Only thing is, I think that’s almost the rule, rather than the exception … I think it’s true in O Brother, Lebowski, Raising Arizona, and even in No Country for Old Men, Hudsucker Proxy in addition to Fargo. Perhaps exceptions are Ladykillers, Blood Simple and Barton Fink.

As for the ambiguity, as for the Coens’ asking us to draw our own conclusions, I have to say that the majority of their films are like that. Do they really see the Sirens in O Brother? Does John Goodman really run down the hallway trailing fire in Barton Fink? Just what is Anton Chigurh, anyway?

Thanks for the thought-provoking review.

I’ve always felt a lot of pity for Lundegaard partly because Macy is such a likable actor and secondly because I’m aware of my own penchant for selfishness. It’s funny that every time I think about doing something that could possibly hurt other people, I remember Jerry being picked up by the cops in that hotel room at the end, screaming like a fool and crying his eyes out. It’s a funny image when you first look at it, but very sad when you think about it. We humans can be so stupid sometimes.

All the other central characters are such selfish fools that we can see from the beginning that there will be many-a-tragic-demise. I felt sorry for Lundegaard (at times), but more often he made me uncomfortable. He is the quintessential pathetic fool, unable to either escape from or confront the darkness in his heart. A true coward. And a frighteningly true representation of the human condition.