Fargo

[Bevo-Stevo]

In my opinion, so much of a better film than No Country. Not even close. More stylish, witty, and incredible character development. I love almost all of the Coen bros. movies. I have seen No Country twice now and just do not get love-affair with it. I mean it's ok, but c'mon. I believe it's part of the "Scorsese syndrome." He should have won for Raging Bull or Goodfellas. He eventually won for a less deserving film, The Departed. Same thing in play here. I'm sure I'll see No Country again, and maybe the light will go on, but until then, Fargo remains their masterpiece. At least in my mind.

 

[evil horn]

you're not wrong.

 

[Mr. Orange]

Agreed. I really liked NCFOM, but Fargo is a better flick.

 

[Genco]

Shep, the **** ya doin? I'm bangin that broad!

 

[CaboWabo]

+1

 

[7out]

Agree with the op.

 

[BattleshipTexas]

Each film has its good points, but Fargo doesn't have a character as good as Chigurh.

 

[Macanudo]

No comparison because they're completely different types of films. Fargo was almost a dark comedy. NCFOM was nothing like it. Both are great in their own right.

 

[blueglasshorse]

What the OP said. Good, not great.

 

[Macanudo]

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[stabone]

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[accuratehorn]

Both great films. You sure you're not just stating a personal preference for the dark, comedic undertones and fake Minnesota accents of Fargo, over the dark, adventure and suspense with fake Texas accents of NCFOM?

 

[Third Coast]

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[Jive_Turkey]

I still think the biggest highway robbery in the history of the Oscars is Cuba Gooding Jr. winning Best Supporting Actor for "show me the money" over William Macy in Fargo.

His performance as Jerry Lundegaard is still one of my favorite performances ever, in any capacity. If I saw William Macy on the street, I'd think he was a disgusting prick because his portrayal of Jerry as such was so convincing.

As for the OP, too damn hard to say one movie is so much better than the other. They're both great for different reasons.

 

[uberheadymagical]

No Country is better. And I love Fargo.

 

[Drew Shirley]

Both are pretty much perfect films.

We're not a bank, Jerry.

 

[unpaintedhuffhines]

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[hooklahoma]

I have to agree Fargo edges out NCFOM. I'm more impressed w/ the cinematography of NC than the actual story.

 

[LocoGringos]

Raising Arizona is far funnier than either, and therefore must be considered far superior.

 

[HOOKMD]

Each of their films stands alone and really doesn't compare to the others. They are all great in their own way and I enjoy watching all of them.

 

[UT wildcatter]

I vote for NCFOM

 

[Beau Vine]

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[texashorne]

I like how the police protagonists in both movies were the complete opposite of how normal hollywood cops are portrayed. They are not the Mel Gibson of 48 hours, Bruce Willis of Die Hard, or Brad Pitt of 7. One of them is a pregnant woman who could double as a 1st grade teacher, and the other is a washed up old man whose obtuse view on the world hints a slight ignorance. He seems not as if he lost his edge, but maybe never had one to begin with.
Thats how I see it.
My vote, they are a tie.

 

[GhostOfTomJoad]

Fargo is--to date--the best film that the Coens have created from scratch (since it was their original screenplay). NFOM is--to date--the best film they have directed.

I love what they're doing & look forward to many more years of them putting out great films. Oh, and..

"I'm cooperating here!"

 

[Longhorn Tim]

I thought maybe we could take care of this . . . right here . . . in Brainard.

 

[Bevo-Stevo]

I read many posts here saying that the 2 films are different and should be judged as much. That may be, but the similarities to me are also profound. You have in Macy's character and Brolin's two hapless guys who make the wrong decision for money and greed and because of which, quickly find themselves in a world of trouble that is beyond their control. You have the crazed-psycho killers in both films. They do what they do for money and they are devoid of moral fiber, decency, or compassion. Finally, you have the lawpersons. McDormand in one. Jones in the other. Their charcters are almost identical as they both resolve to follow their beliefs. They both have sidekicks and secondary characters they bounce things off of throughout. And they both share the same sense of bewilderment and confusion as to why the antogonists acted as they did, she in the car with the criminal and he with his friend in the trailer.

I don't know....those may all be coincidences as they based No Country off of the book, but when my wife and I walked out of Alamo, we each were feeling as if we had just seen a lesser crafted and more brutal version of Fargo.

 

[LocoGringos]

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[Art Vandelay]

Agree with the OP. I liked NCFOM -- a lot. But I love Fargo.

 

[Red Five]

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[DeadHeadHorn]

I agree with the B-S, both in the first post and the follow-up. I think there are striking similarities in both films. Sure, the tone is completely different, but there are a lot of similar themes in each.

And Jive is right on the money - WHM is amazing in "Fargo" and Cuba Gooding Jr. should not have even accepted that award. What an absolute joke the Oscars are.

I loved NCFOM, especially the first time I saw it, but it doesn't hold a candle to "Fargo" in terms of my enjoyment. I could seriously watch it every day for the rest of my life and not be sick of it.