One of the greatest films of the 90's was this beautifully quirky and darkly suspenseful thriller from Joel and Ethan Coen.

Minnistota man hires some thugs to fake a kidnapping with his wife, but the foolish team quickly fouls things up and a small-town policewoman is about to uncover the crime.

Recalling a lot of the elements of the Coen's debut thriller Blood Simple (1984), Fargo also proves to be a unique and smartly told drama/thriller. The story is more complex this time, with an even larger band of colorful (and often dim-witted) characters. Fargo is one of those rare films that has a little bit of every film genre in its story. You have film noir, slick comedy, suspense-thriller, parody, and even small-town drama all weaved into one terrifically amusing gem of a film. The direction is wonderfully well-done, as is the beautifully atmospheric music score.

The cast of this film is excellent. Frances McDormand is perfectly lovable as the films rather unlikely heroine, a pregnant small-town cop. William H. Macy is subtly funny as the films desperate conspirator. Steve Buscemi is a stand out as one of the idiot kidnappers. The rest of the cast is also solidly good!

A masterpiece of a movie, probably the Coen's best, that's a true must-see for all film fans!

**** out of ****