The Couch Potato's Guide to the Best of the Best: Frances McDormand

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The Ten Best Films of Frances McDormand

By Geoff Carter

She can be as tough as a bar of iron. She can also be compassionate, kind, and forgiving—or as fierce and determined as a mama bear defending her cubs. Her scathing tongue can intimidate and terrify men twice (or half) her size. She’s made a career out of playing no-nonsense middle-aged women. She is, of course, the singular Frances McDormand.

Though known today mostly for playing tough and independent women like Fern in Nomadland or the vengeful Mildred Hayes in 3 Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, McDormand has shown remarkable range in her career, playing comedic characters like the earnest Sheriff Marge Gunderson in Fargo, the amiable or the accommodating Miss Pettigrew in Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day. Her work with the Coen Brothers has shown the breadth of her comedic talents, enabling her to play characters ranging from the ditzy and opportunistic gym manager in Burn After Reading to the conniving femme fatale in The Man Who Wasn’t There.

The one quality in her persona that simultaneously defines and transcends McDormand’s characters is her determination. Whether tracking down a psychopathic killer, scraping out a living on the road, or selling top-secret documents to the Russians, McDormand’s characters cannot be denied. She brings a fierceness and cleverness to the most unassuming roles. Her Miss Pettigrew, an out-of-work (and outspoken) governess, the epitome of a mannered Englishwoman, connives her way into becoming the social secretary for a flamboyant actress. She is determined to survive at any cost, although she is at the same time unwilling to keep her opinions to herself.

Although most actresses resist being pigeonholed into a well-defined niche, McDormand has taken the archetype of the tough independent woman and breathed manifold dimensions of compassion, humor, and sympathy into that role. Her Elaine in Almost Famous is a professor, whip-smart, self-assured to the point of arrogance, and didactic enough to drive her daughter crazy, but Elaine is so hilarious in her pedantic morality that every viewer see a little bit of the strict maternal instinct we all grew up with—and loved. So, without further ado, the Couch Potato presents…

The Ten Best Films of Frances McDormand

Nomadland: Part documentary, part travelogue, and part fictionalization, this film, based on the non-fiction bestseller, follows a group of Americans displaced from their homes and lives and who must travel cross-country to find day work to survive. Mostly retired workers unable to survive on Social Security, these nomads have adapted to living out of vans and RVs. Fern, (McDormand), becomes assimilated to the lifestyle and grows to appreciate the new freedom it offers. Notable for the performances on actual nomads Linda May, Patricia Gear, and Douglas G. Soul.

Starring: Frances McDormand, David Strathairn, Linda May, Patricia Gear, and Douglas G. Soul. Written and directed by Chloe Zhao.

Fargo: Based on a true story, this Coen brothers classic focuses on a corrupt car salesman and his bungled plot to have his own wife kidnapped for the ransom money. During the crime a state trooper is shot and killed. Marge Gunderson (McDormand), an earnest, dedicated, and very pregnant sheriff, sets out to capture the killer. Underneath her pleasantly daffy veneer—a la Columbo—lies a cagey and shrewd cop. Also notable for Bill Macy’s hilarious depiction of Jerry Lundergaard, the spineless car salesman who sets the plot into motion.

Starring: Frances McDormand, Bill Macy, Steve Buscemi, Peter Stromare, and Harvey Presnell. Written and directed by Joel and Ethan Coen.

3 Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri: Mildred, (McDormand) a mother frustrated that the rape and murder of her daughter has gone unsolved posts a message on three billboards outside her small town calling out the local police department for its inability to solve the case. Undaunted by the anger of the community, Mildred stands her ground, facing down intimidations, police harassment, bullying, and the anger of her own family. She hangs onto her anger and will not rest until the perpetrator is caught. Notable for Sam Rockwell’s incredible supporting performance as Dixon, the clueless town deputy.

Starring: Frances McDormand, Sam Rockwell, Woody Harrelson, Lucas Hedges, and John Hawkes. Written and directed by Martin McDonagh.

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day: Guenavar Pettigrew (McDormand), a governess who has been dismissed from her fourth straight job, takes on the unexpected opportunity to become the social secretary of a Delysia Lafosse (Amy Adams), a famous American actress. Thrown into the glamorous and chaotic world of show business, Ms. Pettigrew’s common-sense approach to love and life becomes the anchor in Delysia’s insane lifestyle. Notable for Ciaran Hinds’ outstanding and understated performance as Joe, Pettigrew’s eventual romantic interest.

Starring; Frances McDormand, Amy Adams, Ciaran Hinds, Lee Pace, Matt Ryan and Mark Strong. Written by David McGee and Simon Beaufoy. Directed by Bharat Nalluri.

Almost Famous: Based on the real-life writing career of Cameron Crowe. William Miller (Patrick Fugit), an aspiring fifteen-year-old rock critic is assigned by Lester Bangs (Philip Seymour Hoffman) of Creem magazine to do a feature on Black Sabbath. He instead falls in with an up-and-coming band, “Stillwater”, goes on tour with them and is eventually commissioned by the Rolling Stone to write an article about them. McDormand plays Elaine Miller, William’s overly protective mother whose moralistic pontifications about the dangers of rock and roll are both frightening and hilarious. Also notable for Kate Hudson’s supporting performance as Penny Lane, a groupie whose ethereal presence enthralls both William and lead guitarist Russell.

Starring: Frances McDormand, Kate Hudson, Patrick Fugit, Billy Crudup, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Zooey Deschanel, Fairuza Balk, and Anna Paquin. Written and directed by Cameron Crowe.

Olive Kittredge: An HBO mini-series about Olive Kitteridge (Frances McDormand), a strict but well-intentioned middle-school math teacher who lives in the small town of Crosby, Maine. She is married to Henry, who dotes on her. Olive is abrasive, abrupt, and insulting; she alienates many of her friends and neighbors, and—finally—even her grown son Christopher (John Gallagher, Jr.) and his family. After Henry passes, Olive finds herself completely alone until she begins an unlikely friendship with a newcomer Jack Kennison (Bill Murray) whose misanthropy equals—and surpasses—Olive’s own. Notable for early appearances of actors Rachel Brosnahan, Zoe Kazan, and Jesse Plemons.

Starring: Frances McDormand, Richard Jenkins, John Gallagher, Jr., Jesse Plemons, and Bill Murray. Written by Jane Anderson. Directed by Lisa Cholodenko.

North Country: Fleeing an abusive relationship, Josey (Charlize Theron) returns to her hometown and attempts to find work. With the help of her friend Glory (McDormand), she finds work in the local mine but is soon confronted—along with all the other women there—with chronic sexual discrimination. Josey eventually files a class-action lawsuit to force the mine to recognize her rights. Another great supporting role by Frances McDormand as Glory which earned her a Best Supporting Actress nomination. Notable for Theron’s outstanding performance.

Starring: Charlize Theron, Richard Jenkins, Frances McDormand, Sean Bean, Jeremy Renner, and Michelle Monaghan. Written by Michael Seitzman and directed by Niki Caro.

Burn After Reading: In this somewhat dark screwball comedy, Linda Litzke (McDormand), a Washington D.C. health club worker, discovers what she believes is a CD containing top-secret information in the locker room, and convinced that it contains government secrets, attempts—with the help of her clueless co-worker (Brad Pitt)—to first blackmail the owner (John Malkovich) and then sell it to the Russians so she can pay for her cosmetic surgery. A zany and unexpectedly dark look at the intelligence community. Notable for a great comedic performance by George Clooney.

Starring: Frances McDormand, Brad Pitt, George Clooney, John Malkovich, Tilda Swinton, and Richard Jenkins. Written and directed by Joel and Ethan Coen.

Moonrise Kingdom: In this quirky Wes Anderson comedy, a pair of young misfits, Sam, an awkward orphan boy and Suzy, a sociopathic teenage girl, meet, become pen pals, fall in love, and decide to run away from their small New England town. Search parties, including the local boy scout troop, scour the woods in search of them. Using his map-reading skills, Sam helps the two escape and find their own little paradise, a secluded cove they name Moonrise Kingdom. McDormand plays Suzy’s mother, a sympathetic but stern figure, who is carrying on an affair with Captain Sharp (Bruce Willis), the police chief. Her scenes with husband Bill Murray are priceless. Notable for Anderson’s quirky and delightful directorial vision.

Starring: Frances McDormand, Bill Murray, Bruce Willis, John Cusack, Bob Balaban, and Tilda Swinton. Written and directed by Wes Anderson.

Blood Simple: Seeking to escape a bad marriage, Abby (McDormand) befriends and sleeps with Ray (John Getz) a bartender employed by her husband Marty (Dan Hedaya). Marty hires a detective Visser (M. Emmet Walsh) to kill the couple but is double-crossed. Suspicions, betrayals, and murder follows this wonderfully complex and convoluted tale of lust, greed, and revenge. A young Frances McDormand exudes an aura of innocence but—in a glimmer of her future persona—displays unexpected strength and courage. Notable for M. Emmet Walsh’s exuberant portrayal of the very sleazy detective Visser.

Starring: John Getz, Frances McDormand, Dan Hedaya, Samm-Art Williams, and M. Emmet Walsh. Written and directed by Joel and Ethan Coen.