In the spring of 1996, audiences across America first saw the famous disclaimer at the opening of “Fargo”: “THIS IS A TRUE STORY. The events depicted in this film took place in Minnesota in 1987. At the request of the survivors, the names have been changed. Out of respect for the dead, the rest has been told exactly as it occurred.”
Twenty years later, the Coen Brothers’ classic is as relevant as ever, having inspired a critically acclaimed spiritual successor that recently finished up its second season on FX. Furthermore, one of the three remaining presidential candidates on the GOP side is known for his hatred of the movie, which he discussed at length in his autobiography “Stand for Something: The Battle for America’s Soul.”
Whether to cater to fans of the genre-busting brothers’ filmography or to directly antagonize Ohio Governor John Kasich, Amazon invites its Prime members to join them in “Fargo’s 20th anniversary celebration” by watching (or re-watching) several Coen Brothers’ favorites free with Prime Instant Video. This includes not only “Fargo,” but also “The Big Lebowski,” “The Hudsucker Proxy,” “Intolerable Cruelty” and “Blood Simple.” It is also never too early to pre-order their newest film, “Hail Caesar!,” on either Blu-ray, DVD or Amazon Video. Ultimately, when Amazon asks you to participate in a celebration of the movie “Fargo,” the only proper response is “You betcha!”