot was filmed for a television series based on the film. Set in Brainerd, it starred Edie Falco as Marge Gunderson. Directed by Kathy Bates, the episode was shown during Trio's 2003 "Brilliant But Cancelled" series of failed TV shows. For the band, see 1997 (band). ... A television pilot is the first episode of an intended television series. ... Edith Falco (born July 5, 1963) is an American television, film and stage actress best known for her lead role as Carmela Soprano on HBOs award winning hit series The Sopranos, as well as Diane Wittlesey on the HBO show Oz. ... Kathleen Doyle Bates (born June 28, 1948) is an Academy Award-winning American theatrical, film, and television actress, and a stage and television director. ... Trio (or TRIO) was an American cable and satellite television channel owned by NBC Universal. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

References

The Urban Legends Reference Pages, also known as snopes. ... is the 129th day of the year (130th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Logo of the St. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Era (or Anno Domini), in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 53rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... March 26 is the 85th day of the year (86th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Christian Science Monitor (CSM) is an international newspaper published daily, Monday through Friday. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Era (or Anno Domini), in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 53rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 292nd day of the year (293rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The traces its history back to both the Minnesota Pioneer, Minnesotas first daily newspaper (which was founded in 1849), and the (which was launched in 1868). ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Era (or Anno Domini), in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 53rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... James Lileks (born August 9, 1958 in Fargo, North Dakota) and educated at the University of Minnesota, is an American journalist, columnist, and blogger living in Minneapolis, Minnesota. ... is the 82nd day of the year (83rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Era (or Anno Domini), in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 53rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 284th day of the year (285th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 284th day of the year (285th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 294th day of the year (295th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to:

Fargo

• Fargo (film) at the Internet Movie Database
• Fargo at Rotten Tomatoes
• Fargo at Filmsite.org
• Fargo at the Fargo Filmmaking Wiki