The Coen Brothers have been staples as writers and directors in the film industry since the late 1980s. They are responsible for popular movies like “The Big Lebowski,” “No Country for Old Men” and the 2010 remake of “True Grit” starring Jeff Bridges. In 1996, they created the black comedy “Fargo.”
“Fargo” was made on a relatively small budget of $7 million. It was a huge hit at the box office where it took in more than $60 million. It was released on March 8, 1996 as well as being released at various film festivals. At the widely known Cannes Film Festival, it won the prize for Best Director. It also went to the Academy Awards and won for Best Actress as well as Writing Original Screenplay.
The film stars “Boardwalk Empire” star Steve Buscemi as well as William H. Macy of the television series “Shameless.” The film is about a middle-aged car salesman named Jerry, played by Macy, who is desperate for money. His family has no idea of their financial troubles and he would like to keep it that way. He resorts to drastic measures. Jerry is very much aware that his father in-law is “well off,” so he devises a plan. He decides to stage a kidnapping of his wife. He would hire the kidnappers, one of whom is played by Steve Buscemi, and then when the ransom was paid, he would collect.
It would have been the perfect plan, but the kidnappers are clearly not professionals. When the kidnappers’ car gets pulled over for not having a license plate, things get messy. A triple homicide — not in the original plan — derails things and gets more police involved including Police Chief Marge Gunderson, who is pregnant.
Since its release, the film has gained an immense amount of popularity. For the movie’s 10th anniversary in March of 2006, a film festival held in Fargo, N.D. decided to have a showing of Fargo outside by projecting it onto the side of the city’s tallest building. The ritual was done a second time for the 15th anniversary. Also in 2006, the film was inducted into the United States National Film Registry for preservation.
The film has been subject to two separate television shows. The first was made in 1997, but it never got past the pilot stage. It featured none of the original cast, but the character of Marge Gunderson was featured in it. The Coen brothers also had no involvement with that pilot. The second attempt at a television series premiered last week on April 15, 2014. This series was announced to be a limited series rather than a straight-forward television show. It will have a ten episode run extending into the summer of 2014. It stars Billy Bob Thornton, Martin Freeman and Colin Hanks. The series also features the Coen brothers serving as executive producers. The series takes place 19 years after the original did and has received a positive response.