‘Fargo’ With Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, and Kyle Brandt
March 10, 2026 · Fargo (1996) · Crime · Drama · Thriller · 2:02:11 · ▶ Listen on Spotify
Categories
Hall of Fame Plaque
Chris RyanRoger Deakins' cinematography in The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford▶ 35:11
Great Shot Gordo Award
Chris RyanHas a couple nominees, mentions the shot introducing Carl and Garrett at the King of Clubs bar with the lighting and camera work▶ 37:05
Kyle BrandtThe opening shot - a white out where Lunderguard drives right past your ear a minute later▶ 36:51
Most Rewatchable Scene
Bill SimmonsMultiple scenes including opening credits, Jerry meets kidnappers at King of Clubs, kidnapping scene with knitting and game show, Jerry flipping out with ice scraper sequence, criminals killing cop scene, Marge interviewing escorts, father-in-law getting killed, and Ecklin and Swedlands bar speech▶ 44:04
Chris RyanScenes with kidnappers and empty beer bottles, morning show riverboat cruise throwaway line, unexpected murder scene with headshots, and various character moments throughout▶ 44:21
Kyle BrandtJerry's ice scraper meltdown scene, home break-in with trusting wife, shower curtains scene, and Jerry's clumsy attempt to call off the kidnapping after finding potential money▶ 46:45
Big Kahuna Burger Award
Bill SimmonsThe buffet with chicken and dumplings, chicken fricassee, fried tora and broiled tora, Swedish meatballs, potatoes, and jello▶ 1:04:13
Probably Unanswerable Questions
Bill SimmonsScotty's just not curious enough - where's mom? Why isn't he more perceptive about his wife disappearing?▶ 1:12:41
What's Aged the Worst
Kyle BrandtOld landline phones next to the bed that ring loudly in the middle of the night without caller ID - Marge being woken up by the loud phone right next to her face▶ 1:14:59
Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award
Bill SimmonsIf the 1997 Fargo TV pilot starring Edie Falco had been picked up, there would be no Sopranos because Falco wouldn't have been available to play Carmela▶ 1:24:15
Chris RyanThis movie is in direct conversation with No Country for Old Men - both feature a bag of money, character in over their head, sacrificial wife, and cop trying to make sense of extreme violence▶ 1:20:04
Kyle BrandtThe craziest thing Grimsrud does isn't the murders or wood chipper - it's calling for a second pancake meal in the same day▶ 1:22:04
Casting What-Ifs
Bill SimmonsBill Pullman — Bill Pullman was supposed to be Jerry Lundegaard but had to back out due to scheduling conflict, then they considered Richard Jenkins before giving it to William H. Macy▶ 1:26:18
Chris RyanBill Pullman — Agreed that Bill Pullman would have been wrong for Jerry - too handsome and dashing for the role▶ 1:26:34
Dion Waiters Award
Bill SimmonsSteve Park — Steve Park, with other options including Shep Proudfoot, the guy who wanted to pay 19.5 for his vehicle with no true code, Jose Feliciano, and the two escorts▶ 1:29:21
Chris RyanJohn Marley — Would add John Marley as Jack Woltz from The Godfather to the all-time list▶ 1:30:08
Kyle BrandtSteve Park — Mike Yanagita - puts him on his Dion Waiters Rushmore alongside Drexel from True Romance, Walken from Pulp Fiction, and Multiple Migs▶ 1:29:50
Apex Mountain
Bill SimmonsCoen Brothers - No Country for Old Men; Macy - not yet but getting close after Boogie Nights; Buscemi - Sopranos because he was directing and it was a big deal; McDormand - no apex, career intentionally designed without one; Stormare - Blue Velvet over Armageddon▶ 1:35:46
Chris RyanSwedish meatballs via IKEA cafe, GMAC financing plans, Riley Giffenbach, true coat sealant▶ 1:35:16
Kyle BrandtSteve Buscemi — Buscemi - Con Air as his apex when he became a movie star; Stormare - Armageddon six months after Fargo when he was with Spielberg shooting Lost World▶ 1:36:43
Sequel/Prequel/Limited Series/Remake
Bill SimmonsFargo TV series - mentions they had prestige TV and references the first season picking up with what happened to the money▶ 1:44:43
Chris RyanFargo TV series - agrees and provides details about the buried case and Ted Danson playing Marge's father/grandfather▶ 1:45:01
Kyle BrandtAcknowledges Fargo TV series discussion but admits lack of familiarity, mentions Martin Freeman being in it▶ 1:45:12
Is This Movie Better With
Bill SimmonsZane Lowe — Suggests Zane Lowe initially but doesn't commit to a definitive pick▶ 1:47:13
Chris RyanZane Lowe — Zane Lowe interviewing Marge about her journey in law enforcement and motherhood▶ 1:47:16
Kyle BrandtGus Johnson — Gus Johnson calling Mike Yanagita at the Radisson scene ('Young fella, suit it up at the Radisson, Linda Cooksy, suck it, same side of the booth')▶ 1:46:17
Just One Oscar
Chris RyanWilliam H. Macy — McDormand won the Oscar, but would give it to Macy, Buscemi, Francis McDormand, the Coens, or Deakins▶ 1:48:29
Coach Finstock Life Lesson
Kyle BrandtDon't shoot your shot - sometimes you don't shoot your shot, take the social cues (referring to Mike's behavior)▶ 1:54:44
Best Double Feature
Bill SimmonsNo Country for Old Men — Triple feature: Raising Arizona, Fargo, and No Country for Old Men (Coen Brothers every 10 years)▶ 1:56:16
Who Won the Movie
Bill SimmonsJoel Coen — The Coen Brothers - for creating a completely original depiction of the world▶ 1:56:29
Chris RyanJoel Coen — Discussed concerns about whether the movie mocks Minnesotans and criticism that the Coens make fun of people they depict, but defended that they just see humor in it▶ 1:56:55
Kyle BrandtMinnesota - specifically pre-Randy Moss, pre-Joe Mauer, pre-Jesse Ventura Minnesota, with Marge Gunderson as the face of Minnesota▶ 1:56:33
Movies Referenced (48)
| Title (year) | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boogie Nights (1997) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Kyle Brandt | ▶ 20:53 |
| Nomadland (2020) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 27:19 |
| Shot Caller (2017) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 28:26 |
| Independence Day (1996) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Kyle Brandt, Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:26:45 |
| Reservoir Dogs (1992) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Kyle Brandt, Chris Ryan | ▶ 22:40 |
| Rushmore (1998) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Kyle Brandt | ▶ 35:22 |
| Blood Simple (1984) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Chris Ryan, Kyle Brandt | ▶ 16:08 |
| Primal Fear (1996) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Kyle Brandt, Bill Simmons | ▶ 28:44 |
| Pulp Fiction (1994) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Kyle Brandt | ▶ 48:45 |
| Raising Arizona (1987) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Chris Ryan, Kyle Brandt | ▶ 16:14 |
| Air Force One (1997) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons, Kyle Brandt | ▶ 20:53 |
| Almost Famous (2000) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 26:11 |
Directors Referenced (3)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sam Raimi | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Spider-Man, The Evil Dead, Army of Darkness | ▶ 25:49 |
| Sean Penn | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Mystic River, 21 Grams, Dead Man Walking | ▶ 29:46 |
| Steven Spielberg | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Kyle Brandt | Schindler's List, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Saving Private Ryan | ▶ 1:38:11 |
Actors Referenced (35)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steve Buscemi | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 18 | Bill Simmons, Kyle Brandt, Chris Ryan | Fargo, Reservoir Dogs | ▶ 13:29 |
| Bill Macy | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 14 | Bill Simmons, Kyle Brandt, Chris Ryan | The Jerk | ▶ 18:56 |
| Frances McDormand | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 8 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Kyle Brandt | Fargo, Almost Famous | ▶ 23:27 |
| Peter Stormare | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Kyle Brandt, Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | Fargo | ▶ 26:44 |
| Tom Hanks | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Kyle Brandt, Bill Simmons | Cast Away, Big, Forrest Gump | ▶ 2:52 |
| Joel Kinnaman | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Chris Ryan | Suicide Squad | ▶ 33:05 |
| Meryl Streep | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | Out of Africa | ▶ 27:36 |
| Holly Hunter | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | Broadcast News | ▶ 25:49 |
| John Carroll Lynch | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | The Founder, Fargo | ▶ 1:34:37 |
| Junichi Yanagita | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Kyle Brandt | Pearl Harbor, The Last Samurai, Charlie's Angels | ▶ 6:28 |
| Michael Douglas | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons | Wall Street, Romancing the Stone | ▶ 29:05 |
| Angelo Dundee | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Kyle Brandt | Cinderella Man | ▶ 18:46 |
Writers Referenced (5)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joel Cohen | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons | Toy Story | ▶ 18:56 |
| Roger Ebert | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Kyle Brandt | ▶ 33:52 | |
| Scott Spiegel | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | The Evil Dead | ▶ 25:52 |
| Noah Hawley | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 9:59 | |
| Raymond Chandler | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Chris Ryan | Double Indemnity | ▶ 10:45 |
Cinematographers Referenced (4)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adam Macbeth | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Chris Ryan | ▶ 28:00 | |
| Gordon Willis | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Chris Ryan | The Godfather Part II | ▶ 35:31 |
| Haskell Wexler | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Chris Ryan | In the Heat of the Night | ▶ 35:31 |
| William A. Fraker | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Chris Ryan | WarGames | ▶ 35:31 |