Roger Ebert pointed out that after this scene, Marge goes back to the used car dealership to investigate again after realizing that people are good at lying.
@@geoycs Also it's important that she brings up that "there's not a heck of a lot to discuss" about the case... This reminded her not to just search for clues, but to read people deeper. There wasn't a lot, because Jerry lied. When she returned, a whole well of information was discovered. Marge is a great cop and has probably dealt with liars before, but she's also used to Minnesota niceties, so this was a wakeup call for her in this particular moment.
Thanks you guys for clearing that up for me after 24 years. When I saw this on pbs that scene was cut. I guess they didn't get it back then either. I want to say that was around 2005. Thanks again!
When I saw that scene I thought it was just local color and Marge being empathetic. I didn't get that it was the reason she interviewed Jerry a second time.
***** Me too, I love this movie and I love this scene, as uncomfortable and awkward as it is. It's just so odd and well written and acted by everyone involved.
It took a lot of balls for him to portray a 'pathetic character'. What this character did was almost evil, because if he kept bothering that girl he claimed he was married to, he was doing the same with this woman. One of the things that makes this movie so good is this police woman, she's very respectable and intelligent.
How come when women hang around bars after being rejected by a guy to check on him thats sad and people empathize with her but if a man does it its scary and evil?
The purpose of this scene is to get Marge to reassess her methods of investigation and simply not be too trusting of what people tell her. In other words, she has to learn to not take things at face value. She basically learned "People can lie straight to your face and feel completely 100% real."
Yes Rick, great analyses. I once watched Fargo with a friend of mine who thought he was a bit of a film expert and his critique of the scene is that it’s essentially pointless. What a bone headed comment...From memory there is a key shot a few scenes down the track when Margie is driving in her car. She is driving along, pondering, which is followed by her next move to pursue the Jerry situation with more endeavour and with a revised view of the human potential for deception. It is a master stroke of a scene which again gives greater poignancy to all of those humorous scenes of Margie living a quiet and decent life with her husband - eating burgers together, watching tv and “getting a jump start”...😂😂😂. Wonderful stuff.
this whole movie was painful. great picture, but i don't remember feeling comfortable or good or happy, pretty much the whole way through... it was all disturbing... sometimes mildly, sometimes very... but always disturbing. i just can't watch movies like this anymore
CallDwn theSky It's black comedy with a lot of irony and tragicomical elements mixed in. In many ways Fargo is an homage or ode to Minnesotan life with a fair amount of tongue in cheek humor and almost surreal dark elements mixed in. Unlike Quentin Tarantino who also employs black humour and irony in his films, the Coen brothers are more nuanced and empathetic in their approach to characters and their dilemmas.
The way he cuts off Marge with the “I ALWAYS LIKED YOU SO MUCH!” 😂😂 That’s when his desperation really kicks up a notch, lol…so pathetic but funny. I’ve watched this scene so many times over the years, such a classic.
Oh Ya..." He was really desperate.....he needed some professional help.....marvelous acting on his part, and Marge's reactions were precisely what one would expect...she played that so very, very well, as she did in all the scenes. " Cringe" was eloquently expressed there.
True. As much as we’re supposed to look down on Mike, I’m also surprised to discover I have a little sympathy for him too. Seems like such a sad, empty guy…
Stephen Park did such an amazing job in such a short time on camera. The look on his face during his awkwardly long hug, his almost predatory gazes at Marge when she wasn't looking... everything. He fit so much "creepy" into a few sort minutes on the screen.
As already mentioned, this is one of the absolute key moments of the film, which is unfortunately often overlooked. Just like the rug in "The Big Lebowski", Mike really ties the room together... ..because this strange incident sends her back to Jerry and the car shop. First, she considered Mike an old friend and blindly and in good faith believed his story about his supposed wife and his career. She went to this meeting completely naive - as people usually are. But later, through the phone call with her friend, she can piece together that Mike is actually a psychopath (can't be called anything else). This makes Margy sit up and question herself although she was actually already about to drive back home. So then she visits the car dealership again and Jerry, whom she no longer trusts. You can see the change in her behavior the second time she meets him. She's playing her authority to the full this time, which sends Jerry directly into a panic. On their first visit, Jerry said no cars would be missing, while acting just as weird and suspicious as Mike later. Margy notices this odd behavior, but thinks in good faith that he probably didn't have time for her ("Paperwork to do") and dismissed it with that. But now she has become skeptical, she asks critical questions. "How do you know so exactly that no cars are missing. Did you count them?" - and suddenly the whole house of cards collapses for Jerry. The dealership car was the missing piece that irretrievably linked Jerry to the whole crime. As Margy says: It's all cOnNeCtEd. :) For me, Mike Yaganita was the key to a deeper understanding of the Coens' works. He really tied the room together..
Great analyze, you put words on why I consider this film as my favourite one ! I think this scene also leads to the end of Marge doubts about her happiness. In contrary to all the manipulative and selfish characters she meets during the story, her relation with her husband is genuine and pure, despite being very mondaine, and she's about to raise a child with him.
Great analysis! I think she might’ve liked Mike back in high school or something. But yes, the revelation about his lies definitely was what made her go and question Jerry again.
2:19 I love that little detail the actor shows, where he's subtly looking up the way people tend to do when concocting a bullshit story. Nice little touch for re-watch when the audience knows that he's making it all up.
If you are not from Minnesota, you really do not get how dead on these accents are. Though of course, not everyone talks like that, but a lot do. It really reminds me of home.
+elmagnificodep - - I grew up in Minnesota (& Iowa), and people do have accents like that. Though, agreed, more so in rural areas, and lessening with each new generation.
I think it depends on how many generations removed you are from you ancestral roots. My grandparents both immigrated. My paternal Grandmother as an adult, and my maternal grandmother as a child. So, I grew up around a lot of people who still spoke Norwegian.
I do think that's part of it, but I'd guess it has more to do with general environment, as already mentioned in the convo. As in, rural vs city. Even if someone has a grandparent from Scandinavia, if they're going to school in a bigger city, chances are their accent will still mellow out compared to older relatives. Just the nature of hanging out with kids who don't have a strong accent. But either way that's cool you grew up around Norwegian, my grandmother is Norwegian as well. Have you ever been to Door County? It's a series of small coastal towns in WI that really harness/hold onto Scandinavian culture.
People often ask why this scene is In Fargo , citing its irrelevance to the plot . What's fantastic especially if it's your first time seeing the movie is you beleive mike. You sympathize with him a bit in the scene when he talks about his wife passing. You believe him. And the next scene when you casually here he blatantly lied and in a very creepy and deceitful way you feel just as fooled as marge does. Not to mention mrs. gunderson uses this lesson to re investigate jerry once again causing him to crack. It really does fit perfectly in the film honestly and brilliantly and casually captures real and believable deceit right in front of our eyes. Fantastic movie
What's really fascinating is trying to figure out why Marge decided to meet him, and what she was hoping to get out of it. It's a pretty interesting question that's, ultimately, a mystery.
@@CyckOne I agree. She was slightly annoyed that he called so late at night, but she seemed genuinely happy to hear from an old HS friend. Mike is obviously intelligent and probably had lots of promise in HS. She probably wanted to see him and see how successful and well he became. Unfortunately, his life ended up in disappointment and he can't face reality-as he made up that gut wrenching story of his wife dying. It was a stupid lie to make up. Did he think that telling her about a mutual friend dying that Margie might do some digging?
She was feeling just a little like her life was boring, and wondering what it would have been like if she had married someone else. I don't mean she was thinking of cheating on Norm, just curious. So after this, she realizes how lucky she is.
@@janetkizer5956 Wow! I don't think Marge would want to change anything in her life. She loves her job, loves her fellow officers, loves her home. I don't pick up on any discontent in her life. JMO
@@janetkizer5956 I don't think so. She seemed nonplussed about him calling her in the dead of night. I don't think she even recognized his name at first. In my view she agreed to have lunch just to be polite since she was already in town.
It's not a hug either. He squeezes her to the point where she has to say, "Easy there, easy there." Black comedy gold. Margie' eyes are so wide open from there it's just priceless.
I actually consider this one of the most important scenes in the movie. Had she never gone out to do dinner with him, she never would have gone back to interview Lundegard.
Yes, at one point in almost all of our lives, we have felt like Mike Yanagita. If you were never this low in your life, consider yourself lucky. Most people through age, divorce, death of a spouse, or sickness, end up like Mike.
Good point, they've expanded more to the lower end since then. Still, some locations, like in Chicago, are (or at least USED TO BE before the recent crime wave) pretty decent still.
I don’t think the scene’s function is to make her realise that people lie. It’s to underline the existential loneliness of many people in a world in which money, status and greed define relationships, and those who loose in that game remain with their parents
Best scene in the movie, and one of the greatest in cinema. The guy is a wolf in sheep’s clothing, and this was a pivotal moment that put her on notice about her first meeting with Jerry.
When I think of not budging an inch, I think of this scene, when he tries to sit right next to her. She doesn't instinctively yield space to the man like we are taught in society. It stands out because it's rare. She takes up her own space.
2:26 the way Margie says ‘no!!’ followed by the polite waiter interaction, so funny. The Coen’s have so many great little details sprinkled in their scenes
As per the Marge one night stand fantasy theories, I disagree. The Coens clearly established Marge’s feelings straight away when the guy hugged her, they didn’t want to sully her pristine character in the film. Also notice how Mike is explaining how he lost his “wife”, and than 1 second later he has a huge smile on his face talking about Marge. The subtle intricate details in this movie are amazing.
"Oh no! No! Just so I can see ya! Don't have to turn my neck!" My mother's side of the family comes from Minnesota and I absolutely love that part because it's the most "Minnesotan response" ever. A sort of "I don't want to make you feel bad even if you're being super weird" mentality. This film perfectly captures the Minnesotan mentality; just so gosh darn nice, don't cha know?
Possibly one of the best movies ever - certainly a classic. The acting in this sequence is absolutely seamless and heartbreaking that it never fails to have me in absolute tears of laughter.
After watching this scene, it made me realize how "midwest nice" I am. I've had somewhat similar situations like this in the past, and I reacted kind of like Marge. We hate confrontation and "nice" are way out of these situations. Like her excuse of moving her neck. I would've totally said that insteading admitting that I felt uncomfortable sitting on the same side of him haha. It can be a blessing but also a curse because you feel like you can't stand up for yourself
Feel like an idiot to just now figure out the purpose of this scene. I always loved this scene bc it was a break from the blood shed and figured ‘it’s the Coen bros. They’re like the Steely Dan of movies. It’s not supposed to make sense.” Thanks for this thread and the comments.
This scene highlights exactly why Marge is so likeable. She's genuinely nice and friendly - which people often mistake for soft and naive , however she's also sharp and assertive when she needs to be. When Mike oversteps the mark - by trying to lean into Marge, she politely but firmly asks him to move to the opposite chair - even when she does it she's very respectful of Mike's feelings and disarms the tension - by telling him a white lie that it's just better for her if she doesn't move her neck - rather than tell him he's just invading her personal space . I also love Stephen Parks's acting as Mike in this scene. He looks up and to the right ( clearly searching and struggling to come up with an elaborate lie about Linda )- looking to gain sympathy points from Marge. Even better this scene at the time feels like filler - that is until later on - where it actually serves quite a significant purpose to the story .
I went to see Fargo at the theater the day after Daylight Savings time change having forgotten and walked into this scene thinking it was the beginning of the show. Can you imagine?
Back before cell phones and technology automatically switched the clock for us. Use to be a real issue lol. Doesn't happen anymore Although a couple years ago we went to go bid a job at this elderly ladies house. And it was the day after the time changed. And when we showed up she's like you're late. We're like no we're not. Anyway point being the only people that still have an issue with this are old people. Who don't really have smart phones and technology they use on the regular. They are still living in the old times.
What many who like this movie are overlooking about the significance of Mike Yanagita is that his deception triggers Marge into returning to Jerry Lundegaard's dealership to recheck those vehicle codes. Jerry's suspicious behavior mirrors Mike's.
'Mike Yanagita' is played by Steve Park (born February 18, 1951), an American comedian and actor. He is best known for being a cast member of the sketch comedy television series, 'In Living Color', during the 1991-1992 season.
Stephen Park is excellent here. He played Mike perfectly. His character's deception is so critical to the plot. It's pretty scary that people actually do go around telling lies like this in real life.
As if Mike wasn’t cringy enough just watching this scene, learning later that he was lying the whole time about being married and her dying makes him even more pathetic.
Good observation. It also serves to enhance the realism of the film---you can imagine this conversation happening between any two people who went to high school together. Gives it some additional "local color".
It conveys how lonely it would be as a single Asian in Scandinavian Minnesota. Imagine trying to fit in to a culture so foreign to your ancestry. I really felt bad for him. He wanted to fit in so badly. "Heck". They probably didn't even have an Asian restaurant in Brainerd.
actually it's extremely relevant to the next scene...it foreshadows her digging deeper into the crime by revisiting the car salesman...i.e. things aren't always what they seem upon the first look
This encounter shows how even people who seem completely innocent and down on their luck sometimes are totally full of shit. This makes her dig deeper with Jerry.
This actor captured the northern Minnesota accent best in this movie. The actress did well, too. His is more nuanced, but it's accurate. Some are slightly exaggerated, but overall a good job. The kidnapped woman is fantastic. From Bemidji, Beltrami County, Minn.
![[UA] Eternal Fire проти NAVI | EPL Season 20 Malta](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/chvlsDygrZM/mqdefault.jpg)
Roger Ebert pointed out that after this scene, Marge goes back to the used car dealership to investigate again after realizing that people are good at lying.
Yeah. I've heard some people call this scene pointless but its not.
She’s smart, but she didn’t see Lundegard for what he was. This experience reminded her to be more vigilant.
@@geoycs Also it's important that she brings up that "there's not a heck of a lot to discuss" about the case... This reminded her not to just search for clues, but to read people deeper. There wasn't a lot, because Jerry lied. When she returned, a whole well of information was discovered.
Marge is a great cop and has probably dealt with liars before, but she's also used to Minnesota niceties, so this was a wakeup call for her in this particular moment.
Thanks you guys for clearing that up for me after 24 years. When I saw this on pbs that scene was cut. I guess they didn't get it back then either. I want to say that was around 2005. Thanks again!
When I saw that scene I thought it was just local color and Marge being empathetic. I didn't get that it was the reason she interviewed Jerry a second time.
This guy really pulled off the unbearable awkwardness.
unbearable awkwardness of being
According to Linda Cooksey, Mike Yanagita spent a lot of time at the MACKDonald's and that contributed to his many psychiatric problems
@@MyoclonicJerkCough what do you think he did at macdonalds? He wasnt drinkin milkshakes!
I assure you.
Mike Yanagita, the loneliest man alive. He's definitely creepy, stalker. Yet you pity the man.
"Nooo, noo just so I don't have to turn my neck!"
Perfect 'Minnesota nice'
Richie Aprile if they were in Houston she would’ve said. Git yur yeller ass away from me. I’m leevin.
Richie Aprile and if this was in north Jersey she woulda shot him in the chest
Ballroom dancing is a legitimate art form
@Richie Aprile
This Wisconsinite agrees and we do the same here. Guess it's in our Midwestern
DNA! 😄
We even would say that in Chicago!
So Midwestern! "TURN MY NECK" not my head!🤣🤣🤣
Who needs cringe compilations when you have this scene?
Andrew Sax haha 😂 ha
With a scene like this who needs an enema
kinda like Blind Date
Lmaoo yessss awww poor Mine 😂
*Mike 😬
Holy shit, how does he blend the two accents together like that.
I know! It's quite an achievement isn't it?
Now that's acting
It's impressive. Steve Park pilled the greatest cameo since the Gold Watch here.
Go to Europe and talk to an Asian with a British accent, that's funny.
By hanging out in Minneapolis/St. Paul? Large Asian population there that talks like that.
I'm about to go on a coffee date as "friends" with my high school crush from last year. Watching this to prepare.
The Fidget Spinner Movie it’s been 9 months. How did it go and what did you name the child?
Now you can't just type something like this out and NOT give us an update!
Where did you put the body? The old classic behind the basement stairs?
Come on man we have to know
Why is she not replying?
Oh my god did he kill her??!!!
so how did it go?? we’re gonna keep asking so you might as well tell us 😂
You're such a super lady.
and I.....I've been so lonleh.
So many beautiful quotes in this movie. :)
4biddin I always liked ya SO MAHCH
So, Mike, should we get together another time, ya think?
@@KianoUyMOOP its ronray
I never noticed the eyes when he first hugs her and says "ya look great". The guy is masterful in this role.
+Jody Braxton He was great! Awesome scene. I think he was genuine in saying it... Do you suggest he was lying?
+test drive he was desperate and horny
Such a super lady!
***** Me too, I love this movie and I love this scene, as uncomfortable and awkward as it is. It's just so odd and well written and acted by everyone involved.
It took a lot of balls for him to portray a 'pathetic character'. What this character did was almost evil, because if he kept bothering that girl he claimed he was married to, he was doing the same with this woman.
One of the things that makes this movie so good is this police woman, she's very respectable and intelligent.
but apparently not smart enough to draw her sidearm---and put a bullet between his eyes.
@@KianoUyMOOP You really are a dick head.
He’s definitely sick in the head. I dunno if I’d call him evil but a person like him who’s so mentally ill belongs under supervision.
How come when women hang around bars after being rejected by a guy to check on him thats sad and people empathize with her but if a man does it its scary and evil?
@@neglectfulsausage7689 what are you talking about man
If it’s company Mike needs, he should go to Midwest Federal, talk to Old Bill Diehl.
Obligatory "He's at North Star."
@@swifty1147 That's why Mike is lonely. He's been looking for ol' Bill at Midwest Federal.....
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣😂😂😂😂
I'm laughing out loud literally
LOL
The Coen brothers can introduce and develop a character in 4 minutes better than others could throughout an entire film.
Facts
I would love a Mike Yanagita (sp?) movie. Alas, the actor would be too old now, unless the film is examining his retiree years.
@@andrewcutler1380 bro wants a whole movie based on a side character who showed up for 4 mins
@@llamalloyd3196 yes, bro does.
@@andrewcutler1380 I think that's a great idea.
One of the most effectively written and executed scenes in film history.
The purpose of this scene is to get Marge to reassess her methods of investigation and simply not be too trusting of what people tell her. In other words, she has to learn to not take things at face value. She basically learned "People can lie straight to your face and feel completely 100% real."
Yes Rick, great analyses. I once watched Fargo with a friend of mine who thought he was a bit of a film expert and his critique of the scene is that it’s essentially pointless. What a bone headed comment...From memory there is a key shot a few scenes down the track when Margie is driving in her car. She is driving along, pondering, which is followed by her next move to pursue the Jerry situation with more endeavour and with a revised view of the human potential for deception. It is a master stroke of a scene which again gives greater poignancy to all of those humorous scenes of Margie living a quiet and decent life with her husband - eating burgers together, watching tv and “getting a jump start”...😂😂😂. Wonderful stuff.
This whole movie is a masterpiece, every scene is as good as the next one!
@Gene Nightingale The fact that enough people believe COVID-19 is a 5G conspiracy is proof most lack the critical thinking skills to understand film.
Lmao bit much
This scene was painful.
this whole movie was painful. great picture, but i don't remember feeling comfortable or good or happy, pretty much the whole way through... it was all disturbing... sometimes mildly, sometimes very... but always disturbing. i just can't watch movies like this anymore
i find fargo a very relaxing movie.
You're such a super lady !
CallDwn theSky It's black comedy with a lot of irony and tragicomical elements mixed in. In many ways Fargo is an homage or ode to Minnesotan life with a fair amount of tongue in cheek humor and almost surreal dark elements mixed in. Unlike Quentin Tarantino who also employs black humour and irony in his films, the Coen brothers are more nuanced and empathetic in their approach to characters and their dilemmas.
It's pretty cringe worthy, she's pregnant married and he's still trying.
I love how just as she's about to sympathize for him, their drinks come in. Haha such a brilliant movie.
Such a super movie.
@@newgame897 -- I always liked it so muach!!
@Brendon And then, I saw ya on the teevee!
nice pfp
@@zyzir thx! likewise.
The way he cuts off Marge with the “I ALWAYS LIKED YOU SO MUCH!” 😂😂 That’s when his desperation really kicks up a notch, lol…so pathetic but funny. I’ve watched this scene so many times over the years, such a classic.
I LIKE YOYR COMMENT SO MUCH
Oh Ya..." He was really desperate.....he needed some professional help.....marvelous acting on his part, and Marge's reactions were precisely what one would expect...she played that so very, very well, as she did in all the scenes. " Cringe" was eloquently expressed there.
True. As much as we’re supposed to look down on Mike, I’m also surprised to discover I have a little sympathy for him too. Seems like such a sad, empty guy…
That and the "Super lady" haha
so i don't have to turn my neck
BASS MARINO. (Guessing U Got That Line B4) #Nerd 👈😁👊
This scene is funny, and sad, and creepy and awkward and wonderful all at the same time.
Brilliant writing. Brilliant acting. Brilliant everything.
Hitting on a pregnant woman. That must be the lowest of the low.
Ben Williams eh. My friends made one air tight once
I love how he mentions he lives in a good school district.
It happens more than you think!!
Lots of guys are into it.
Jake Well, I never caught onto the significance of that all these years
The fact that Steve Park could go from a goofy cast member of “In Living Color” to this type of role shows he’s seriously underrated
I love her assertiveness when she asks the guy to move away 👌🏻
“You’re such a supa lady” I quote that line all the time and no one ever recognizes it.
He simultaneously has a Minnesota and Japanese accent. Ahhh so. Im aso lonely
Stephen Park did such an amazing job in such a short time on camera. The look on his face during his awkwardly long hug, his almost predatory gazes at Marge when she wasn't looking... everything. He fit so much "creepy" into a few sort minutes on the screen.
As already mentioned, this is one of the absolute key moments of the film, which is unfortunately often overlooked. Just like the rug in "The Big Lebowski", Mike really ties the room together...
..because this strange incident sends her back to Jerry and the car shop.
First, she considered Mike an old friend and blindly and in good faith believed his story about his supposed wife and his career. She went to this meeting completely naive - as people usually are. But later, through the phone call with her friend, she can piece together that Mike is actually a psychopath (can't be called anything else). This makes Margy sit up and question herself although she was actually already about to drive back home. So then she visits the car dealership again and Jerry, whom she no longer trusts. You can see the change in her behavior the second time she meets him. She's playing her authority to the full this time, which sends Jerry directly into a panic.
On their first visit, Jerry said no cars would be missing, while acting just as weird and suspicious as Mike later. Margy notices this odd behavior, but thinks in good faith that he probably didn't have time for her ("Paperwork to do") and dismissed it with that. But now she has become skeptical, she asks critical questions. "How do you know so exactly that no cars are missing. Did you count them?" - and suddenly the whole house of cards collapses for Jerry. The dealership car was the missing piece that irretrievably linked Jerry to the whole crime. As Margy says: It's all cOnNeCtEd. :)
For me, Mike Yaganita was the key to a deeper understanding of the Coens' works. He really tied the room together..
Great analyze, you put words on why I consider this film as my favourite one ! I think this scene also leads to the end of Marge doubts about her happiness. In contrary to all the manipulative and selfish characters she meets during the story, her relation with her husband is genuine and pure, despite being very mondaine, and she's about to raise a child with him.
Great analysis! I think she might’ve liked Mike back in high school or something. But yes, the revelation about his lies definitely was what made her go and question Jerry again.
This man really woke up and put on a suit to appear more successful 😂
LOL!
Oh yah, they're a good outfit!
Lmao.
Why has this guy never been in anything else?? He's amazing!
He's been in 60 other movies and t.v. shows, this is just his most well known role.
He was also in do the right thing , he goes off on the cops
Steve Park used to be on In Living Color
@@bestbuds7334 he was great on In Living Color
@@bestbuds7334 stephen park, who is korean canadian, has an user account here on youtube...He is a comedian
2:19 I love that little detail the actor shows, where he's subtly looking up the way people tend to do when concocting a bullshit story. Nice little touch for re-watch when the audience knows that he's making it all up.
If you are not from Minnesota, you really do not get how dead on these accents are. Though of course, not everyone talks like that, but a lot do. It really reminds me of home.
blueboyblue I grew up in Minneapolis. People don't talk like that. They might way up north by the range, but not in the Twin Cities.
+elmagnificodep - - I grew up in Minnesota (& Iowa), and people do have accents like that. Though, agreed, more so in rural areas, and lessening with each new generation.
Some people in Wisconsin talk like this as well.
I think it depends on how many generations removed you are from you ancestral roots. My grandparents both immigrated. My paternal Grandmother as an adult, and my maternal grandmother as a child. So, I grew up around a lot of people who still spoke Norwegian.
I do think that's part of it, but I'd guess it has more to do with general environment, as already mentioned in the convo. As in, rural vs city. Even if someone has a grandparent from Scandinavia, if they're going to school in a bigger city, chances are their accent will still mellow out compared to older relatives. Just the nature of hanging out with kids who don't have a strong accent.
But either way that's cool you grew up around Norwegian, my grandmother is Norwegian as well. Have you ever been to Door County? It's a series of small coastal towns in WI that really harness/hold onto Scandinavian culture.
People often ask why this scene is In Fargo , citing its irrelevance to the plot . What's fantastic especially if it's your first time seeing the movie is you beleive mike. You sympathize with him a bit in the scene when he talks about his wife passing. You believe him. And the next scene when you casually here he blatantly lied and in a very creepy and deceitful way you feel just as fooled as marge does. Not to mention mrs. gunderson uses this lesson to re investigate jerry once again causing him to crack. It really does fit perfectly in the film honestly and brilliantly and casually captures real and believable deceit right in front of our eyes. Fantastic movie
One of my favorite scenes of all time... it's just brilliant in every way
The acting is amazing I've always loved this scene too.
What's really fascinating is trying to figure out why Marge decided to meet him, and what she was hoping to get out of it. It's a pretty interesting question that's, ultimately, a mystery.
I always figured she was legitimately trying to be nice in looking up an old high school friend while she was away on working the case.
@@CyckOne
I agree. She was slightly annoyed that he called so late at night, but she seemed genuinely happy to hear from an old HS friend. Mike is obviously intelligent and probably had lots of promise in HS. She probably wanted to see him and see how successful and well he became.
Unfortunately, his life ended up in disappointment and he can't face reality-as he made up that gut wrenching story of his wife dying.
It was a stupid lie to make up. Did he think that telling her about a mutual friend dying that Margie might do some digging?
She was feeling just a little like her life was boring, and wondering what it would have been like if she had married someone else. I don't mean she was thinking of cheating on Norm, just curious. So after this, she realizes how lucky she is.
@@janetkizer5956
Wow! I don't think Marge would want to change anything in her life. She loves her job, loves her fellow officers, loves her home.
I don't pick up on any discontent in her life.
JMO
@@janetkizer5956 I don't think so. She seemed nonplussed about him calling her in the dead of night. I don't think she even recognized his name at first.
In my view she agreed to have lunch just to be polite since she was already in town.
"Ya know it's the Radisson so it's pretty good."
You know when people are discussing whether the Raddison is a 5 star hotel, things are going downhill....
It's not a hug either. He squeezes her to the point where she has to say, "Easy there, easy there." Black comedy gold. Margie' eyes are so wide open from there it's just priceless.
I actually consider this one of the most important scenes in the movie. Had she never gone out to do dinner with him, she never would have gone back to interview Lundegard.
There is one Mike Yanagita inside us all.
I identify with him.
I think there was a little bit of "Mike Yanagita" in all of us at one time or another...thats why this scene works
Yes, at one point in almost all of our lives, we have felt like Mike Yanagita. If you were never this low in your life, consider yourself lucky. Most people through age, divorce, death of a spouse, or sickness, end up like Mike.
3:06 "Nooooooo", and then her face, totally lost it at this part
I don't have enough occasions in life to say, "you know, it's a Radison, so it's pretty good", but I still look for those occasions daily.
We can dream.
It's funny the attention to details they put in. In the 80's the Radisson was expanding in the midwest and was legit considered a classy hotel.
Good point, they've expanded more to the lower end since then. Still, some locations, like in Chicago, are (or at least USED TO BE before the recent crime wave) pretty decent still.
One of those scenes so great you forget you’re looking at two people acting.
That Asian actor's been in everything. Do the Right Thing, Falling Down.
Ya, I think there are more movies than that though.
This was the funniest scene in the movie because it was done so well. I actually felt kinda bad for Mike.
As awkward as he is, dudes sure got balls for going after the happily-married, pregnant cop in broad daylight while she's investigating a murder.
I don’t think the scene’s function is to make her realise that people lie. It’s to underline the existential loneliness of many people in a world in which money, status and greed define relationships, and those who loose in that game remain with their parents
No it was to make her double back to Jerry.
Best scene in the movie, and one of the greatest in cinema. The guy is a wolf in sheep’s clothing, and this was a pivotal moment that put her on notice about her first meeting with Jerry.
Just as she starts absorbing and comprehending 19 tons of lies and deceit. "Thats a surprise". I love this movie even more as time passes.
I always think of Mike when I respond with "ohhh pretty good"
Who is the guy that played him, he is fantastic
+GSMBach Steve Park
Park?
sandinyourshoes Yes, the actor is obviously Korean
Jonathan Williams, well, he does show a good range in his performances.
Also, he played Sonny in Spike Lee's Do The Right Thing.
When I think of not budging an inch, I think of this scene, when he tries to sit right next to her. She doesn't instinctively yield space to the man like we are taught in society. It stands out because it's rare. She takes up her own space.
No she just knew something wasn't right and he was being creepy.
The way he says nooooo like he's blown it is fucking hilarious.
Hang in there champ you're doing great!
This is so well acted by the two of them. Even though I know they're just acting I still feel horrible watching this lol
Keep coming back to this- one of the saddest scenes in any movie. Upsets me every time. What a deeply lonely, desperate guy Mike is.
2:26 the way Margie says ‘no!!’ followed by the polite waiter interaction, so funny. The Coen’s have so many great little details sprinkled in their scenes
He has a comedic background, how on earth did he do this without laughing?!
"Oh, this is a nice place."
"Ya, you know it's a Radisson so it's pretty good!"
As per the Marge one night stand fantasy theories, I disagree. The Coens clearly established Marge’s feelings straight away when the guy hugged her, they didn’t want to sully her pristine character in the film.
Also notice how Mike is explaining how he lost his “wife”, and than 1 second later he has a huge smile on his face talking about Marge. The subtle intricate details in this movie are amazing.
One of those great actors so underused in Hollywood. Brutal business.
That man is a brilliant actor, the nuance is astounding.
I ALWAYS LIKEDYA SOO MACH
My favorite part of this scene is when she re-clutches her Diet Coke when he says, "NOOO!" like a reflex. She was naturally in the moment.
“”I ALWAYS LIKED YOU SO MUCH!!”
"Oh no! No! Just so I can see ya! Don't have to turn my neck!"
My mother's side of the family comes from Minnesota and I absolutely love that part because it's the most "Minnesotan response" ever. A sort of "I don't want to make you feel bad even if you're being super weird" mentality. This film perfectly captures the Minnesotan mentality; just so gosh darn nice, don't cha know?
I call this insight the "Mike Yanagita Effect". Raise your hand if you've ever had this in your life at least once. Yep. Thought so.
Possibly one of the best movies ever - certainly a classic. The acting in this sequence is absolutely seamless and heartbreaking that it never fails to have me in absolute tears of laughter.
Mike just hasn’t been the same since Linda Cooksey passed. Poor lonely guy...
I love this scene. It could be completely gone from the movie and no one would notice, but I love that the Coen brothers decided to put it in.
After watching this scene, it made me realize how "midwest nice" I am. I've had somewhat similar situations like this in the past, and I reacted kind of like Marge. We hate confrontation and "nice" are way out of these situations. Like her excuse of moving her neck. I would've totally said that insteading admitting that I felt uncomfortable sitting on the same side of him haha. It can be a blessing but also a curse because you feel like you can't stand up for yourself
Best scene in the movie, hands down. There's more insight in this one little scene than all of the other scenes combined.
Feel like an idiot to just now figure out the purpose of this scene. I always loved this scene bc it was a break from the blood shed and figured ‘it’s the Coen bros. They’re like the Steely Dan of movies. It’s not supposed to make sense.”
Thanks for this thread and the comments.
This scene highlights exactly why Marge is so likeable. She's genuinely nice and friendly - which people often mistake for soft and naive , however she's also sharp and assertive when she needs to be. When Mike oversteps the mark - by trying to lean into Marge, she politely but firmly asks him to move to the opposite chair - even when she does it she's very respectful of Mike's feelings and disarms the tension - by telling him a white lie that it's just better for her if she doesn't move her neck - rather than tell him he's just invading her personal space . I also love Stephen Parks's acting as Mike in this scene. He looks up and to the right ( clearly searching and struggling to come up with an elaborate lie about Linda )- looking to gain sympathy points from Marge.
Even better this scene at the time feels like filler - that is until later on - where it actually serves quite a significant purpose to the story .
I went to see Fargo at the theater the day after Daylight Savings time change having forgotten and walked into this scene thinking it was the beginning of the show. Can you imagine?
Back before cell phones and technology automatically switched the clock for us. Use to be a real issue lol. Doesn't happen anymore
Although a couple years ago we went to go bid a job at this elderly ladies house. And it was the day after the time changed. And when we showed up she's like you're late. We're like no we're not. Anyway point being the only people that still have an issue with this are old people. Who don't really have smart phones and technology they use on the regular. They are still living in the old times.
What many who like this movie are overlooking about the significance of Mike Yanagita is that his deception triggers Marge into returning to Jerry Lundegaard's dealership to recheck those vehicle codes. Jerry's suspicious behavior mirrors Mike's.
"i always liked you"
"well i always liked..."
"i always liked you so much."
‘So it didn’t work out huh!?!’ plus that expression on her face after she delivered that line LMAO OH LAWD You’re perfection, Frances McDormand!
"Well, I always liked you M..."
"I ALWAYS LIKED YOU SO MUCH!"
Awkwardness gold. Whoever played Mike nailed it
This was always my favorite moment of Frances performance. Every reaction is perfect.
He probably doesn't even work for Honeywell
'Mike Yanagita' is played by Steve Park (born February 18, 1951), an American comedian and actor. He is best known for being a cast member of the sketch comedy television series, 'In Living Color', during the 1991-1992 season.
In a film full of great scenes, this scene remains my favorite.
Stephen Park is excellent here. He played Mike perfectly. His character's deception is so critical to the plot. It's pretty scary that people actually do go around telling lies like this in real life.
Marge is like the nicest cop ever
As if Mike wasn’t cringy enough just watching this scene, learning later that he was lying the whole time about being married and her dying makes him even more pathetic.
Love this scene. It is soooooo awkward.
Good observation. It also serves to enhance the realism of the film---you can imagine this conversation happening between any two people who went to high school together. Gives it some additional "local color".
I always liked this scene, I always liked this so much!
this is me on every date
It conveys how lonely it would be as a single Asian in Scandinavian Minnesota.
Imagine trying to fit in to a culture so foreign to your ancestry.
I really felt bad for him. He wanted to fit in so badly.
"Heck". They probably didn't even have an Asian restaurant in Brainerd.
The only Asian guy in your class and she doesn't even remember you.
An irrelevant scene to the whole movie but don't know why it works so well.
actually it's extremely relevant to the next scene...it foreshadows her digging deeper into the crime by revisiting the car salesman...i.e. things aren't always what they seem upon the first look
This encounter shows how even people who seem completely innocent and down on their luck sometimes are totally full of shit. This makes her dig deeper with Jerry.
Mike Yanagita - the man, the myth, the legend
He did such an excellent job at this. Gives off obsessive serial killer vibes.
on the teeeveee
This film and No Country for Old Men lady bare how fragile and tenuous our hold on life truly is.
I saw a great new band in a club last night. Linda Cooksey and the Super Ladies.
This actor captured the northern Minnesota accent best in this movie. The actress did well, too. His is more nuanced,
but it's accurate. Some are slightly exaggerated, but overall a good job. The kidnapped woman is fantastic.
From Bemidji, Beltrami County, Minn.
At least is well dressed...
I never noticed the phone call conversation with her friend when I watched the movie. That makes alot of sense now lol
-for once Hollywood is stereotyping people from a place other than NYC or NJ its a freaking miracle
At first when they met up and they sat down I genuinely felt bad for the guy but then as it progressed he just lost it and I was like noo noooo dude.
You Really Think Someone Would Do That? Just Go On the Internet and Tell Lies?