The 100 Greatest movies of the 1990s 1. Goodfellas (36 Viewers)

[BlackCrowes]

There's so much to love in Fargo but the more I watch it the more I get a kick out of Steve Buschemi's Carl Showalter. It starts with the fact that he's not even supposed to be there - he tags along to the initial meeting with Jerry, and does all the talking, but isn't "vouched" for by Shep Proudfoot.

When he goes to MSP airport to steal a new set of plates, he thinks he can get away with berating the ticket booth guy - curses him up one side and down the other. But he's powerless to the guy's steadfast, simplistic adherence to the rules. You gotta pay the ticket, Carl!

EXIT BOOTH

Carl pulls up and hands the attendant his ticket.

CARL
Yeah, I decided not to park here.

The attendant frowns uncomprehendingly at the ticket.

ATTENDANT
... What do you mean, you decided
not to park here?

CARL
Yeah, I just came in. I decided
not to park here.

The attendant is still puzzled.

ATTENDANT
You, uh... I'm sorry, sir, but -

CARL
I decided not to - I'm, uh, not
taking the trip as it turns out.

ATTENDANT
I'm sorry, sir, we do have to
charge you the four dollars.

CARL
I just pulled in here. I just
****ing pulled in here!

ATTENDANT
Well, see, there's a minimum charge
of four dollars. Long-term parking
charges by the day.

A car behind beeps. Carl glances back, starts digging for
money.

CARL
I guess you think, ya know, you're
an authority figure. With that
stupid ****ing uniform. Huh, buddy?

The attendant doesn't say anything.

CARL
... King Clip-on Tie here. Big
****ing man.

He is peeling off one dollar bills.

CARL
... You know, these are the limits
of your life, man. Ruler of your
little ****ing gate here. There's
your four dollars. You pathetic
piece of ****.

The second scene that makes me laugh is when Carl returns to the cabin and gets in an argument with Gaear Grimsrud (what a great name!) about "splitting" the POS tan Cierra. The dude just squirreled away a giant stash of money that could buy him 30 of the same car - but because he's a two bit hoodlum that just can't let it go, he instead gets an axe to the clavicle and a one way trip to the woodchipper!

CARL
HOW THE **** DO WE SHPLITTA ****IN'
CAR? Ya dummy! Widda ****in'
chainshaw?

Grimsrud looks sourly up. There is a beat. Finally:

GRIMSRUD
One of us pays the other for half.

CARL
HOLD ON! NO ****IN' WAY! YOU
****IN' NOTISH ISH? I GOT ****IN'
SHOT INNA FAISH! I WENT'N GOTTA
****IN' MONEY! I GET SHOT ****IN'
PICKIN' IT UP! I BEEN UP FOR
THIRTY-SHIKSH ****IN' HOURZH! I'M
TAKIN' THAT ****IN' CAR! THAT
****ERZH MINE!

however, if he had given up on the tan Sierra too easy, he may have thought the other guy would have started thinking why

 

[BlackCrowes]

¨i'm ...not....too....sure i agree with your police work there Lou¨

use that one all the time

 

[Andy Dufresne]

There's so much to love in Fargo but the more I watch it the more I get a kick out of Steve Buschemi's Carl Showalter. It starts with the fact that he's not even supposed to be there - he tags along to the initial meeting with Jerry, and does all the talking, but isn't "vouched" for by Shep Proudfoot.

When he goes to MSP airport to steal a new set of plates, he thinks he can get away with berating the ticket booth guy - curses him up one side and down the other. But he's powerless to the guy's steadfast, simplistic adherence to the rules. You gotta pay the ticket, Carl!

EXIT BOOTH

Carl pulls up and hands the attendant his ticket.

CARL
Yeah, I decided not to park here.

The attendant frowns uncomprehendingly at the ticket.

ATTENDANT
... What do you mean, you decided
not to park here?

CARL
Yeah, I just came in. I decided
not to park here.

The attendant is still puzzled.

ATTENDANT
You, uh... I'm sorry, sir, but -

CARL
I decided not to - I'm, uh, not
taking the trip as it turns out.

ATTENDANT
I'm sorry, sir, we do have to
charge you the four dollars.

CARL
I just pulled in here. I just
****ing pulled in here!

ATTENDANT
Well, see, there's a minimum charge
of four dollars. Long-term parking
charges by the day.

A car behind beeps. Carl glances back, starts digging for
money.

CARL
I guess you think, ya know, you're
an authority figure. With that
stupid ****ing uniform. Huh, buddy?

The attendant doesn't say anything.

CARL
... King Clip-on Tie here. Big
****ing man.

He is peeling off one dollar bills.

CARL
... You know, these are the limits
of your life, man. Ruler of your
little ****ing gate here. There's
your four dollars. You pathetic
piece of ****.

The second scene that makes me laugh is when Carl returns to the cabin and gets in an argument with Gaear Grimsrud (what a great name!) about "splitting" the POS tan Cierra. The dude just squirreled away a giant stash of money that could buy him 30 of the same car - but because he's a two bit hoodlum that just can't let it go, he instead gets an axe to the clavicle and a one way trip to the woodchipper!

CARL
HOW THE **** DO WE SHPLITTA ****IN'
CAR? Ya dummy! Widda ****in'
chainshaw?

Grimsrud looks sourly up. There is a beat. Finally:

GRIMSRUD
One of us pays the other for half.

CARL
HOLD ON! NO ****IN' WAY! YOU
****IN' NOTISH ISH? I GOT ****IN'
SHOT INNA FAISH! I WENT'N GOTTA
****IN' MONEY! I GET SHOT ****IN'
PICKIN' IT UP! I BEEN UP FOR
THIRTY-SHIKSH ****IN' HOURZH! I'M
TAKIN' THAT ****IN' CAR! THAT
****ERZH MINE!

however, if he had given up on the tan Sierra too easy, he may have thought the other guy would have started thinking why

True. No honor among thieves.

 

[General Malaise]

Incredible movie, you betcha.

 

[El Floppo]

I dunno... Funny lookin'

 

[McBokonon]

So, you were havin' sex with the little fellow, then.

 

[B Maverick]

Fargo is another highly overrated movie. Like The Unforgiven, I am sure I will be the only dissenting view.

 

[KarmaPolice]

There's so much to love in Fargo but the more I watch it the more I get a kick out of Steve Buschemi's Carl Showalter. It starts with the fact that he's not even supposed to be there - he tags along to the initial meeting with Jerry, and does all the talking, but isn't "vouched" for by Shep Proudfoot.

When he goes to MSP airport to steal a new set of plates, he thinks he can get away with berating the ticket booth guy - curses him up one side and down the other. But he's powerless to the guy's steadfast, simplistic adherence to the rules. You gotta pay the ticket, Carl!

EXIT BOOTH

Carl pulls up and hands the attendant his ticket.

CARL
Yeah, I decided not to park here.

The attendant frowns uncomprehendingly at the ticket.

ATTENDANT
... What do you mean, you decided
not to park here?

CARL
Yeah, I just came in. I decided
not to park here.

The attendant is still puzzled.

ATTENDANT
You, uh... I'm sorry, sir, but -

CARL
I decided not to - I'm, uh, not
taking the trip as it turns out.

ATTENDANT
I'm sorry, sir, we do have to
charge you the four dollars.

CARL
I just pulled in here. I just
****ing pulled in here!

ATTENDANT
Well, see, there's a minimum charge
of four dollars. Long-term parking
charges by the day.

A car behind beeps. Carl glances back, starts digging for
money.

CARL
I guess you think, ya know, you're
an authority figure. With that
stupid ****ing uniform. Huh, buddy?

The attendant doesn't say anything.

CARL
... King Clip-on Tie here. Big
****ing man.

He is peeling off one dollar bills.

CARL
... You know, these are the limits
of your life, man. Ruler of your
little ****ing gate here. There's
your four dollars. You pathetic
piece of ****.

The second scene that makes me laugh is when Carl returns to the cabin and gets in an argument with Gaear Grimsrud (what a great name!) about "splitting" the POS tan Cierra. The dude just squirreled away a giant stash of money that could buy him 30 of the same car - but because he's a two bit hoodlum that just can't let it go, he instead gets an axe to the clavicle and a one way trip to the woodchipper!

CARL
HOW THE **** DO WE SHPLITTA ****IN'
CAR? Ya dummy! Widda ****in'
chainshaw?

Grimsrud looks sourly up. There is a beat. Finally:

GRIMSRUD
One of us pays the other for half.

CARL
HOLD ON! NO ****IN' WAY! YOU
****IN' NOTISH ISH? I GOT ****IN'
SHOT INNA FAISH! I WENT'N GOTTA
****IN' MONEY! I GET SHOT ****IN'
PICKIN' IT UP! I BEEN UP FOR
THIRTY-SHIKSH ****IN' HOURZH! I'M
TAKIN' THAT ****IN' CAR! THAT
****ERZH MINE!

Do you think start of the movie Carl would have gotten into that argument over the car, or was he pushed to his absolute limit during the movie and that is more the reason he is fighting about that?

 

[KarmaPolice]

On the Kanopy site, there's a good series called Screenwriting 101 and Episode 18 is entitled "Existential Meaning: Fargo". Definitely worth watching.

It covers the concept of nihilism (a Cohen brothers favorite) from Jerry's point of view and a contrasting mirror image of that impulse - nurturing - embodied by Marge.

Is that one of the Great Courses on there, or something else?

 

[RCon]

Only saw Fargo once, decades ago. I don't remember anything about it other than my reaction at the time was "meh".

 

[KarmaPolice]

Fargo is another highly overrated movie. Like The Unforgiven, I am sure I will be the only dissenting view.

This is one of those movies that grew on me a lot over the years. I would have been in your camp in the 90s, but not I think it's fantastic and seem to watch it every year.

 

[Gally]

Only saw Fargo once, decades ago. I don't remember anything about it other than my reaction at the time was "meh".

I am in the exact same boat.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Fargo is another highly overrated movie. Like The Unforgiven, I am sure I will be the only dissenting view.

I’m a little bit with you. I think it’s a good movie, maybe even very good, but it’s not among the Coens’ best. A little too quirky just for the sake of it. I’ve never felt the need to rewatch, unlike many of their other films.

 

[KarmaPolice]

Fargo is another highly overrated movie. Like The Unforgiven, I am sure I will be the only dissenting view.

I’m a little bit with you. I think it’s a good movie, maybe even very good, but it’s not among the Coens’ best. A little too quirky just for the sake of it. I’ve never felt the need to rewatch, unlike many of their other films.

That is weird, because that I how I feel about 80% of their movies, and think Fargo is one of their more straight forward movies.

 

[Ghost Rider]

Great flick, definitely top 10 worthy (although it would have been around 20-25 for me for the 90s). At the time this came out, I worked with a guy who was from that area, and he said they actually undersell in the film how pronounced the dialect is. I was totally thrown by it, having never been up there, and he was like. "Oh, it's way worse!" haha

 

[dgreen]

Is this true? Part of Google AI's answer to "is fargo based on a true story":

They used the "true story" claim as a narrative device to create a specific tone and atmosphere for the film.

If true, I think that's actually pretty awesome. I know when I first watched it and it got to the woodchipper scene, I was like "Whoa, this is based on a true story!"

 

[Andy Dufresne]

There's so much to love in Fargo but the more I watch it the more I get a kick out of Steve Buschemi's Carl Showalter. It starts with the fact that he's not even supposed to be there - he tags along to the initial meeting with Jerry, and does all the talking, but isn't "vouched" for by Shep Proudfoot.

When he goes to MSP airport to steal a new set of plates, he thinks he can get away with berating the ticket booth guy - curses him up one side and down the other. But he's powerless to the guy's steadfast, simplistic adherence to the rules. You gotta pay the ticket, Carl!

EXIT BOOTH

Carl pulls up and hands the attendant his ticket.

CARL
Yeah, I decided not to park here.

The attendant frowns uncomprehendingly at the ticket.

ATTENDANT
... What do you mean, you decided
not to park here?

CARL
Yeah, I just came in. I decided
not to park here.

The attendant is still puzzled.

ATTENDANT
You, uh... I'm sorry, sir, but -

CARL
I decided not to - I'm, uh, not
taking the trip as it turns out.

ATTENDANT
I'm sorry, sir, we do have to
charge you the four dollars.

CARL
I just pulled in here. I just
****ing pulled in here!

ATTENDANT
Well, see, there's a minimum charge
of four dollars. Long-term parking
charges by the day.

A car behind beeps. Carl glances back, starts digging for
money.

CARL
I guess you think, ya know, you're
an authority figure. With that
stupid ****ing uniform. Huh, buddy?

The attendant doesn't say anything.

CARL
... King Clip-on Tie here. Big
****ing man.

He is peeling off one dollar bills.

CARL
... You know, these are the limits
of your life, man. Ruler of your
little ****ing gate here. There's
your four dollars. You pathetic
piece of ****.

The second scene that makes me laugh is when Carl returns to the cabin and gets in an argument with Gaear Grimsrud (what a great name!) about "splitting" the POS tan Cierra. The dude just squirreled away a giant stash of money that could buy him 30 of the same car - but because he's a two bit hoodlum that just can't let it go, he instead gets an axe to the clavicle and a one way trip to the woodchipper!

CARL
HOW THE **** DO WE SHPLITTA ****IN'
CAR? Ya dummy! Widda ****in'
chainshaw?

Grimsrud looks sourly up. There is a beat. Finally:

GRIMSRUD
One of us pays the other for half.

CARL
HOLD ON! NO ****IN' WAY! YOU
****IN' NOTISH ISH? I GOT ****IN'
SHOT INNA FAISH! I WENT'N GOTTA
****IN' MONEY! I GET SHOT ****IN'
PICKIN' IT UP! I BEEN UP FOR
THIRTY-SHIKSH ****IN' HOURZH! I'M
TAKIN' THAT ****IN' CAR! THAT
****ERZH MINE!

Do you think start of the movie Carl would have gotten into that argument over the car, or was he pushed to his absolute limit during the movie and that is more the reason he is fighting about that?

Good question. He probably would have walked away had he not felt like he'd done more to deserve the money than Graear. He's probably right that he did although a lot of it was his own doing.

On the Kanopy site, there's a good series called Screenwriting 101 and Episode 18 is entitled "Existential Meaning: Fargo". Definitely worth watching.

It covers the concept of nihilism (a Cohen brothers favorite) from Jerry's point of view and a contrasting mirror image of that impulse - nurturing - embodied by Marge.

Is that one of the Great Courses on there, or something else?

On my site simply searching for "Screenwriting 101" brings it up - the rest of the title is "Mastering the Art of Story". It's not part of the Great Courses bunch but it may as well be.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Great flick, definitely top 10 worthy (although it would have been around 20-25 for me for the 90s). At the time this came out, I worked with a guy who was from that area, and he said they actually undersell in the film how pronounced the dialect is. I was totally thrown by it, having never been up there, and he was like. "Oh, it's way worse!" haha

The further north you go the closer it sounds to the movie. It's akin to a Canadian dialect but also distinct in its own way.

Is this true? Part of Google AI's answer to "is fargo based on a true story":

They used the "true story" claim as a narrative device to create a specific tone and atmosphere for the film.

If true, I think that's actually pretty awesome. I know when I first watched it and it got to the woodchipper scene, I was like "Whoa, this is based on a true story!"

It's true that they lied about it being true.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Watching Fargo once, I imagine it's hard to get past the gimmick. I can understand not liking it much if that's all it seemed to the viewer.

As a born and raised Minnesotan I can tell you it gets right so much of who we are. Especially Marge...more than a little naive and lacking guile but not stupid.

 

[dgreen]

Great flick, definitely top 10 worthy (although it would have been around 20-25 for me for the 90s). At the time this came out, I worked with a guy who was from that area, and he said they actually undersell in the film how pronounced the dialect is. I was totally thrown by it, having never been up there, and he was like. "Oh, it's way worse!" haha

The further north you go the closer it sounds to the movie. It's akin to a Canadian dialect but also distinct in its own way.

Is this true? Part of Google AI's answer to "is fargo based on a true story":

They used the "true story" claim as a narrative device to create a specific tone and atmosphere for the film.

If true, I think that's actually pretty awesome. I know when I first watched it and it got to the woodchipper scene, I was like "Whoa, this is based on a true story!"

It's true that they lied about it being true.

And do you buy that they did that to create a specific tone and atmosphere for the film? That it was a way to draw the audience into a certain experience of the story that wouldn't have otherwise been there?

 

[Dr. Octopus]

Is this true? Part of Google AI's answer to "is fargo based on a true story":

They used the "true story" claim as a narrative device to create a specific tone and atmosphere for the film.

If true, I think that's actually pretty awesome. I know when I first watched it and it got to the woodchipper scene, I was like "Whoa, this is based on a true story!"

They put that same "disclaimer" before each episode of the television series also.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Great flick, definitely top 10 worthy (although it would have been around 20-25 for me for the 90s). At the time this came out, I worked with a guy who was from that area, and he said they actually undersell in the film how pronounced the dialect is. I was totally thrown by it, having never been up there, and he was like. "Oh, it's way worse!" haha

The further north you go the closer it sounds to the movie. It's akin to a Canadian dialect but also distinct in its own way.

Is this true? Part of Google AI's answer to "is fargo based on a true story":

They used the "true story" claim as a narrative device to create a specific tone and atmosphere for the film.

If true, I think that's actually pretty awesome. I know when I first watched it and it got to the woodchipper scene, I was like "Whoa, this is based on a true story!"

It's true that they lied about it being true.

And do you buy that they did that to create a specific tone and atmosphere for the film? That it was a way to draw the audience into a certain experience of the story that wouldn't have otherwise been there?

Definitely. I think it adds to the tongue in cheek absurdity of it all. It's just to enhance the storytelling.

I think it connects really well to the story. If the viewer believes that lie, is it hard to accept that Marge accepts Jerry's?

 

[Terminalxylem]

Fargo is another highly overrated movie. Like The Unforgiven, I am sure I will be the only dissenting view.

I’m a little bit with you. I think it’s a good movie, maybe even very good, but it’s not among the Coens’ best. A little too quirky just for the sake of it. I’ve never felt the need to rewatch, unlike many of their other films.

That is weird, because that I how I feel about 80% of their movies, and think Fargo is one of their more straight forward movies.

Fargo, No Country, and a Serious Man are fantastic. Most of the rest are just OK imo

 

[KarmaPolice]

Fargo is another highly overrated movie. Like The Unforgiven, I am sure I will be the only dissenting view.

I’m a little bit with you. I think it’s a good movie, maybe even very good, but it’s not among the Coens’ best. A little too quirky just for the sake of it. I’ve never felt the need to rewatch, unlike many of their other films.

That is weird, because that I how I feel about 80% of their movies, and think Fargo is one of their more straight forward movies.

Fargo, No Country, and a Serious Man are fantastic. Most of the rest are just OK imo

Lebowski is the other for me ive grown to love, so my list is your 1st two and that one. I haven't see. A Serious Man yet.

 

[Dan Lambskin]

Fargo is another highly overrated movie. Like The Unforgiven, I am sure I will be the only dissenting view.

I’m a little bit with you. I think it’s a good movie, maybe even very good, but it’s not among the Coens’ best. A little too quirky just for the sake of it. I’ve never felt the need to rewatch, unlike many of their other films.

That is weird, because that I how I feel about 80% of their movies, and think Fargo is one of their more straight forward movies.

Fargo, No Country, and a Serious Man are fantastic. Most of the rest are just OK imo

Lebowski is the other for me ive grown to love, so my list is your 1st two and that one. I haven't see. A Serious Man yet.

I really liked A Serious Man I’d take it over any of the best picture winners that year

Also think we might have a glaring omission on another Coen movie, almost as if Tim is giving it the high hat

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Fargo is another highly overrated movie. Like The Unforgiven, I am sure I will be the only dissenting view.

I’m a little bit with you. I think it’s a good movie, maybe even very good, but it’s not among the Coens’ best. A little too quirky just for the sake of it. I’ve never felt the need to rewatch, unlike many of their other films.

That is weird, because that I how I feel about 80% of their movies, and think Fargo is one of their more straight forward movies.

Fargo, No Country, and a Serious Man are fantastic. Most of the rest are just OK imo

Lebowski is the other for me ive grown to love, so my list is your 1st two and that one. I haven't see. A Serious Man yet.

I really liked A Serious Man I’d take it over any of the best picture winners that year

Also think we might have a glaring omission on another Coen movie, almost as if Tim is giving it the high hat

Right!!!???

 

[KarmaPolice]

Fargo is another highly overrated movie. Like The Unforgiven, I am sure I will be the only dissenting view.

I’m a little bit with you. I think it’s a good movie, maybe even very good, but it’s not among the Coens’ best. A little too quirky just for the sake of it. I’ve never felt the need to rewatch, unlike many of their other films.

That is weird, because that I how I feel about 80% of their movies, and think Fargo is one of their more straight forward movies.

Fargo, No Country, and a Serious Man are fantastic. Most of the rest are just OK imo

Lebowski is the other for me ive grown to love, so my list is your 1st two and that one. I haven't see. A Serious Man yet.

I really liked A Serious Man I’d take it over any of the best picture winners that year

Also think we might have a glaring omission on another Coen movie, almost as if Tim is giving it the high hat

That's one i don't get.

I forgot about it until now as well- that could be another that Andy was referring to.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

I haven't see. A Serious Man yet.

It's a slower paced movie and pretty deep - but it's a masterful retelling of the story of Job.

One of the best endings to a movie that I've seen.

 

[El Floppo]

Fargo is another highly overrated movie. Like The Unforgiven, I am sure I will be the only dissenting view.

I’m a little bit with you. I think it’s a good movie, maybe even very good, but it’s not among the Coens’ best. A little too quirky just for the sake of it. I’ve never felt the need to rewatch, unlike many of their other films.

That is weird, because that I how I feel about 80% of their movies, and think Fargo is one of their more straight forward movies.

Fargo, No Country, and a Serious Man are fantastic. Most of the rest are just OK imo

Blood Simple and Raising Arizona for me (along with the first two).

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

6. Fargo (1996)

Directed by: The Coen Brothers

Starring: Frances McDormand, William H. Macy, Steve Buscemi

Synopsis: A car salesman has his wife kidnapped in order to extort money from his father in law.

I’m not sure I agree with you 100 percent on your police work there Lou! - Frances McDormand as Marge Gunderson


Quirky, funny, and yet thrilling and suspenseful, this is the Coen brothers at the finest and the three leads are simply amazing. Not sure I had seen Buscemi before this (I had definitely seen the other two) but this felt to me like breakout roles for them all.
I loved the subsequent TV show as well, as least the first 3 seasons. I got bogged down and bored in the Chris Rock season and stopped watching so i have t seen the Jon Hamm season. I need to go back and do that.

Ok. Not meaning to embarrass you. Just genuinely curious.
Had you never seen this movie 8 or so years ago when you did your top 100 movies of all time?
Did you forget it then? Rewatch it and like it more? The TV series boosted your enjoyment?

It puts to bed what the top 5 are now……unless youve had a major negative re-evaluation toward one of them or forgot them here lol

 

[massraider]

Macy was fantastic in this movie. Watching him squirm the whole movie, and then wailing as they drag him out of the motel in his tighty whiteys was great.

Him being such an aww shucks goober, while planning his wife's kidnapping, then abandoning his family.... he really was an awful character, but the movie kind of played like he was a decent guy in a tough spot, which he clearly was not.

 

[Gally]

I lived in Boston during this decade, and this movie is so authentic.

Hmmmm. I guess we now know where your username stems from.....I just thought you liked the raiders "massively"

 

[massraider]

Hmmmm. I guess we now know where your username stems from.....I just thought you liked the raiders "massively"

Geez, I woulda thought my constant know-it-all condescending smart-assery made it abundantly clear where I was from.

 

[Gally]

Hmmmm. I guess we now know where your username stems from.....I just thought you liked the raiders "massively"

Geez, I woulda thought my constant know-it-all condescending smart-assery made it abundantly clear where I was from.

or just a raider fan

 

[Ghost Rider]

Macy was fantastic in this movie. Watching him squirm the whole movie, and then wailing as they drag him out of the motel in his tighty whiteys was great.

Him being such an aww shucks goober, while planning his wife's kidnapping, then abandoning his family.... he really was an awful character, but the movie kind of played like he was a decent guy in a tough spot, which he clearly was not.

Considering his father-in-law treated him like a useless piece of dirt on the underside of his shoe, you almost felt bad for Jerry. Almost.

 

[BlackCrowes]

Fargo is another highly overrated movie. Like The Unforgiven, I am sure I will be the only dissenting view.

I’m a little bit with you. I think it’s a good movie, maybe even very good, but it’s not among the Coens’ best. A little too quirky just for the sake of it. I’ve never felt the need to rewatch, unlike many of their other films.

That is weird, because that I how I feel about 80% of their movies, and think Fargo is one of their more straight forward movies.

Fargo, No Country, and a Serious Man are fantastic. Most of the rest are just OK imo

Lebowski is the other for me ive grown to love, so my list is your 1st two and that one. I haven't see. A Serious Man yet.

I really liked A Serious Man I’d take it over any of the best picture winners that year

Also think we might have a glaring omission on another Coen movie, almost as if Tim is giving it the high hat

that appears to be the rumpus

 

[General Malaise]

Macy was fantastic in this movie. Watching him squirm the whole movie, and then wailing as they drag him out of the motel in his tighty whiteys was great.

Him being such an aww shucks goober, while planning his wife's kidnapping, then abandoning his family.... he really was an awful character, but the movie kind of played like he was a decent guy in a tough spot, which he clearly was not.

Yeah, Macy turned in an absolute gem of a performance. They all did but it's the first movie of his that I remember watching in the theater and walking out saying "WOW". I took my GF at the time; she did NOT like this movie at all and thought I was crazy for loving it so much.

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

Proud member of the Mike Yanagita fan club

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Proud member of the Mike Yanagita fan club

He's the lynchpin of the entire story.

 

[Dennis Castro]

Great flick, definitely top 10 worthy (although it would have been around 20-25 for me for the 90s). At the time this came out, I worked with a guy who was from that area, and he said they actually undersell in the film how pronounced the dialect is. I was totally thrown by it, having never been up there, and he was like. "Oh, it's way worse!" haha

The further north you go the closer it sounds to the movie. It's akin to a Canadian dialect but also distinct in its own way.

It also increases the less urban you get. So local/small town working class folks have the strongest accents, like the two prostitutes.

I think it’s funny how Minnesotans pronounce the word “bag” so it rhymes with “vague.” I was at a Little Store near Duluth a few years back buying some snacks when the guy at the counter rang me up and then asked, “Bag needed?”

That has become a running joke in our house.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Great flick, definitely top 10 worthy (although it would have been around 20-25 for me for the 90s). At the time this came out, I worked with a guy who was from that area, and he said they actually undersell in the film how pronounced the dialect is. I was totally thrown by it, having never been up there, and he was like. "Oh, it's way worse!" haha

The further north you go the closer it sounds to the movie. It's akin to a Canadian dialect but also distinct in its own way.

It also increases the less urban you get. So local/small town working class folks have the strongest accents, like the two prostitutes.

I think it’s funny how Minnesotans pronounce the word “bag” so it rhymes with “vague.” I was at a Little Store near Duluth a few years back buying some snacks when the guy at the counter rang me up and then asked, “Bag needed?”

That has become a running joke in our house.

My wife has Texan relatives that pointed this one out to me.

Normally I can pick this sort of difference up easy peasy. But in this case I don't even HEAR a difference much less be able to speak it each way.

 

[General Malaise]

I rather enjoy it now when we go to Michigan to visit my wife's family and listen to all of them butcher the pronunciation of the challenging word "Oregon". I don't dare correct them; it tickles me at this point. They're all so midwestern nice and they all live like 10 miles from where they grew up but my word, it's crazy how badly they miss on this one.

 

[falguy]

I always loved the scene where he went to see about his finder's fee and the subsequent car ice scraping.
https://youtu.be/RM2N1w6t1KM?t=147

Just watching his head move back and forth make me

How long was he in there, anyway? That's a lot of ice buildup for. short period of time.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

I always loved the scene where he went to see about his finder's fee and the subsequent car ice scraping.
https://youtu.be/RM2N1w6t1KM?t=147

Just watching his head move back and forth make me

How long was he in there, anyway? That's a lot of ice buildup for. short period of time.

He probly didn't have that Tru Coat on there dontcha know.

 

[Dr_Zaius]

Roots pronounced as "ruts" was the one that got us. It took us a while to figure out what the ranger was even talking about.

I actually thought Fargo the town was fine when we stayed a night there, although there's definitely not much around. The movie is good, too, although I would argue a little overrated. On the high hatting, movie, Jon Polito's character absolutely cracks me up in that one.

 

[TripItUp]

6. Fargo (1996)

Directed by: The Coen Brothers

Starring: Frances McDormand, William H. Macy, Steve Buscemi

Synopsis: A car salesman has his wife kidnapped in order to extort money from his father in law.

Great movie. I can't even think of a criticism outside of it is not a preferred genre of mine and not something I've wanted to rewatch as much as other films. I have no qualms with this making a personal top 10 list.

Trip's Official Ruling: Slightly Over Ranked (makes my top 25)

 

[KarmaPolice]

There's so much to love in Fargo but the more I watch it the more I get a kick out of Steve Buschemi's Carl Showalter. It starts with the fact that he's not even supposed to be there - he tags along to the initial meeting with Jerry, and does all the talking, but isn't "vouched" for by Shep Proudfoot.

When he goes to MSP airport to steal a new set of plates, he thinks he can get away with berating the ticket booth guy - curses him up one side and down the other. But he's powerless to the guy's steadfast, simplistic adherence to the rules. You gotta pay the ticket, Carl!

EXIT BOOTH

Carl pulls up and hands the attendant his ticket.

CARL
Yeah, I decided not to park here.

The attendant frowns uncomprehendingly at the ticket.

ATTENDANT
... What do you mean, you decided
not to park here?

CARL
Yeah, I just came in. I decided
not to park here.

The attendant is still puzzled.

ATTENDANT
You, uh... I'm sorry, sir, but -

CARL
I decided not to - I'm, uh, not
taking the trip as it turns out.

ATTENDANT
I'm sorry, sir, we do have to
charge you the four dollars.

CARL
I just pulled in here. I just
****ing pulled in here!

ATTENDANT
Well, see, there's a minimum charge
of four dollars. Long-term parking
charges by the day.

A car behind beeps. Carl glances back, starts digging for
money.

CARL
I guess you think, ya know, you're
an authority figure. With that
stupid ****ing uniform. Huh, buddy?

The attendant doesn't say anything.

CARL
... King Clip-on Tie here. Big
****ing man.

He is peeling off one dollar bills.

CARL
... You know, these are the limits
of your life, man. Ruler of your
little ****ing gate here. There's
your four dollars. You pathetic
piece of ****.

The second scene that makes me laugh is when Carl returns to the cabin and gets in an argument with Gaear Grimsrud (what a great name!) about "splitting" the POS tan Cierra. The dude just squirreled away a giant stash of money that could buy him 30 of the same car - but because he's a two bit hoodlum that just can't let it go, he instead gets an axe to the clavicle and a one way trip to the woodchipper!

CARL
HOW THE **** DO WE SHPLITTA ****IN'
CAR? Ya dummy! Widda ****in'
chainshaw?

Grimsrud looks sourly up. There is a beat. Finally:

GRIMSRUD
One of us pays the other for half.

CARL
HOLD ON! NO ****IN' WAY! YOU
****IN' NOTISH ISH? I GOT ****IN'
SHOT INNA FAISH! I WENT'N GOTTA
****IN' MONEY! I GET SHOT ****IN'
PICKIN' IT UP! I BEEN UP FOR
THIRTY-SHIKSH ****IN' HOURZH! I'M
TAKIN' THAT ****IN' CAR! THAT
****ERZH MINE!

Do you think start of the movie Carl would have gotten into that argument over the car, or was he pushed to his absolute limit during the movie and that is more the reason he is fighting about that?

Good question. He probably would have walked away had he not felt like he'd done more to deserve the money than Graear. He's probably right that he did although a lot of it was his own doing.

On the Kanopy site, there's a good series called Screenwriting 101 and Episode 18 is entitled "Existential Meaning: Fargo". Definitely worth watching.

It covers the concept of nihilism (a Cohen brothers favorite) from Jerry's point of view and a contrasting mirror image of that impulse - nurturing - embodied by Marge.

Is that one of the Great Courses on there, or something else?

On my site simply searching for "Screenwriting 101" brings it up - the rest of the title is "Mastering the Art of Story". It's not part of the Great Courses bunch but it may as well be.

I watched it recently (bought the 4k), and that was something that I was thinking about. Carl at the beginning in the bar not sweating the details of the heist vs. Carl fighting about the car despite having a suitcase of cash.

Also, I heard a podcast talking about a backstory that Norm used to be on the force, but they decided one of them should stay home? Maybe it was the Cine-Files podcast, but they were bringing up how weird Norm looks when they are talking shop around him - just staring there quietly.

 

[timschochet]

6. Fargo (1996)

Directed by: The Coen Brothers

Starring: Frances McDormand, William H. Macy, Steve Buscemi

Synopsis: A car salesman has his wife kidnapped in order to extort money from his father in law.

I’m not sure I agree with you 100 percent on your police work there Lou! - Frances McDormand as Marge Gunderson


Quirky, funny, and yet thrilling and suspenseful, this is the Coen brothers at the finest and the three leads are simply amazing. Not sure I had seen Buscemi before this (I had definitely seen the other two) but this felt to me like breakout roles for them all.
I loved the subsequent TV show as well, as least the first 3 seasons. I got bogged down and bored in the Chris Rock season and stopped watching so i have t seen the Jon Hamm season. I need to go back and do that.

Ok. Not meaning to embarrass you. Just genuinely curious.
Had you never seen this movie 8 or so years ago when you did your top 100 movies of all time?
Did you forget it then? Rewatch it and like it more? The TV series boosted your enjoyment?

It puts to bed what the top 5 are now……unless youve had a major negative re-evaluation toward one of them or forgot them here lol

The top 100 list you’re referring to is my top 100 personal favorite list. That’s why there’s some unusual selections in there, like Can’t Buy Me Love for instance. There is no way in hell I would have Can’t Buy Me Love, with Patrick Dempsey, among the greatest 100 films of all time. But it’s one of my all time favorites. Or it was when I made that list. Since it’s a favorites list it’s more interchangeable depending on my mood.

 

[timschochet]

5. The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

Directed by: Jonathan Demme

Starring: Jodi Foster, Anthony Hopkins, Scott Glenn, Ted Levine

Synopsis: The FBI attempts to use a serial killer already in prison to help them catch another one on the loose.

It puts the lotion on its skin. - Ted Levine as Buffalo Bill

Scary as hell, intense as all get out, thrilling and exciting. Maybe the best psychological suspense film of all time? Everything about it is satisfying from beginning to end. I think the sequel was extremely disappointing and unnecessary.

My only qualm about this movie is a societal one- I believe that it in Buffalo Bill a negative stereotype of transgender persons was created that lasts to this day and continues to have an impact on modern society, a detrimental one IMO. I won’t say any more because I don’t want to derail this thread (or forum) with politics.

 

[Zow]

Great last couple of movies.