8 Essential Coen Brothers Films You Must Watch

In Fargo, the Coens weave an elaborate tapestry of murder and misfortune, colored with blood and snow. Out of all yarns the directors have spun, this one may just be the most "Coens-ian" of the lot.

Fargo establishes many of the themes and recurring elements the Coens would later revisit in their subsequent films. This small-town, big-crime thriller features an undercurrent of fate and misfortune which seems to drive its characters forward, usually towards tragic ends. The foibles of the criminals and devils at the center of this fable are at times humorous, and at other times totally morbid.

With a distinct ear for vernacular and language, the Coens' script does not so much as dissect "Minnesota nice" and the general behaviors of America's Midwest as it does totally dismember them. The end result is both glorious in its execution, and satisfying in its conclusion.

If you are new to the Coens' world of twisted folk and their twisted stories, Fargo may be the best place to get acquainted with its inhabitants.