Fargo is one of those films that I have always known about and heard nothing but great things of. Yet, for some inexplicable reason, I had never seen it, until now, of course. What's more, the two other Coen films that I have seen, No Country for Old Men and The Big Lebowski, were both fantastic. So, while I'm a little mad that it took me this long to get around to Fargo, I'm glad that I've finally seen it.

Interestingly, despite its critical acclaim and popularity, I had no idea what this film was about. And I'm glad that that was the case. I believe that Fargo benefits greatly, from being experienced without any prior knowledge. It gives the film a chance to create the narrative and expectations, which turns out to be quite important considering how simple it ultimately is. And while the story and the characters are relatively simple, it's that simplicity, I believe, that makes this film as fantastic as it is. It gives the chance to really focus on the characters and their personalities and what drives them. Because at the end of the day, this film is all about the characters. They make Fargo enjoyable and entertaining and easy to fall in to. The main characters, which there aren't many of, are all distinctly different, but together, they end up creating such a complete and perfect end product, that it's hard not to enjoy it.

The story is certainly another highpoint, not that there are really any low points. It follows Jerry, a car salesman, who is under a debt burden. To get out of the pinch, he devises a plan to have his wife kidnapped, and for his father-in-law to pay the ransom. However, as the plan starts going sideways and bodies start dropping, Marge, the head of police, is called in. As Jerry and the bad guys start feeling the heat, it's clear that the plan will never work, and they must all hope to getaway. The story ends up sounding far more complicated than it is when written out. Indeed, when watching the final product, it's especially the story that amazed me with its simplicity. But there is also a certain simplicity associated with the characters. All of them tend to follow a clear personality type, be it jumpy and uncertain, short-tempered and assertive, or calm and trusting. And apart from Marge, none of the characters goes through a phase of self-discovery or change. From the very first scene of each character, it's easy to understand who they are. And as the movie progresses, it's easy to predict how they are going to act. While that may, at first, sound like a bad thing, in the case of Fargo, it becomes the opposite. To keep the story concise and enjoyable, there needs to be a certain degree of predictability, and Fargo captures that balance perfectly.

Although I have already discussed the characters, there is one that I have yet to touch upon. That character, who is omnipresent throughout, is, of course, the dialogue and the accents it is delivered with. A lot of the novelty, as well as the fun, comes from the way conversations flow, as well as the mannerisms and sayings that the characters have. There is this certain friendliness, even in the most uncomfortable and frustrating conversations which gives the film an almost surreal feel. And although Fargo deals with some familiar themes and topics, thanks to its dialogue and environment it feels oddly otherworldly. It's something that I can't really explain, and I'm not even sure that those who have seen it would all agree, but the whole film felt close, yet simultaneously distant, which certainly added a lot to the overall feel.

Having now finally seen Fargo, I'm tremendously happy that I did so. It most certainly lives up to all the praise it has received, and is, without a doubt, one of the most perfect films ever created. While it might not be a personal favourite, nor one that I look forward to revisiting as soon as I get the chance, what it is, is a tremendously enjoyable and entertaining experience.