Fargo (1996) - A Finder's Fee Scene (4/12) | Movieclips

Fargo (1996) - A Finder's Fee Scene: Jerry (William H. Macy) asks his father-in-law for a $750,000 loan and is denied.
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FILM DESCRIPTION:
Filmmaking siblings Joel Coen and Ethan Coen both embraced and poked satirical fun at their Minnesotan roots with this comedy-drama-thriller that earned seven Oscar nominations, winning for Best Actress and Best Original Screenplay. Frances McDormand stars as Marge Gunderson, a pregnant police chief whose affable, folksy demeanor masks a whip-smart mind. When a pair of motorists are found slain not far from the corpse of a state trooper, Marge begins piecing together a case involving a pair of dopey would-be kidnappers, Carl (Steve Buscemi) and Gaear (Bergman stock player Peter Stormare). They've been hired by Jerry Lundegaard (William H. Macy), a car salesman under the thumb of his wealthy, overbearing boss and father-in-law, Wade (Harve Presnell). Jerry's raised some money illegally through a petty scam he's run on General Motors and he's about to get caught. When Wade sours a business deal that could save his son-in-law's hide, the desperate Jerry hires Carl and Gaear to kidnap his wife and hold her for ransom. Things go predictably wrong and a series of murders occur, with Marge, waddling along behind her enormous belly and ever-hungering for an all-you-can-eat buffet, hot on the trail of the killers. Although the credits for Fargo state that the film is loosely based on real events, the story is entirely fictional, the claim being just an ironic jibe on the part of the Coens.
CREDITS:
TM & © MGM (1996)
Cast: Larry Brandenburg, William H. Macy, Harve Presnell
Directors: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
Producers: Tim Bevan, John Cameron, Ethan Coen, Eric Fellner, Joel Coen
Screenwriters: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
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[@jamesb1988]

William H. Macy's whole purpose in life was to play Jerry in this movie, he just nailed it.

[@RealityCheck6T9]

I'd say that's sad, but apparently he really really wanted to do it

[@rolandm9750]

Yeah but he kind of typecasted himself into this sniveling/bumbling/weasel role after this. The character he played in the television series ER, for example... During the early years of the show he played a respectable character--holding the positions of Chief of Surgery and Chief of Emergency. But then, after this movie, he returned to ER playing the same character but now turned into someone who both botched a surgery and then tried to weasel out of responsibility by initially trying to blame another surgeon. That came out of nowhwere in terms of that show, it was basically just turning from David Morgenstern into Jerry Lundegaard...because that's who he was in Fargo.

[@el34glo59]

@@rolandm9750 Magnolia. Same thing

[@fjccommish]

He played it almost half as well as I would have played it. That's excellent.

[@JK-vc7ie]

James B 100% accurate statement

[@chrissmith3668]

One thing Jerry really didn’t understand is that they weren’t a bank

[@laminage]

He was so stupid and delusional. He probably thought Wade would have a $750,000.00 Check ready for him.

[@youarelife3437]

we're not a bank jerry

[@connorfrancis6022]

@@youarelife3437 we’re not a bank

[@youarelife3437]

@@connorfrancis6022 :D huh--?

[@youarelife3437]

@@laminage n-nn-no...but....Ok he GARAUNTEEEESS

[@TomO-nx1bd]

I love how he looks down, pauses to think for a while, and all he can come back with is "okay, I GUARANTEE you your money back" LOL

[@Ebolacrash]

Ya jerry was saving that one for emergencies only

[@GreatLakesDrifta]

'Cause he's a car salesman

[@Grimreepa220]

Guy was such a fuckin idiot.

[@menikmati789]

Hey, cmon now, he gave them his WORD

[@dansanfrisco]

He forgot to throw in the TruCoat with his guarantee.

[@vicinvesta8349]

"You're saying... What are you saying?" just priceless.

[@mariorodriguezperez9580]

Agreed 👍

[@themattpack1]

Jerry going full car salesman with, “I guarantee you your money back.” is so incredible.

[@christophergrewe3651]

I thought the same thing!!!! Full car salesman!!!!!

[@T--xk3hf]

*I'm not talking about your damn word Jerry!! GEEEEZ!!!*

[@oldencreek6587]

He should've considered going to Midwest Federal and talking to Old Bill Diel like his father in law suggested.

[@arkwill14]

He's at Northstar.

[@Wasserkaktus]

His credit is likely shit and his income would have never enabled him to get that loan regardless.

[@Lane8492]

@@Wasserkaktus Especially being that the loan fraud he committed was in audit.

[@JK-vc7ie]

arcwall14 So good

[@jaywunder13242]

@@Wasserkaktus Yeah. That's why he was going to a relative.

[@gmanzano89gm]

Jerry coming in the office looking for a seat to sit down shows how the partners never considered him to be a partner on his deal or equal to him, then the view of Jerry walking to his car upon leaving shows how tiny he is, an ant to them. Love this movie.

[@neomcdoom]

Stan Kyle Kenny Cartman That’s a bit of an over interpretation

[@gmanzano89gm]

@@neomcdoom that's what movies are there for, another one is Michael Corleone and Fredo in the Godfather 2. Fredo can't even get out of his seat while confronting Michael. He was so weak he could not even get off his chair and kept pulling him back down. Details bro is what makes movies and your thoughts on it.

[@Jameswilllee]

Never picked up on him looking for a seat before. Good catch

[@scottdinges4681]

Lol an angry little ant

[@colinsilver1041]

Everything you described seems conveyed in the scene, except the "ant" part. I didn't conclude that Jerry was an "insignificant ant," far from it. It was more like he's a man, surrounded by the "overwhelming" cold, futility, and despair... Look how he wrestles with the ice on his windshield, and not even that gives him a break. The frustration is apt, but he couldn't express it in the office.

[@wrmty56413]

0:21 Jerry's "Huh?", his dumb grin and his raised eyebrows are Oscar-worthy

[@joematerascz3725]

Caught that too! Makes him even more pathetic!

[@provetamin]

huh?

[@mysoncrumphaseveryinjury3853]

Truly genius. He's so used to being a whipping boy that you can tell by this single expression this isn't the first time someone has mopped the floor with him.

[@joematerascz3725]

@@mysoncrumphaseveryinjury3853 When we were younger my friend and I used to call it the dumpy look. I still laugh cause sometimes my grandson gets the dumpy look and it reminds me of those days.🤣🤣🤣

[@Ash-kg5uj]

That huh was epic

[@robertlevasseur6843]

What is remarkable about Fargo is how the northern winter itself is one of the main characters. Throughout the movie there is plenty of human drama, but here although Jerry has his meltdown, he has to pick up the straper and start scraping again. Winter is always in the way and immovable. You can tell the Coen Brothers are from a cold climate.

[@genericwhitekidthesecond4330]

Minnesota isn't that cold most of the year. It's just got rough winters. They were highlighting the cruelty of the cold but not necessarily that Minnesota is just an always cold, desolate place.

[@markkershenblatt]

Ironically, when they filmed Fargo, they had one of the least snowiest winters in 50 years and had to truck in man- made snow for the scene where Steve Buscemi buries the ransom money.

[@jupiterinaries6150]

Although typically what you do when ice is frozen solid on your car window shield is to turn the heater on to start the defrost then after a few minutes,as the ice starts to thaw, then you start your scraping.

[@aliensoup2420]

@@jupiterinaries6150My solution was to move to Phoenix.

[@aliensoup2420]

@@sherril.562 Yeah...the snow didn't get me, but the desert pollen did, and in 2 years I moved to California. I could breath again, then the earthquakes struck.

[@kevina5337]

Loses the principal investment and then as a bonus he manages to talk his way out of a $75k finders fee... ya good job bro lol

[@Rob2068]

The Wraith They never said if he took the fee or not. Would have been stupid not to, unless maybe if he intended on suing them.

[@rohunsaigal2576]

I think it's implied he tuck tail and took the finders fee, but he needs much more than 75 grand a long time from now, he needs hundreds of thousands like RIGHT now

[@samscoffy]

Heck that just wasn’t gonna do it for him.

[@Paraprax]

Given the implied severity of Jerry's unknown scenario, it seems like anything less than the $750,000 would be worthless to him.

[@chrissmith3668]

Oooh for chrissakes here

[@tinetannies4637]

The little side discussion about Bill Diehl being at Midwest Federal or Northstar is a wonderful detail that adds to the natural realism of this scene. It could have easily been left out....or never conceived in the first place.

[@LessTrustMoreTruth]

Agree. Also that Stan thought he was at Northstar and got it mixed up understably with the similar named Northwest Federal.

[@danbalazs9088]

@Bill Diehl of Midwest Federal 🤣😆🙃Yer a hotdish 'a humor Bill, bleeme.

[@Flackack]

Absolutely. A classic side. Businessmen saying businessmen things. Bill Diehl was probably an old time member of the country club. A straight shooter. Who made a lot of money. A LOT of money.

[@boat6float]

​​@@LessTrustMoreTruth I'm pretty sure Bill works at Northstar. That's what Wade pays him for-to know about these kinds of things.

[@jameskielland5018]

As Jerry said, "A Diehl's a Diehl."

[@SuperRod88]

"We're not a bank, Jerry!"

[@scottwilliam3470]

SuperRod88 i need the principle.

[@tuttt99]

We're not a bank, Jerry!

[@Lane8492]

I'm not talking about your damn words Jerry LMAO

[@michaelmclean7224]

Heck ..I'd go ..one. Over prime !

[@ivanrorick]

@@michaelmclean7224 We're not a bank, Jerry.

[@StonyRC]

The shot of the "Little Man" walking to his car through the snow is INSPIRED cinematography. Says almost as much as the dialogue.

[@dougpeters1625]

that is an absolutely brilliant shot

[@benjamintrevino325]

That shot is nothing less than a work of art, like the colorless maze Jerry's life has become.

[@anthonygerace8926]

Jerry looks as insignificant as an ant in that shot.

[@MrGordonGartrelle]

"He's at Northstar--" "He's at--" "No!" are lines showing the writing talent involved here. That is supreme comedy writing and just straight great writing.

[@jimdake6632]

More accurate Minnesota-isms.

[@bobsnow6242]

Jerry's life is crumbling in front of his eyes and the two guys who are sealing his fate are more interested in casual small talk about which bank some dude works at, hahaha. Superb little way to remind the audience of how pitiful and insignificant Jerry is in the eyes of everyone he interacts with.

[@marty8442]

I agree! Somehow those two line interruptions work really strongly. Jerry's timing to bring up he could not do any finders fee is just gold

[@wojtekjakub1810]

I still would love to know where Old Bill Deal was. Hes at Northstar? Hes at...but Jerry had to interrupt😂

[@kendallevans4079]

@@wojtekjakub1810You can almost bet money when Wade, Stan and "ol Bill Diehl get together for lunch they'll discuss this as comic relief.

[@stoytrivia1126]

The look Wade gives Stan after he says "You're saying we put in all the money and you collect when it pays off" is so good. That is a look that I imagine many fathers recognize that says "can you believe my daughter chose THIS doofus??"

[@MackeyWilliams]

Don't forget the little head nod he directs Jerry's way as he looks at Stan.

[@paulorocky]

I think disapproval is very much the case here, Jean probably met Jerry through Jerry working for Wade, dare I say that’s the only reason Jerry hasn’t been fired. Wade was probably looking for any reason to cut Jerry off, that’s why Jerry couldn’t come clean to Jean or Wade about his financial difficulties and instead plots an incredibly stupid crime and hires stupider people to carry it out.

[@DiviAugusti]

I remember old timers doing that sort of “do you believe this joker?” Head nod he does.

[@samfilmkid]

"But you're sayin'...What're you sayin'?"

[@michaelmclean7224]

Love me some Stan Grossman !!

[@ivanrorick]

@@michaelmclean7224 I just rewatched this and... that's actually one of the best performances in the movie. I hadn't really paid attention to him before. I love how he repeats "We're not a bank, Jerry." It's like he's trying to convince someone that water is wet. Apparently in the Fargo TV show they said that Mr. Grossman is very successful and still alive as of the 2010s. I haven't seen the show, but good for him if true!

[@Lane8492]

We put in the money and you collect when it pays off.

[@provetamin]

we're not a bank jerry

[@williammorris584]

Jerry wasn’t a valedictorian

[@eugeneendres5846]

William Macy was amazing in this movie. He was so convincing in his character. He should have gotten an academy award for this.

[@final_mile_music9713]

💯

[@kuruptzZz]

Him and the cop lady are 2 of the best performances I have ever seen

[@tylerp3327]

William H Macy

[@keithyj11]

I love Stan grossmans high pitched giggle after wade says you collect all the money when it pays off. Tells you that Stan has a real mischievous goofy side to him

[@Bruce_Peters]

Basically a perfect movie. This scene is just gorgeous in every way. Those of us who live in this type of climate know exactly what kind of day it is. It's not a dark winter day - it's just cold. Those windows all white like that - man, it's just a grey, cold, flat day. Cold grey office. Cold grey suits. Cold grey people. The more I watch this movie and even these clips the more I think this movie is really their masterpiece.

[@juttaweise]

oh yes the plot fits all the rest you describe! It is really perfect with great acting!

[@jjgeoffphhcinkkllee]

I live up north of Syracuse New York, near Canada, and we have almost the same winter

[@paddyoak1]

Yeah I don’t know how people take those winters.

[@kuruptzZz]

It really is a masterpiece. Among all these great characters and twists and turns in the plot, game of cat and mouse...the setting is actually what is most memorable for me

[@gymshoe8862]

People living in the north would get the engine started with the defroster blowing and THEN scrape the glass. Been doing it my whole life. Great movie.

[@Lane8492]

"We put in all the money and you collect when it pays off." Hahahaha

[@suarezguy]

Love that Wade is initially half-amused by the outrageousness, than gets angrier when Jerry doesn't admit and back down from it.

[@truthlifefishing1730]

Wade has a point.

[@nathaniellight2288]

In fact, that was an accurate characterization. The request is just so stupid from a business perspective.

[@kendallevans4079]

@@nathaniellight2288Maybe at first, but when he comes back with "....with interest, say 1 over prime..." Then it's just a low return loan which, I think Jerry was hoping Wade would go for since he is family.

[@tohopes]

Wade's not a bank, Jerry.

[@michaelcruz8312]

The delivery of the line, “We’re not a bank Jerry”, manages to be hilarious, reassuring, ironic, judgemental and friendly, peppered with the slightest garnishes of disappointment. This film is written to flow like a river through your senses. Chef’s f’ing kiss!

[@r.a.m.7209]

*"W E R E N O T A B A N K, J E R R Y"*

[@leeclark4495]

They're not a bank, Jerry.

[@starguy2718]

Yer darn tootin!

[@keithstarke4384]

Jerry looks so insignificant on the walk back through the cross road he had already crossed. Jerry sitting in the car realizing he has run out of conceivable, options as inconceivable as they are, in the desperate mind of Jerry Lundegaard. The ice, and the grey future in front of him, but in Minnesota in the winter no matter how bad things get, you have got to scrape the windshield. Brilliantly captured by

[@seamussmyth1928]

Brilliantly captured by what?

[@user-uw3fr7cd9z]

@@seamussmyth1928 deez nuts

[@giusmaximus3541]

@@seamussmyth1928 , patience...patience.

[@seamussmyth1928]

@@giusmaximus3541 I am very patient thank you very much

[@soggydeafguy7571]

Im still waiting , BRILLIANTLY CAPTURED BY WHAT?!?!

[@gun1987gunn]

"You're saying.... what are you saying?" 😂😂

[@jbl3466]

I love how even though Stan is the nicer one here, he still doesn't bother actually getting up to shake Jerry's hand

[@andrewdutton3831]

i noticed that right away as well.

[@TeamBob]

Jerry Lundegaard is like the Coen Brothers version of George Costanza in this movie - just running scams on top of scams at the same time and lying non stop lol

[@robertzemko6590]

This performance by Macy was incredible. To know he lost the Academy Award for Supporting Actor to Cuba Gooding Jr is even more incredible. Macy was also excellent in Boogie Nights.

[@seanjoyce7039]

Toss-up between Macy and Norton that year for PRIMAL FEAR

[@arnoldjack7956]

You can argue that Macy was actually the lead actor in this movie and mcdormand was supporting actress

[@robertzemko6590]

@@arnoldjack7956 And as good as Mcdormand was Macy was even better but she won the award and he lost out.

[@filmandsong05]

hes amazing

[@analogman9697]

Cuba Gooding? Oh my. Macy was in a movie called "The Cooler" that's really good. He plays a jinx at a casino. It's pretty dark.

[@bobg6638]

So many great moments and scenes in this movie. The characters are perfect. One of my favorite movies of all time.

[@marywatkins6798]

Brilliant. The characters, the dialogue, the small scenes that seem simple but carry weight.

[@jdewitt77]

Most people like this movie including me. I watch it everytime it's on TV.

[@billp4]

He's fleeing the interview!

[@emanuelmota7217]

@@billp4 After which they weren't ... YA know ... CONNECTED.

[@ingleringlet-snipps3rd449]

Gerry's father in law had one fatal flaw....he knew something just wasn't right with this guy, but he underestimated him and wrongly assumed he was nothing more than a harmless idiot. He never realized that Gerry could be truly dangerous. So, he gave him a job in the family business.

[@ingleringlet-snipps3rd449]

Great point....Gerry foolishly thought he could swindle his father in law. The father in law grossly underestimated Gerry's self destructive personality. Gerry pretty much destroys everything and everyone around him.

[@cannon0587]

Ingle Ringlet-Snipps 3rd sad part he never intended anyone to get hurt.

[@westonstevens3239]

A dangerous idiot.

[@TheAlps36]

Not so much dangerous as desperate

[@westonstevens3239]

@@TheAlps36 That's what made him dangerous...

[@Lane8492]

Jerry Lundergaard is pathetic, he brought his whole mess on himself by taking out a loan that he fraudulently collaterallized on non-existant cars and he can't know how to sell a car for a good deal when it came to that customer who made it clear that he does not want any trucoat.

[@torgotorgenson3177]

watch American greed, so many jerrys trying to lundergaard their way through scams.

[@Lane8492]

Torgo Torgenson I wouldn't be surprised

[@torgotorgenson3177]

lane8492, what's funny is almost all the scams follow the same formula. it's amazing and they almost always work. almost, lol

[@rashman6903]

A car dealership would pressure him and commission him to sell the truecoat. That's how it works in the real world. If his numbers were down they would guilt him or get him worried about being fired. That's life!

[@karthikv1212]

That trucoat comes from factory, you know.

[@LessTrustMoreTruth]

Just remember that at this very moment while Jerry is trying to haggle with Wade and Stan, his wife is being kidnapped.

[@MrMusick84]

This movie is brilliant on so many levels. When he walks in, you hear the excitement in his voice as he says hi to Stan. He thinks he finally is getting his 750 grand. Plus, look at the chair. There’s no where for him to sit. It looks uncomfortable and that’s what this situation is turning into.

[@emoedison]

The office is furnished so that there a couple different areas the three of them could have met to discuss and negotiate -- the conference table and the arm chair "conversation pit" -- but this isn't a meeting, Jerry's just an annoying to-do item to be checked off the list. Macey has him notice this and then pretend not to notice, and that helps the humiliation hurt all the more.

[@cappystrano1]

Ooh yaaaa

[@petermorris9818]

What a film! As close to flawless as possible. In my humble.

[@jbl3466]

@@emoedisonthis is a great observation lol. I also love how Stan doesn't even bother getting up to shake his hand, but makes jerry walk over to him

[@rickmorrow993]

"I assume if you're not interested, you won't mind if we move on it." In other words, you get nothing.

[@insertnamehere5809]

He should have taken the 75k

[@lzup407]

@@insertnamehere5809 taking the 75k would have landed him in even more trouble since his deal was bogus to begin with

[@stephengrigg5988]

​@@lzup407I think this one's real. The loan he got was bogus, and he was gonna use this to cover it. The accountant type people looked at this one and said it was a good deal

[@lrs0620]

Macy is obviously brilliant in this movie. Everything about this movie is exceptional - the whole cast, the directing, and the music really captures the mood.

[@kaybrown4010]

As George Costanza said, “When you’re bleak, you’re bleak!”

[@worsethanhitlerpt.2539]

How about that Stan GROSSMAN???

[@MrMLHoganjr]

It's spooky how well the Coen Brothers nailed the look and feel of the Twin Cities in the 1980s. Every scene, even the snowy parking lot outside some suburban office building on a weekend, really reminds me of that time and place.

[@PatrickJMcF]

Elaborate a little more if you don't mind. I have friends from Orno and wyzetta just trying to get an idea of the place and time

[@saulspeaks2557]

Fargo is in North Dakota

[@scooter5940]

@@saulspeaks2557yeah…….that’s the title of the movie, but almost all of the action takes place in the Minneapolis metro area, and secondarily, in Brainerd MN.

[@michaelhall2709]

What makes it different now?

[@chrissmith3668]

@@michaelhall2709 no more Metrodome

[@Vjl5280]

One of the greatest films to ever grace the screen.

[@jgfunk]

That somber, lonely, and bleak walk back to his car... So well filmed.

[@tangocash7304]

Love the scene where he was scrapping the ice of the windshield of his car. Macy said in an interview that he was surprised how there were some people who were actually rooting for Jerry, because he was trying so hard to get himself out of situation he had gotten himself into.

[@aronyak1]

But why did he park so far away?

[@mickey7399]

@@aronyak1 IDK. Considering the ground is caked with snow and leaves little visibility, maybe he just stuck to one place he knows is a parking spot. That or just human stupidity since everyone seems to think we function like logical machines when we really don't.

[@amafirenze-vi1uh]

I am rooting for Jerry all the way!

[@MrBiglig]

A windshield wouldn’t freeze up like that if he had arrived that same day.

[@rustyjohnson9558]

Umm.....where do you live? Can happen just about anywhere much north of Miami under the right conditions.@@MrBiglig

[@WeWantYouToStay]

"Oh those numbers are right, all right"

[@fuloran1]

William H. Macy is so brilliant in this movie and this scene is a great example. Notice the way his father in law belittles him throughout the movie, in sometimes very subtle ways. See how there was no chair for him when he walked in the door and he was looking around all confused for a place to sit? J

[@civlyzed]

Some fathers never like the guy who's nailing/married to his daughter. I say that from first hand experience 😀

[@prsguitars42]

Cool!!!.....I missed that!!!!

[@MediaBuster]

"I'm not talking about your damn word, Jerry." 😂

[@Bradgilliswhammyman]

I love how the writers leave the actual nuts and bolts of whatever trouble Jerry is in vague, as this is more a character study than a police drama.

[@caribou617]

I've seen people speculate 'gambling debts' but agreed it's not really important although from what little we do know about Jerry we can assume at least it's one bad idea after another and his hapless attempts to dig himself out only compound the problem.

[@MikeNapoli1989]

@@caribou617absolutely!

[@kenoliver8913]

It is not vague at all; there is quite a clear exposition of it. Jerry is both incompetent and panicky. He's a truly terrible car salesman (see the scene where he ripped off a customer over rustproofing) so his car dealership was going broke. So he tried cheating GMAC of $350,000 of stock with fake purchase serial numbers but was caught. He needed that money in a hurry so he tried ripping off his father-in-law (who he had obvious reasons to hate anyway). When that didn't work he went for the wife kidnapping scheme ...

[@caribou617]

@@kenoliver8913 Well, that's provided some much needed clarity. Thanks friend. Ah jeez. Go bears!

[@prestonorrick3498]

My guess is it had to do with his dealership, purposely messing up VIN numbers and the like, seen when he was scribbling in his office. To what purpose, I'm not sure.

[@jamesweaver7816]

1 person got turned down by ol" Bill Diehl at Midwest Federal.

[@jamesweaver9647]

He's at.....

[@DD-xe8lv]

got turned down... and got oxidation.

[@dciccantelli]

@@DD-xe8lv I told 'em to get dat tru-coat....

[@FarmerBenny]

Should have taken a finders fee!

[@TheRedSphinx]

You darn tootin' he should've!

[@heyyou9693]

Heck, that's not gonna do it for him. He needs the principle.

[@BradCrystal007]

Still beats a sharp stick in the eye!

[@kevina5337]

Yep it sure beats the $0 he managed to walk out of there with LOL

[@kevina5337]

@James Boyles ya so bring him 3 more investment ideas and boom u got ur $300k, plus the added bonus of your father-in-law doesn't think you're a bumbling idiot anymore lol

[@serekithegreat]

You can’t help but feel some sympathy for Jerry. It’s obvious that he’s been a doormat all his life for people with stronger personalities. A great movie with stellar acting performances. 🎥😎🍿

[@laminage]

No he's not a doormat. He thinks that because Wade's his Father In Law and Boss he should get special treatment. Who knows he may have messed up in the past. I wonder if Wade knew about what happened with Bucky & his Wife.

[@MelancoliaI]

Tell you what, Wade ended up being an ant himself trying to play John Wayne.

[@grapefruitm00n]

I wouldn't call him a doormat, however. In fact, he's a wicked conniving sneak. We see that in the dealership the way he takes advantage of that customer...still, you're right in that he does have sympathetic qualities. The writing is brilliant in that it can make a horrible person sympathetic.

[@dclipper8052]

I have no sympathy for him. Sound like he's suckered you in! He's nothing more than a rotten, greasy little mongrel.

[@sit2go]

I don’t have sympathy for him at all. If you look at his life. It’s not even bad. He has a nice house, a family, and a stable job that he will never lose because his father in law owns the business. Deep down he’s just a greedy weasel who thinks he can scam people. But is just too incompetent to be successful at it.

[@ivanrorick]

If you're a business-oriented person that repeated "We're not a bank, Jerry" line is the funniest thing ever. :D

[@jimreily7538]

Why ?

[@ivanrorick]

@@jimreily7538 dude if you have to ask you'll never know

[@jimreily7538]

@@ivanrorick So you can't explain it ? A "business oriented person" can't explain what's funny about the repeated line ? Why not ? How "business oriented" are you ?

[@kendallevans4079]

@@ivanrorickSo in other words YOU think it's funny but can't explain it? Maybe YOU just have a weird sense of humor, or none at all!

[@shishkabob984]

​@@ivanrorickmy dude came back 4 years later to be defensive about his mba

[@jbot91]

Walking away with 75grand seems pretty legit to me.

[@Wasserkaktus]

The amount of money he owes is far larger than that.

[@Cookieboy70]

George it would buy him some time to e.g if he went on a payment plan

[@Lane8492]

@@Cookieboy70 Payment plan wouldn't even come to fruition being that Jerry floated a 320000 loan with GMAC which he fraudulently collateralized on non-existent dealership vehicles and being that it was in audit and that Jerry would've gone down for bank fraud.

[@Lane8492]

@@Thebrosephone Who knows.

[@thirteen3]

@@Thebrosephone I don't think he even needs money. He just wants to pull a scam on his Father-In-Law so he can feel like a big shot.

[@katherinebeirne25]

It's kind of amazing that after this interaction, neither Wade or Stan suspect Jerry in the kidnapping. Even though the ransom was a million dollars, it should have been somewhat obvious when Jerry wanted to handle the entire thing on his own and the only help he wanted from his father-in-law in 'negotiating' with the kidnappers was giving him the money without any question.

[@georgenewman4464]

It's not a bad point, but pretty obviously they just think of Jerry as an incompetent twit. They can't even conceive of him being able to put together a scheme like this. (The kidnapping also happens almost immediately after they turn Jerry down for the $750K, so it's hard to imagine that he could have cooked up and executed a kidnapping plan in such a short time. Of course, he didn't.) And they clearly totally fail to see the ruthlessness that lies beneath Jerry's bumbling, whiny exterior. So the strong suggestion is that Wade and Stan actually aren't all that bright themselves. In fact, the confident reference in this scene to Midwest Federal makes the same point-though because it's a 1980s-era Minnesota in-joke, the vast majority of the audience totally misses it. In real life, Midwest Federal turned out to be just about as reliable and above-board as Jerry Lundegaard, and if Wade had invested his money with ol' Bill Diehl, that wouldn't have turned out much better than his attempt to ransom his daughter did.

[@markoutwithmark]

2:09 is one of my all time favorite compositions of film framing. It's so beautiful, sterile, and quiet. It creates atmosphere the second you lay eyes on it.

[@lightbearer.94]

Gosh this movie is brilliant!

[@oliverkalamata2753]

Yah darn tootin, it is!

[@dewanmdurnto3592]

@@oliverkalamata2753 oh yeah?oh yeah?

[@thebatman4279]

@@dewanmdurnto3592 Yah!

[@dontfearthereaper2887]

Wade knew from the start that Jerry wanted to borrow the money as a loan for himself, they had been discussing it in family dinners. It was only after he realized what a good deal it was, that he came up with the idea of the finder's fee. Wade knew exactly what he was doing, it was all an act.

[@vhayes2257]

Really good point. Never thought of it that way... Wade's greed in this regard contributed to his death.

[@stephengrigg5988]

​@@vhayes2257I don't think that's it. It seems like Wade's fatal flaw was his stubbornness and how he was unwilling to listen. I dont think he was trying to get one over on Jerry, he probably just wasn't really listening to him beforehand. His death is because he's unwilling to follow someone else's orders and wants it done his way.

[@DC-zg4ob]

100%, I find it hard to believe that Wade didn't know what Jerry's intentions were.

[@prisonersforprofit]

my favorite scene, jerry going from the high of optimism to gut wrenching disappointment, the roof shot is brilliant, it's that tunnel vision you get from devastating news, everything around you becomes a surreal backdrop to your despair, when scrapping the ice off your windshield becomes too much.

[@68air]

I think everyone who ever owned an Oldsmobile Ciera feels your pain.

[@LessTrustMoreTruth]

Luckily, Jerry had an Oldsmobile 98 Regency

[@paktype]

Wade is a good businessman but his stubbornness ultimately cost him his life.

[@TheStuport]

I always thought it was his Bravado John Wayne attitude that got him killed....plus....I always wondered why Jerry needed such a huge amount of money to begin with...was it a gambling debt he owed or what??

[@Pat4ever.]

He also just stupidily assumed that Jerry would be okay with him going in on his business finding WITHOUT giving him anything! He just thought that because Jerry wanted more than a fee, which he refused, he'd be okay with receiving nothing. Completely ignorant.

[@mozut82]

I think he wanted the money for the deal he brought wade. He got part of the funds by scamming money from the auto loans and asked wade to borrow the difference of of 750k to close the deal. But that didn’t work and wade jumped on it. I think he wanted to break free from his father in laws thumb and get independently wealthy himself

[@ingleringlet-snipps3rd449]

Exactly...Gerry was trapped in a loser's death spiral from which he would never escape. He was the type of guy that if he had won the Powerball Lottery and $450 million AFTER taxes....he would be dead broke in six years time. A complete loser.

[@Wasserkaktus]

@Mr Neato No, he committed bank fraud by taking out loans for cars that didn't exist from the bank: Customers have nothing to do with this. People presume he committed the fraud to pay off gambling debts but... They never specify why he needed the money.

[@patton303]

Every shot in this movie is carefully sculpted. When he gets in the car, you don’t even see his face but you see the dejection.

[@skwisgarskwigelf7191]

"We're not a bank, Jerry." 😂

[@seamussmyth1928]

*_WE'RE NOT A FECKIN BANK JERRY_*

[@prsguitars42]

LOL!!!!@@!!!

[@marywatkins6798]

The subtlety of no chair for Jerry. No place for him to sit down and join them. Macy looks then sits on the arm of a chair. They didn’t even have the respect for Jerry to have a chair for him. It’s all staging and Macy’s body language. Brilliant.

[@user-vo9hf9yl8l]

we know; one of the top comments already stated that. read the comments before you post.

[@juttaweise]

@@user-vo9hf9yl8l with the algorithm of youtube that is impossible. As many people write at the same moment, every new comment goes down, mingles with other comments, or never to be found again. I stopped making my own comments, just answer on someones comments on something I feel strongly about but never searching for it afterwards.

[@musicfirst5020]

Macy's mannerisms in the office were perfect. The step forward, "oh, they're right, alright."

[@matthewr1900]

I love the temper tantrum with the ice scraper.

[@andrewscease8185]

Any person who lives north of 40deg latitude at some point in their lives.

[@coralbow]

*Jerry Lundegaard:* I GUARANTEE you your money back *Michael Scott:* I DECLARE BANKRUPTCY

[@Eddie62070]

reply to both: Doesn't quite WORK that way

[@LessTrustMoreTruth]

Was thinking the same thing

[@SmilingSynic]

This whole scene smacks of contempt for Jerry. The fact that Jerry had to scrape ice off of the windshield after a three-minute long meeting suggests that Wade and Stan made him wait for hours before letting him come in. And then when they finally do let him come in to the office, there isn't even a proper place for him to sit down. There are three chairs there in the office in a circle, so three people could have sat down together and talk business. But Wade has so much contempt for Jerry that he won't get up off his chair to greet him and move to the three-chair circle to have a real conversation. Stan won't even get up out of his chair to shake Jerry's hand, and Wade won't even shake his hand period. And when Jerry is still basking in the congratulations, Wade cuts him off mid-sentence to ask about his finder's fee!

[@jameskielland5018]

I'd talk to Bill Diehl, too. After all, a Diehl's a Diehl.

[@TheRedSphinx]

Midwest Federal Savings & Loan collapsed in 1989 and the film came out in 1996 (but was supposed to have taken place in 1987). Midwest Federal was a crooked bank, that was seized by authorities. Hope that Wade was wrong and Stan was right about ol' Bill Diehl working at North Star.

[@Lane8492]

If Bill Diehl was at Midwest Federal, he'd be out of work so hopefully he was at Northstar

[@paulorocky]

Bill probably saw the writing on the wall and moved

[@chrissmith3668]

I do hope Ol Bill Diehl ended up on his feet

[@arnoldjack7956]

@@chrissmith3668 legend has it that ol bill diehl is still at.....

[@MapleSyrupPoet]

Rare gem...one of best American films on record 🎥🎬🎅

[@jasonjackson5696]

_”I promise to pay you back”_ 😂😂😂😂

[@michaelbanaszak7775]

Famous last words, lol...

[@laminage]

@@michaelbanaszak7775 Word! If someone says that it's because they are trying to appease you and they know they have to be on your good side so they can come to you "again" for help.

[@michaelbanaszak7775]

@@laminage Couldn't agree more!

[@danradu231]

Heck, he'd go....1 over prime?

[@jasonjackson5696]

@@danradu231 - we’re not a bank Jerry 😂😂😂

[@TheJuize85]

'If i wanted bankinterest on 750.000 i'd go to Midwest Federal, talk to old Bill Diehl'

[@nuntiuso7347]

‘He’s at North Star’

[@mark11967AD]

I could watch these clips over and over again. And I Do lol. Such an enigmatic character. Legendary.

[@karpovgambit9190]

2:22 best wallpaper ever

[@wayneolsen370]

He should have won the Oscar.

[@taylorgang221000]

Jerry really thought they’d just give him $750k

[@sammyhill69]

What on Earth was he thinkin?

[@giusmaximus3541]

It never cross his mind that he didn't have the making of uh varsity athlete.

[@giusmaximus3541]

Well gee...i maybe shouldn't say this but...i thought they were gonna give it to 'em too.

[@williammorris584]

He really did. This actually made me feel sorry for him. He’s dumb as hell compared to these guys, and they aren’t Rhodes material.

[@yupicorsic]

We are not a bank, Jerry.

[@zigwil153]

the movie is a masterpiece... just brilliance

[@prsguitars42]

You betcha'!!!!!!

[@JohnMichaelson]

That shot of the snow-covered lot all in stark black and white has always been my favorite in the whole film. Very artistic.

[@nicaskey1]

Geez Jerry- they were going to load in. You should have took the fee.

[@phils2684]

Yeah.... he still would have gotten a $75,000 check from Wade.

[@brandonallen3289]

@@phils2684 If I recall the ransom was $80,000 and he originally agreed to split it with Carl and Gaear. So he was getting a good deal. Unless I'm wrong.

[@reikun86]

@@brandonallen3289 Yup. The crooks were originally gonna get $40,000 and Jerry was gonna get $40,0000. This was before they killed those people in Brainerd. The $75K was enough to pay the crooks, but not enough for Jerry.

[@moviereviews1446]

"We're not a bank, Jerry."

[@Bigfrank88]

You pick up on new stuff every time you watch. I’ve seen Fargo multiple times and I’m just realizing they’re not a bank.

[@dkamphaus43]

"I guarantee you your money back" He actually thinks that'll make a difference. 😂

[@winternow2242]

He's probably desperate, which hurts more because a minute earlier he thought he had the deal, see.

[@imsentinelprime9279]

@@winternow2242 my question was why was he so desperate for the money? That kinda disappointed me the most about this movie. That was the main thing I wanted to know.

[@winternow2242]

@@imsentinelprime9279 I've never watched this movie with a fine tooth comb, so I may have missed the answer. Still, I don't think there is an answer. There are many possible reasons for why he needed the money, perhaps several, but specifying the immediate reason distracts from the underlying explanation: Jerry needed the money because of the costly mistakes that only Jerry would have made, either skimming from GMAC or the mob. It may be that he was borrowing from a legit source on a deal that just went bad, a deal that nobody would have e gotten into, but Jerry treated it like selling used cars to newlyweds, Because that's all he knows.

[@truthlifefishing1730]

@@imsentinelprime9279 Its money, you don't need a reason.

[@imsentinelprime9279]

@@truthlifefishing1730 but why that desperately when he already has a good paying job. He was acting like he was gonna die within a few days if he didn't get it. There had to be a greater reason for why he doing all that.

[@colderplasma]

The eyes Wade makes when he looks up at Jerry being obtuse. You can almost hear him thinking "jesus christ, how do I explain this concept of a 'fee' to him?".

[@socallawrence]

Richie why don’t you to build Beanzie a ramp

[@LumpyAdams]

Jerry should have given Wade the JACKEEEEEEET

[@socallawrence]

@@LumpyAdams Got the Jacket off Rocco Demeio. Apparently he had the toughest rep in Essex county

[@acomart1]

This was my favorite part. It's like Wade is sickened to even look at Jerry, was avoiding it as long as he possibly could.

[@Crunchy_Punch]

Jerry should have convinced Wade by turning on the manson lamps.

[@genericwhitekidthesecond4330]

1:12 I like that random little character interaction there The random momentary correction of information that doesn’t matter at all to the conversation and then the individual being corrected stumbling over his words a bit as he takes a second to process that information while still trying to be invested in the conversation at large. It's a frankly realistic piece of dialog.

[@goma3]

This is such a good summary of how so many middle aged men feel about their own lives. They are convinced they are just "one step away" from making it big and then not having to worry about anything but they forget that (most) fortunes are built through many years of work and resilience. Nobody hands over anything to you, you have to hustle for it.

[@reikun86]

Too bad he wasn't more like Norm Gunderson, who only worried about the safety of his wife and child, and if his paintings are good enough to be on a stamp.

[@juttaweise]

@@reikun86 yeah those 2 in the evening in bed and their discussions with 3-5 words! And only about his stamps! 🙂

[@steverogers7601]

“Most fortunes are built through many years of work and resilience” This same conservative nonsense lmao

[@scottmatheson3346]

most fortunes are made by chance, and most hard work and resilience produces no fortunes.

[@hansolo631]

It's all handed down. "A small loan of a million dollars" type stuff, if not outright inheritances. The "new money" type fortunes are generally made from incredible foresight, timing, or luck. You can't hustle into 10 million dollars.@@scottmatheson3346

[@jmbrinck]

One of the most brilliant films ever scripted, ever cast, ever made.

[@MapleSyrupPoet]

Wade & Stan terrific together ...great acting

[@NoName-hs3sf]

Great movie. Acting was amazing on everyone’s part. I love when even the smallest parts are done very well that’s a good sign of a great movie.

[@matthewjarek3026]

Do you know who I feel bad for in this movie? Scotty, Jerry’s son. He’s only seen for a little bit and doesn’t say much but by the end of the movie his life is completely ruined. His mother is kidnapped and eventually murdered, his grandfather is shot dead in the cold by his mother’s kidnappers, and his father is arrested at the end and will probably spend the rest of his life in prison for organizing the kidnapping of his own wife and being inadvertently responsible for all the murders the kidnappers committed. And for what? Money? A briefcase full of money that is buried in the snow and left undiscovered by the end of the movie? Even if Jerry is let out early Scotty is never going to forgive him. And who’s left to take care of Scotty? Poor Scotty!

[@tuvshintugsbattulga5687]

Superb and flawless acting!

[@BenGateno]

I think about this scene almost every time I get in my car during winter here in Minnesota.

[@mcleodmichael1]

love the little aside in the dialogue between the two bigshots about their old lender moving to another bank. just makes jerry look like even more of an afterthought. Then, as somebody else notes below, the doleful, buh-bye to the pot of gold, back down to earth and the peon's point of view scraping off of the frozen windshield.

[@redfightblue]

There's nowhere for him to sit. Sets the tone for his rejection. So good.

[@giantleprechaun2350]

I love how Jerry doesn’t even bother to start the car before scraping off his windshield

[@drmartin5062]

that really bothered me, get the heat going man

[@kevhead1525]

Heh. A hindsight "doh!" from the director.

[@jer8279]

@@kevhead1525 He was so frustrated. I"ve been there. It was done on purpose. Not thinking straight

[@thomascastaneda9076]

Frank got his life together

[@DozensOfViewers]

A masterpiece of filmmaking.

[@prsguitars42]

You betcha'!!@!!!

[@volvol1]

Macy should have won a Oscar for this performance. He was awesome.

[@MelancoliaI]

"I don't want to cut you out of the loop" *proceeds to cut Jerry out of the loop*

[@drygnfyre]

To be fair, he only said that after Jerry seemingly did not want the finder's fee. He also seemed to offer it to Jerry again, saying "IF you aren't interested." Wade is also a jerk but in this specific instance, he was 100% in the right about not wanting to give Jerry the money.

[@MelancoliaI]

@@drygnfyre I wouldn't have given the money to Jerry either. Both of them are jerks in their own way.

[@gullybop1695]

I enjoyed this movie. "It's my deal here see" you just need to loan me the money. I'll pay you back the $750,000.00. Lmao!!

[@Myndir]

But he gave them his word!

[@markshelton3762]

Macy is great getting angry while scrapping the ice off the windshield.

[@dreeb2004]

Lmao love how they didn’t have a chair ready for him he had to sit on the arm of the sofa this movie is so damn good

[@user-vo9hf9yl8l]

one of the top comments loved it too; they posted it way before you did. read the comments first before you post.

[@lmn6440]

Oh yeah read all the comments on every KZbin video before you post. Looking forward to reading your comment in the next millennium

[@thebossman60]

Update: Bill Diehl retired and now lives in Florida. The winters were too brutal for him.

[@keepinwarm8822]

He’s at Ft. Myers watching the Twins.

[@lmn6440]

The picture of the lion mounting the lioness from behind really underscores the dynamic

[@jars7774]

How beautiful the scenery outside the office windows. And to think that they went that high up to film it, instead of staying on the ground floor.

[@ralfvanbogaert3451]

What's frustrating is that we never find out why Jerry needed the money that badly. He's got a secure well paying job, married to Wade's daughter and father to Wade's grandson. He could've walked away with 75k and would've probably gained a fair amount of newfound appreciation from Wade & Stan to boot which would've paid off in the end. Even if he got the full amount, he wouldn't be able to spend any of it without his family (and thus Wade) finding out.

[@jdewitt77]

All very good points.

[@Battlefield_And_Vibe_Music]

He had falsified loans for cars that don't exist. In other words, he borrowed hundreds of thousands of dollars. The problem is that gmac wants the serial numbers to prove that the loan is legit in the event of an audit. Jerry tries to buy time and send a smudged fax, but this only buys him a few days. He either has to somehow invent 300,000 worth of imaginary serial numbers, or find a way to pay back the money when gmac recalls it. That's the backbone of his troubles, and it's why he kidnaps his wife AND attempts to get wade to loan him the money for a parking lot. Jerry is trying to fix the problem legally through the parking lot deal. Jean is plan b, one that will force wade to pay him. Unbeknownst to the kidnappers, the deal is for one million dollars. They think it's for 80,000, so they think Jerry will collect 40 and pay them 40.

[@charleskunz3063]

I always surmised that Jerry got himself swindled. He seems the type to talk for a get rich quick scheme.

[@Boudica234]

@Battlefield_And_Vibe_Music but what the hell did he do with the $300K+ from GMAC? Most likely got swindled but the movie never let's us know. Even if he got the $750K from Wade he would have had to pay half of that to cover GMAC? That leaves no way to complete the deal for the parking lots. How long was he going to hide that from Wade? The whole premise was pretty shaky.

[@Battlefield_And_Vibe_Music]

@@Boudica234 That's a good point about Wade. I'm guessing if anything, the REAL people Jerry owed money to scared him more than the thought of Wade finding out or getting sent to jail. I do like how they never fully explained it, because we can speculate using clues given.