One of Frances McDormand's most memorable roles is the pregnant, level-headed policewoman in the Coen Brothers' 1996 dark comedy Fargo, which remains one of the best Coen Brothers movies ever made. Marge Gunderson was a lone beacon of normality and reason in a universe filled with violence, corruption, theft, and cold-blooded murder.
Besides the kidnappers Carl and Gaear, all of the movie's characters speak in a thick Minnesotan accent. It's a key element of the movie and makes its best quotes stick in fans' heads even more. Marge Gunderson is responsible for many of the film's most memorable ones, whether she's dispensing life advice to criminals, enjoying a hearty meal with her co-workers, or sharing an intimate moment with her husband Norm.
10 "Prowler Needs A Jump."
This simple, four-word quote accomplishes a lot considering its brevity. After heading out to work in the bitter morning cold, Marge momentarily returns to inform her husband Norm that her "Prowler needs a jump" while he sits at the breakfast table eating eggs.
It's evident from Marge's casual delivery that her car not starting is a regular occurrence. This gives the audience another nudge as to just how brutally cold Minnesota is in the winter. Additionally, it reveals that Marge can count on her husband's help. He not only gets up at 4 am to make her breakfast, but he's about to give her Prowler a jump, too.
9 "Oh, I Just Think I'm Gonna Barf. Well, That Passed. Now I'm Hungry Again."
One of Marge's funniest quotes in the film occurs early in the film. While crouching on her knees to get a closer look at a dead body in an upturned car, Marge momentarily pauses, and when Lou asks if she's okay, she delivers this memorable line with her Minnesotan sing-song timbre.
This quote establishes an important character detail about Marge: she's expecting a child. And even though she is surrounded by bloodshed, Marge's humor is still on full display as she confesses that she's still thinking about food. This quote is a great representation of Fargo as a whole, as it demonstrates the characters' often nonchalant attitude towards anything gruesome.
8 "Did Ya Hear The One About The Guy Who Couldn't Afford Personalized Plates So He Went And Changed His Name To J3L-2404?"
After inspecting a grisly crime scene, Marge demonstrates her calm resolve and sense of humor by telling this joke to her police partner Lou. When Lou suggests that the suspects' license plate starts with the letters DLR, Marge utters another of the film's brilliant quotes: "I'm not sure I agree with you a hundred percent on your police work, there, Lou," before suggesting that the car, in fact, has dealer plates.
These quotes illustrate how much of a keen and intelligent protagonist Marge is compared to the other police officers she works with. She is witty and perceptive, despite it being barely the break of dawn, and while also contending with morning sickness.
7 "Can You Be Any More Specific?"
Many of the characters in Fargo trip over their words, mumble, stutter, or are completely incoherent. When Marge goes to follow up a lead at the Blue Ox truck stop, she interviews two vacuous local women who have spent the night with the bad guys, Gaear and Carl. The women are thoroughly unhelpful, offering no information about the suspects' appearances, other than describing them with the now-famous catchphrase, "kinda funny-looking."
Marge is enormously patient, offering the occasional positive grunt, and continues to try and extract any helpful information that she can. The women finally reveal that Carl and Gaear were heading to the Twin Cities, but not before Marge asks them, "Can you be any more specific?"
6 "Why Don't You Sit Over There? I'd Prefer That."
In one of the movie's most peculiar scenes, Marge takes a break from her criminal investigation and goes for a drink with an old school friend, Mike Yanagita, after he contacts her out of the blue. He is jittery, awkward, and clearly infatuated with Marge.
While at the bar, Mike moves round to her side of the table and puts his arm around her. Marge doesn't miss a beat before asking him to return to his original seat. Soon after, he breaks down crying and calls her a "super lady." It's difficult to watch, but it does make the audience love Marge even more after seeing her blunt confidence on display once again. While never ceasing to be polite, she also makes it clear she will not be taken advantage of by anyone.
5 "My Car! My Car! Tan Sierra! Tan Sierra!"
At a tense and pivotal moment in the film, Marge finally tracks down Carl's car while "taking a drive around Moose Lake." The excitement in her voice is palpable as she shouts, "My car! My car! Tan Sierra! Tan Sierra!" over the police radio.
Marge has finally tracked down her man and she is giddy from the thrill. Despite Lou warning her to be careful and saying that he'll send some police support, she sets off on foot, by herself, and soon comes across the woodchipper from the movie's famous climactic scene. Her bravery shines through despite her not really knowing what awaits her at the cabin.
4 "Ah, Hon, Ya Got Arby's All Over Me."
Food is a reoccurring motif in Fargo. Marge and Norm are shown enjoying it together on several occasions, and the fast-food chain Arby's is ostensibly one of their favorites. Norm brings Marge lunch at the police station, and they eat while discussing his painting. When Marge tells him that he's a better painter than the others in his competition, he gives her a messy burger kiss on the cheek, prompting her to deliver this sweet and funny quote.
Marge's loving grievance shows the couple's daily kindness towards one another and the strength of their marriage. Norm bringing Marge lunch doesn't surprise her as it's clearly an ordinary event. Marge is only mildly perturbed by Norm's kiss, and McDormand's delivery actually indicates how happy she is that he brought her lunch in the first place.
3 "Sir, You Have No Call To Get Snippy With Me; I'm Just Doing My Job Here."
When Marge goes back a second time to question Jerry Lundergard, she is initially jovial, albeit in a passive-aggressive way. She responds to Jerry's rebuttals with a big grin, and he gets increasingly nervy and frustrated.
However, when he angrily declares that he "answered the darn question" and is "cooperating, here," the smile instantly leaves Marge's face. She delivers this quote with a stone-cold calmness and certainty that clearly spooks Jerry, and he feels the interview shortly after. From that moment, she knows for sure that he's guilty.
2 "Heck, Norm, You Know We're Doing Pretty Good."
After apprehending her man and solving the case, Marge returns to the comfort and safety of her home. While sitting in bed with Norm, he tells her that his mallard painting will appear on the 3-cent stamp. Marge is enormously proud of him and observes that they are "doing pretty good."
This quote reflects Marge's reassurance that she is in a good place with her husband: they are nothing like Jerry and his wife. They happily watch TV together or share fast food. It's also reassuring to see Marge at home, safe and happy, especially after the ordeal of the movie's events. Norm touches her belly and says, "Three more months," as the TV flickers in the background.
1 "There's More To Life Than A Little Money, Ya Know. Don't Ya Know That? And Here You Are, and It's A Beautiful Day."
The movie's conclusion sees Marge driving her Prowler with Gaear handcuffed in the back. He sits in silence while she ruminates on the futility of his crimes before pointing out that it's a beautiful day, perhaps the last Gaear will ever see outside of a prison cell.
There's a lot of subtext to this quote. There's a life lesson about focusing on the things that matter in life -- which in Marge's case is her husband, unborn child, and life's simple pleasures. There's also the fact that despite the barren, lifeless tundra outside the window, for Marge, this is a beautiful day -- perhaps because she's caught Gaear, or perhaps because every day is beautiful.
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