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 S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

directed by Joel Coen
UK / USA 1996
Fargo is a 1996 American dark comedy film produced, directed and written by brothers Joel and Ethan Coen. The film is about a car salesman who hires two men to kidnap his wife for $80,000. Small-town police chief Marge Gunderson investigates the crime, which sets off a chain of murders. The film stars Frances McDormand, William H. Macy, Steve Buscemi, Peter Stormare and Harve Presnell.

Fargo earned seven Academy Award nominations, winning two for Best Original Screenplay for the Coens and Best Actress in a Leading Role for McDormand. The film also won the British BAFTA Award and the Award for Best Director for Joel Coen at the 1996 Cannes Film Festival.

Posters

Theatrical Release: March 8, 1996

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Comparison:

MGM (US) (Special Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC vs. MGM (Europe) (Special Edition) - Region 2, 4 - PAL vs. MGM - Region FREE - Blu-ray

Big thanks to Peter Mann and Pavel Borodin for the DVD Screen Caps!

 

1) MGM (US) (Special Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT

2) MGM (Europe) (Special Edition) - Region 2, 4 - PAL - MIDDLE

3) MGM - Region FREE - Blu-ray RIGHT

 
Box Covers

 

 

 

Distribution

MGM (US)

Region 1 - NTSC

 MGM (Europe)
Region 2, 4 - PAL		 MGM
Region FREE - Blu-ray
Runtime 1:37:57 1:34:06 (4% PAL speedup) 1:38:11.010
Video

1.85:1 Original Aspect Ratio

16X9 enhanced
Average Bitrate: 6.76 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s

1.78:1 Aspect Ratio

16X9 enhanced
Average Bitrate: ??? mb/s
PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s

1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Feature: 31,857,076,224 bytes

Disc Size:  34,572,474,645 bytes Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

Total Bitrate: 43.26 Mbps

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate:

 

MGM (US) (Special Edition)

 

Bitrate:

MGM (Europe) (Special Edition)

NOT AVAILABLE
Bitrate:

 

Blu-ray

 

Audio English (DD 5.1), French (DD 5.1) English (DD 5.1), French (DD 5.1), Spanish (DD 5.1)

DTS-HD Master Audio English 3675 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 3675 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
DUBs: DTS Audio French 768 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 24-bit
DTS Audio German 768 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 24-bit
DTS Audio Italian 768 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 24-bit
DTS Audio Japanese 768 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 24-bit
DTS Audio Spanish 768 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 24-bit
Dolby Digital Audio French 448 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 448 kbps
Dolby Digital Audio Portuguese 448 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 448 kbps
Dolby Digital Audio Spanish 448 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 448 kbps
Dolby Digital Audio English 224 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 224 kbps / Dolby Surround
Commentary: Dolby Digital Audio English 224 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 224 kbps
Subtitles English, French, Spanish, none English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, Polish, Greek, Croatian, Czech, Hungarian, none English, Chinese, Croatian, Czech, Dutch, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish, Thai, Turkish, none
Features Release Information:
Studio: MGM (US)

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen anamorphic - 1.85:1

Edition Details:
• 'Minnesota Nice' documentary
• Charlie Rose interview with the Coen Brothers
• Hidden Menus
• American Cinematographer article
• Audio commentary with Roger Deakins
• Photo gallery
• Trivia track
• Trailers and TV spot
• Map of Fargo on reverse on cover insert
• 4:3 Open-Matte Version on the flipside

DVD Release Date: 30 September 2003
Keep case

Chapters 36

Release Information:
Studio: MGM (Europe)

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen anamorphic - 1.78:1

Edition Details:
• 'Minnesota Nice' documentary
• Interview with the Coen Brothers
• The Coen Brothers family tree
• American Cinematographer article
• Audio commentary with Roger Deakins
• Photo gallery
• Trivia track
• Trailers and TV spot
 

DVD Release Date: April 21, 2003
Keep case

Chapters 32

 Release Information:
Studio: MGM (US)

 

1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Feature: 31,857,076,224 bytes

Disc Size:  34,572,474,645 bytes Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

Total Bitrate: 43.26 Mbps

 

Edition Details:
• 'Minnesota Nice' documentary
• American Cinematographer article
• Audio commentary with Roger Deakins
• Photo gallery
• Trivia track

• Trailers and TV spot
 

Blu-ray Release Date: May 12th, 2009
Standard Blu-ray case

Chapters 36

 

Comments

NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: MGM - Region FREE Blu-ray - May 09': The Blu-ray transfer looks quite sound supporting the grain structure much better than the SD-DVDs. The grittiness suits the film - and I appreciate that much more than a glossy, fabricated, look. Detail is vastly improved - as is the color balance. The aspect ratio is 1.85 (as opposed to 1.78) and there is notably more information the frame - on all four edges.     

While the DTS-HD (at 3675 kpbs) is not abundantly buoyant - it is more significant for the few gunshots - popping out of the surrounds. Music and dialogue are cleaner and crisper - this track supports the film very well - one couldn't ask for much more. My Momitsu tells me this is region FREE and has plenty of DUB and subtitle options. I'm sure it's the only international version available.

Extras duplicate the Special Edition DVD with the Deakins commentary, 'Minnesota Nice' documentary, American Cinematographer article, Photo gallery, Trivia track, Trailers and TV spot but lose the Charlie Rose piece with the Coens. Nothing appears to be in HD.

Kind of a must-own Blu-ray considering the film which hasn't tarnished the slightest with age. It's a competent dual-layered, MPEG-4 rendering but further, and new, extras might have been warranted. The transfer is vastly superior to the DVDs and singles it out as, by far, the best home theater presentation available.

***

ON THE DVDs (written 2003): Very similar, and good, image - I think the Region 1 may be sharper but the big problem with the PAL edition is it is cropped a shade on the left and more so on the right edge (slightly on top and bottom too). I have no idea why this was done. Both have the Deakins audio commentary as an extra feature and a handful of other goodies. Audio goes to the PAL edition for the additional Spanish DUB. I like both menus.

 - Gary Tooze

DVD Menus

(MGM (US) (Special Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT vs. MGM (Europe) (Special Edition) - Region 2, 4 - PAL - RIGHT)


 

 

 

CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE BELOW TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION

 

Screen Captures

 

1) MGM (US) (Special Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP

2) MGM (Europe) (Special Edition) - Region 2, 4 - PAL - MIDDLE

3) MGM - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 

1) MGM (US) (Special Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP

2) MGM (Europe) (Special Edition) - Region 2, 4 - PAL - MIDDLE

3) MGM - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 

 

1) MGM (US) (Special Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP

2) MGM (Europe) (Special Edition) - Region 2, 4 - PAL - MIDDLE

3) MGM - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 

 

1) MGM (US) (Special Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP

2) MGM (Europe) (Special Edition) - Region 2, 4 - PAL - MIDDLE

3) MGM - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 

 

1) MGM (US) (Special Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP

2) MGM (Europe) (Special Edition) - Region 2, 4 - PAL - MIDDLE

3) MGM - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 

 

1) MGM (US) (Special Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP

2) MGM (Europe) (Special Edition) - Region 2, 4 - PAL - MIDDLE

3) MGM - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 

More Blu-ray caps

 

Hit Counter

Report Card:

 

Image:

Blu-ray

Sound:

Blu-ray
Extras: tie

Menu:

tie

 

Box Covers

 

 

 

Distribution

MGM (US)

Region 1 - NTSC

 MGM (Europe)
Region 2, 4 - PAL		 MGM
Region FREE - Blu-ray

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Gary Tooze

Many Thanks...