How we cite our quotes: All quotations are from Fargo.
Quote #1
This is a true story.
The events in this film took place in Minnesota in 1987.
At the request of the survivors, the names have been changed.
Out of respect for the dead, the rest has been told exactly as it occurred.
In fact, the movie is not a true story. It's basically a work of fiction even though there are some real-life crimes that inspired it. But, by claiming that it's true, the Coens naturally change the way we approach the movie.
Quote #2
CARL: Keep it still back there, lady, or else we're gonna have to, ya know, to shoot ya.
Carl's threat is made oddly self-conscious when he throws in the little "ya know." He's improvising. Again, not exactly the smooth criminal we're used to seeing in movies. He doesn't seem the murderous type, more a small-time crook who gets mixed up with a seriously murderous type.
Quote #3
JERRY: This was supposed to be a no-rough-stuff type deal.
Jerry can't believe these idiot criminals are messing things up. We can't believe that Jerry thought this could ever be a no-rough-stuff type deal. It's the stereotypically Minnesotan idea that everything will turn out okay—but turned on its head because of the bizarre nature of the situation.
Quote #4
CARL: I guess you think, ya know, you're some kind of an authority figure. With that stupid f***ing uniform. Huh, buddy? King Clip-on Tie here. Big f***ing man, huh? You know, these are the limits of your life, man. Ruler of your little f***ing gate here. There's your four dollars, you pathetic piece of s***.
Carl's hatred of authority is part of his sociopathic criminality. For a criminal, he has zero cool whatsoever.
Quote #5
MARGE: Well, Mr. Proudfoot, this call came in past three in the morning. It's just hard for me to believe you can't remember anyone calling. Now, I know you've had some problems, struggling with the narcotics, some other entanglements, currently on parole...
SHEP: So?
MARGE: Well, associating with criminals, if you're the one they talked to, that right there would be a violation of your parole. And would end with you back in Stillwater. Now, I saw some rough stuff on your priors, but nothing in the nature of a homicide. I know you don't want to be an accessory to something like that. So you think you might remember who those folks were who called ya?
Marge delivers what is essentially a threat in a thoroughly cheery and polite tone. It's a great example of "Minnesota Nice." Shep's another criminal who doesn't really seem that competent, hasn't exactly thought things through. The way he reacts to this visit is by beating the crap out of Carl with a belt.
Quote #6
MR. MOHRA: Then he calls me a jerk and says the last guy who thought he was a jerk is dead now. So, I don't say nothin'. He says, "What do ya think about that?" And I says, "Well, that don't sound like too good a deal for him, then."
Gotta love Mohra's Minnesotan understatement. Although presumably smarter than Gaear, Carl isn't that bright either. After committing a triple-homicide, he casually threatens a local bartender with murder, drawing attention and suspicion on himself in the process. Guy doesn't know how to lay low.
Quote #7
CARL: Hold on. No f***in' way! You f***in' notice this?! I got f***in' shot!! I got f***in' shot in the face!! I went and got the f***in' money! I got shot f***in' pickin' it up! I've been up for thirty-six f***in' hours! I'm takin' that f***in' car! That f***er's mine, ya f***in' asshole. Ya know, I've been listenin' to your f***in' bulls*** all week. Are we square? Are we square? Yeah, ya f***in' mute. And if you see your friend Shep Proudfoot, tell him I'm gonna nail his f***in' ass!
Carl's foul-mouthed freak-out is an evident factor in provoking Gaear to kill him. We already know that Gaear killed Jean because she was too noisy. Again, the dude just has no cool for a criminal. He doesn't think long-term and he's completely unable to foresee the way other people might react to the things he says and does. Gaear's just told him seconds before that he killed Jean for being too noisy. Ya think he'd shut up.
Quote #8
MARGE: And I guess that was your accomplice in the wood chipper.
More hilarious Minnesota understatement. Infamously, that's the way Gaear disposes of Carl's corpse—putting it through a wood chipper. It might seem clever, but it's actually spraying Carl's bloody remains all over the snow. If Gaear was smart, he probably would've just buried Carl in an unmarked grave, or just left the cabin and driven off.