Turns out Marge Gunderson isn’t the woman we admired so much in “Fargo.”
Actress Frances McDormand dished the dirt on Marge - and Gov. Sarah Palin - this weekend at a film event in Sag Harbor, NY, according to a Newsday blog.
It wasn’t pretty.
McDormand, talking to film critic Elvis Mitchell, said of her Oscar-winning character:
“We always found her scary,” McDormand said. “Her world is so, so small. There’s wonderful things about Marge, but they don’t stand apart from her insular idea of the world.”
Scary? Insular? Maybe Marge never traveled abroad or learned a second language, but from every bit of evidence in “Fargo” she’s a good, kind woman with a backbone of steel.
The actress even sniffs that the Coens trimmed a scene in which Marge attends an anti-abortion rally. Imagine, someone actually thinking a baby in the womb shouldn’t be killed. For shame!
Suffice to say McDormand included Palin in her rant.
“Marge Gunderson is a fictional character,” McDormand said to cheers and applause at the sold-out Bay Street Theatre in Sag Harbor, “and so is Sarah Palin.”
Guess all that talk about the Coen brothers having contempt for their characters has more truth to it than I’d care to admit.
(Photo: Frances McDormand won an Oscar for her portrayal of a tough, and very pregnant, cop in “Fargo.”)
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{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Tink in Cali 10.21.08 at 1:19 am
Well, I must say that I am very disappointed in Frances. I thought the best part of Fargo was seeing Marge in action - her common sense, her ability to cut throught the bull and tell the truth without being rude and alienating, her wholesomeness. It is pretty rare to see that type of character in movies and a refreshing change of pace. I guess Ms. McDormand is a better actress than I thought, I did not feel any of her disdain for her character in her performance (I wonder if she also looks down on Ms. Pettigrew also) - it seems to me that she should look back at her break through role with much more affection, as Marge was very good to her. I will now always be second- guessing her performances, probably not the result she was after. And isn’t it fascinating how every conversation can be brought around to deriding Governor Palin? I can only guess that Sarah is much more powerful than anyone ever thought, given how much time and energy people spend trying to belittle her.
cftoto 10.21.08 at 2:29 am
Extremely well said, Tink. It’s hard to believe she approached her character as “scary” and the Marge we got to know on screen was the result. I’d rather have Marge on my side than Frances any day.
As for Palin … it took the Left 8 years to develop its current burning hatred for Bush. But they rallied to hate Palin the same amount in about two months. Bravo!
Tink inCali 10.21.08 at 3:41 am
Palin/Gunderson 2012 !!!
Tink in Cali 10.21.08 at 4:19 am
Palin/Gunderson 2012!!
Heidi 10.22.08 at 1:38 am
I had the opportunity to cover the Pally Rally in Loveland, Colorado yesterday (at the Budweiser Events Center).
The stadium was filled 3:1 by women. I found this very interesting. She didn’t say anything new, but she is inspirational. There were a lot of “you go girl” chants.
As a woman, I admire a female candidate who can make it this far (especially in the Republican Party). It is an “good old boys club.” If anyone wants to disagree with this… I actually have first hand accounts of the “good old boys club” in action.
McDormands remarks come from a place of misunderstanding and I do not mean this in any kind of disparaging way. I doubt she understands Palin’s view of the world, or has any first hand experience of Palin’s first hand account of real-life America.
Just as a note to this post - I am not a huge fan of Palin, however, I think Palin is sharp as a tack… is it a tack I want to step on…?
Dagnabbitt 10.23.08 at 12:19 am
c.f. earlier post on, “Gossip outlets allowing celebrities to speak ad-hoc….”