Stephen Park Breaks Down His Fargo Character
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 15 ส.ค. 2021
- Korean-American actor #StephenPark has worked with the likes of Bong Joon-ho and #WesAnderson, but you know him best as lovelorn businessman Mike Yanagita in the Coen brothers’ 1996 film #Fargo. Here, Park tells the story of one of the most memorable scenes in the Coens’ filmography.
Directed and edited by Leigh Singer
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Imagine being an actor and Marty Scorsese highlights your only scene in this masterpiece of a movie. It doesn't get any better than that.
He reportedly gushed over a shot in the music video for the Kinks' "Come Dancing". Near the end, singer Ray Davies' character is standing glumly watching the crowd.
Ray Davies wasn't (isn't) an actor, though maybe he should have been.
this man is 70 years old but looks like he’s in his 40s respect
He was born in 1962, but when was this interview?
He was 59 at the time of this interview, he is be 62 now.
yes, i agree
How he delivers the line 'You where such a super lady!' kills me every time. And the line 'so you went and married Norm son of a Gunderson' is just so brilliant and funny.
*were such a super lady.
I know! Son of a Gunderson! Lol....I love that 😂
He always breaks my heart.
Hard to believe that this guy got his start on In Living Color!
"son of a Gunderson!" has been my go to swear word replacement for years..
Masterfully acted. That scene takes you on quite the journey, sympathy, fear, discomfort, awkwardness, pity, etc. Incredible
This character is so lonely he has to make up a story about his wife dying where he has, had no wife, just another woman who rejected him. True gut wrenching loneliness.
Yeah, really a depressing (but great) scene.
I feel like the reason he lied about that was to use the sympathy it generated in Marge to deflect the embarrassment of hitting on her when she clearly stated that she's married.
And very pregnant!@@TheTrueNarthumpulous
@@TheTrueNarthumpulousand pregnant! But he doesn't seem to care and hit on her anyway
THe Asian guy is just a distraction character who has nothing to do w/ the story. It borders on offensive but this was pre-Woke era movie making
To have such a small part and make it so big is a true sign of talent and execution. Stephen Park scene was one of the most memorable of any movie I have ever seen. He ought to be much more famous.
Mr. Park is the proof that there are no small parts.
Well said! Park's ability to make the scene tragic AND comical is pure gold.
The sheer territory traveled in one short scene, from hilarity to profound, desperate sadness… I don’t know if I’ve ever experienced a scene like that.
It’s one of my favorite movie scenes of all time as well, and I remember thinking that when I first saw it in the theater decades ago.
@@sthubbins4038 yes great points there! LOTS of emotional ground covered in such a small scene....unreal
@@sthubbins4038 I also remember distinctly thinking how uncomfortable he made me feel watching the scene and still kinda sorry for him at the same time. His effort and art brought me into the scene with him and her. It was like I was there. Thats a gift that only a good movie with masters of acting and direction can bring. Its rare, but sooooo special. It may have been a small looking scene on paper, but Mr. Park and the Coen boys found a way of bringing it into life in a BIG way.
This whole screaming inside of his own head while he was acting is pretty interesting. It definitely adds more depth to the character.
I love that he gave us this insight into the process.
Mike Yanagita actually plays Steve Park. He was a known life fabricator so they worked him in to the movie business. Steve thinks it is all acting but Mike believes he is making it all up.
He was like a bomb trying so hard not to explode.
If an actor needs endorsement, having Frances tell him the filming crew loved what he did is the cat's pajamas.
What brilliant casting by the Coen brothers, and props to Stephen Park for absolutely crushing this role. "There are no small parts. To me, I was the star of the whole film." What a pro.
Mike Yanagita is the true catalyst of the film.
No way! @3;42 I never realized that he was the reason that she returned to question Lundegaard
i don't think you know what catalyst means. but he does give Margie inspiration to question Jerry again.
Whut
I never felt Asian men were weak. Where does that come from?
@@CSM100MK2 Is there a movie without Yanagita? Does Marg grow as a character without Yanagita?
Without Mike, she goes home back to Arbys.
That WAS a great scene, Steve Park really nailed that.
He was perfect.
He was such a super actor
I always remember this scene. You could really feel his pain. He’s an amazing actor!
It's a wonderful scene, and he plays it with so much depth. Mike could almost have his own film.
around 5:50 Ethan Coen praised him for that scene. Peter Stormare, who acted in many Coen Bros films, says they rarely do that because they dont want the actor to feel comfy on that level. That they could give more to the scenes.
Definately, agree 100%
no...
and racist .
@@fffwe3876 That's a nice attempt at a thought. Better luck next time, Champion.
For such a small role, Stephen made a huge impact. Everyone knows someone like Mike.
“I’m so lonely…” I laughed and cried so hard on that part . Now that I know what his motivation was I’m just crying
The Mike Yanagita character planted a seed in my brain. Not that I thought of him specifically every time but whenever I'd lie to cover up any failures and subsequent depression I checked myself. It would be incredibly embarrassing to get caught in such lies and even worse if fabricating them is absorbed into your personality.
Wow! Well Said. I can totally relate to that!
Mr. Park. Thank you for playing your character full throttle in this scene. Your character in this scene is one of my all-time favorite movie characters. We live in a society where people disown each other over nothing out of fear of being rejected by others, but you were given a role that asks, “Mr. Park, will you play ‘that guy’ that people reject for our film?” and you ultimately said yes. I hope people who have had bad first dates can look on the role that you played in Fargo and tell themselves, “Okay, maybe the date wasn’t as bad as that guy in Fargo who...”. 😊 Thank you for going all out for one of the most memorable scenes from Fargo. Wow! Years later your scene stands the test of time and is still very funny to me. Job well done sir. 👍
one of my all-time favourite movie characters too - and in less than 5 minutes onscreen!
THIS ASN GUY STUCK HIS HEAD OUT FOR THE BLK COMMUNITY AND ENDED UP STALLING ASN AMERICAN PROGRESS FOR A GOOD 25 YEARS....NEVER STICK YOUR HEAD OUT FOE BLKS....THEY WONT RECIPROCATE...FFF YHE JOULS AND WHTES IN HOLLYWOOD TOO.
Yes, he plays that scene so well, and the scene resonates more as I see it again. The character is desperately lonely, lost, self-critical and ends up telling a series of lies that seem intended to both win Marge over and make his own life more bearable to him. His desperation and awkwardness come across as funny, but that's the audience being uncomfortable with how emotionally wrecked he is inside. What made him think that he could basically seduce the woman he knew long ago who is now married and advanced in pregnancy? That alone is demented. Yet he comes across as emotionally raw and sympathetic in his breakdown at the restaurant. Marge tries so hard to calm him down and avoid things getting even more crazy.
You can really tell how often you're rejected.
@@surfwriter8461:Yes. McDormand's reactions reinforce Park's cues.
I remember people at the time talking about how they thought that scene didn’t belong in the movie, or that it seemed somehow unnecessary, but it was a big turning point in the flow of the film for Marge’s character.
And he’s just so great. Thanks for posting this interview
It has less to do with the plot and more to do with the theme. Some people were DESPERATE for the good life she had. And the criminals had no awareness at all that it was a beautiful day...and there is more to life than a little bit of money.
@@greyeyed123 I share your take on this film as well. A menagerie of characters struggling with inner demons but still trudging forward in life.
It taught Marge that people can lie to her face and do it convincingly. It made her interview Jerry for a second time.
@@greyeyed123
The scene works in a few ways.
Like many scenes in Fargo, it is a slice of life moment, and starts as a detour for both Marge and the audience. From Marge's perspective she's taking a break from her investigation. From the audience's perspective, its not directly related to the films plot.
Marge- while being incredibly cluey- is for the most part naive to the true extent of the crime she is investigating. This characteristic is also on display here in this scene where she takes Mike's words and social awkwardness at face value, and feels sympathy for him. Once she learns that he was lying, she realises that Jerry might also be lying too- albeit in a much more subdued way- leading her to zero her sights back on Jerry.
This then of course, sets up her realisation in the climax that the world can seem so nice and yet have such horrible things happen, and she will soon be welcoming a child into it.
At face value, it doesn't fit but as the movie progresses, it makes sense. The character of Marge is at the core a decent human being. But Mike, an old friend, lies to her, and she doesn't see it. Once she learns of the lies and how she fell for it, it makes her view Jerry differently and changes the investigation. So the scene is pivotal. Park is great in this scene.
Whenever Fargo comes on, I have to watch it and I loved this scene -- it was very clear to me, the character's pain was visceral, and he was falling apart. Thank you Stephen Park for bringing such humanity and complexity to your character.
Me too, doesn't matter that I've seen every scene dozens of times, and this particular scene always stood out to me - amazing piece of acting by Mr Park.
@@philipgior3312 Indeed.
That scene may’ve been short & sweet but it’s pure Gold.
When an actor does such a good job that you don't even recognize the actor.
Gary Oldman is another actor that really pulls this off.
Oldman playing Winston Churchill blew my mind. Still does!
I would say " Thank you Mr. Park for playing not only an interesting character, but doing it in a timeless way"
Wow he’s so different when you see and hear him.
An amazing performance for such a small role.
The movie is just so perfectly cast. And he's a prime example. The first thing I remember noticing about him when I watched the scene (many years ago, and I've since watched the movie at least 5 times) was his smile. That sincere, sweet, vulnerable smile. Just a unique, memorable smile. But yet, behind that smile is basically nothing but a sociopath, a pathological liar. Which is why his character and this whole scene are so critical to the arc of the film. And then of course the comedic element of it. And when you're watching it for the first time, you believe him 100%. And you're thinking that the purpose of the scene is just to show how kind Margie is. Which it shows that too. And then comes the a-ha moment, right at the same time as Margie's a-ha moment. It's brilliant.
I strongly disagree. In a lot of films this character would be a dangerous sociopath who would become a secondary threat to Marge, so it makes it much more interesting that he ISN'T. He's just incredibly needy and his mental health is gone, to the point that he's oblivious to all the social cues right from Marge being married and pregnant on out and he's convinced he can charm her and get the validation and love he needs out of her, even as it's just so clear that's not happening. My feeling is that they did perhaps have a crush of fling going on in the past and he was smart, well-spoken and impressive. Her instinct to turn him down is interesting too because it shows her loyalty to her somewhat dependent and boring husband, even when an apparently richer and more interesting guy is available. Her life isn't perfect, but she isn't always reaching for something better like just about every other major character we see, so his act quickly falls apart and turn into a new kind of grab for her emotional support. We SHOULD genuinely feel bad for this character just as we feel concerned for her. His scheme is incredibly interesting to me in the film because it DOES seem unnecessary to the plot, but also, here is this desperate man with a scheme who is looking for money and status just like everyone else, but kind of reminds us that, above all, all these characters are largely desperate out of loneliness, as well as a sense that they've failed at the success game. And yet, nobody but him is reaching for relationship first and money/status second or as a route to it. He's a pretty socially toxic character, grabbing all the affirmation he can get out of her, but what do we make of his contrast to all the other men? In any case, I've known encountered more than one person with mental health issues who is emotionally grabby in this way and it's a trap for caring women who need their emotional resources.
Genuine mutual love can grow out of these relationships if the man actually gets her. I've seen it. Certain women are good for that special care role and then once it works all's good. I can write a novel about something like that I ended up on the sidelines of. Eventually he died and of natural causes and she was devastated.
I love his performance. His desperate, unrequited bid for his high school crush was one of the truest moments in the film. And of course, his character was the turning point for the plot. ❤
The craziest part of this scene is I've seen it 50 times, and still to this day sometimes I laugh watching it and sometimes I cry. But it's always so real that you have to feel something. Just wonderfully written and acted.
He played that terrific scene so well. And nearly three decades later he's still very handsome.
This is what makes this film a masterpiece. Every performance no matter how minor is pitch perfect and makes you forget they are even acting
you are so right - another great little scene, the old man shoveling slush out of his driveway when the cop comes to question him that ends "...so I phoned it in, end of story"
Coen Bros are masterful when it comes to finding the very best character actors. Such a quick scene but completely unforgettable because of his performance
whoever understands this character, understands what the movie is about.
Fake politeness vs real politeness
That’s interesting. I’d love to hear you expand on that.
@@jrizzy626 The main character played by frances mcdormand is an actual nice person so she assumes people are just like her . When Jerry acts nicely she thinks that he must be honest although she has some doubt's. When she meets Mike, he also acts nice but then she learns that he was lying. That makes her question Jerry as well.
I just left a comment after seeing this. That the film could have been called The Almost Men.
Mike was the doorway to understanding Jerry from Marge's perspective.
Man, I'm glad I found this interview and my thanks to whoever did it. "No small parts" indeed.
This guy really pulled off the unbearable awkwardness.
You can tell he did a lot of work to prepare his role in this scene.
Woody Harrelson said it best: with the Farrelly Brothers, you CAN go out of script. With the Coen Brothers, there is NO leeway. It has to be almost exact on the lines.
@@luigivincenz3843sauce
This whole movie was casting perfection. Especially the supporting cast
Lots of local Twin Cities actors-great to see.
Fargo is filled with superb minor characters: Mike; the tru-coat couple at the car dealership; the guy in the parka shoveling his driveway while talking to the cop about "going crazy up there at the lake." On and on.
The Coen brothers are absolute masters of dialogue- their scripts are some of my favorites of all time
Mike Yanagita actually plays Steve Park. They let him live an alternate personality without treatment because it turns out really good in film.
The fact that Stephen Park hears his mother screaming in pain in this scene opens up how much this actor gave to this role and how he was able to dig deep down for the emotions needed to make this character work.
When done by masters, acting is not fake.
It is amazing to me that he could ever look at that as anything less than a tour de force. He portrays such a complex character with absolute honesty, taking the viewer on a crazy journey in just a few minutes. Thank goodness he was able to come to a place where he could appreciate it too.
I’m so glad I came across this interview. His scene was so compelling and meaningful to the movie.
I love this scene.
So mundane and yet so intense and funny, and also sad.
I'm really glad it wasn't cut out.
The performance is great, bravo sir!
Seriously one of the best parts of the film. Son of a Gunderson.
I remember watching that episode of Siskel and Ebert. It’s the reason I watched Fargo. Scorsese’s number 1 film of the 90s was Horse Thief, directed by Tian Zhuangzhuang, which got me into TZZ films. And it is the reason I eventually went to film school in Beijing where TZZ taught. Thank you for sharing your process Mr Park.
Every single scene in this movie is perfection. Park absolutely nailed it. So much going on in this scene - the loneliness of Fargo, the forced politeness…
Minnesota nice.
Have always loved this dude - every time I see him pop-up in film or TV, he elevates the material, ten fold 💥
Stephen Park was a big part of my childhood up to my twenties. He was in a ton of movies that I watched, and he was ALWAYS memorable.
"Fargo" is such perfection that it's like picking out your favorite character in Rembrandt's "Nightwatch." To me, Park is absolutely in the center of that masterpiece. The ticks, the cadence, the stresses, the facial gestures. His character also rings the "huh...I've met this kind of guy before" bell that echoes through the rest of the film. Bravo, #StephenPark - millions marvel at your superb, rare work every single time it's on. I'm just one of them.
stephen created one of the most iconic characters in the history of movies
He's such a super actor! Great scene and the film would have been less without it.
Oh you betcha yaa. You’re darn tootin.😅
fantastic video, loved how much detail he went into about the performance!
thank you Kae, and yes, it's really special to hear from the actor involved all the nuances and moments that go into crafting a scene like this.
Steve Park is the most under appreciated Korean American actors out there. His acting in A Serious Man was phenomenal. Most Korean American actors just can’t do a Korean accented English without sounding like a racist Chinese Caricature of what a Korean sounds like. But Steve nails the inflections and overall accent.
Tell me about it. Keenan Ivory Wayans never gave him enough air time when he was on In Living Color.
Case in point: Ken Jeong
He did a fantastic job! One of the best characters in the film!
I was literally just talking about this movie with my brother earlier today, I absolutely loved this scene it was soo intriguing and he played his role incredibly well. Thank you for this video Mr. Park's work is very greatly appreciated in this movie.
good to hear, Jagi and thank you!
@@L3i6HSin63R No problem at all!
Another great actor. So many are forgotten or ignored for all the work they put in to preparing for even the smallest roles. It takes a lot of character to play a role like this. My hat goes off to Stephen Park, and I hope to see him again in other roles.
From a guy who first saw him in the cast of In Living Color it took me for a loop to see him in Fargo.
With a scant 5 minutes or so of screen time he went from comical, to cringe, to pitiable.
In a film filled with memorable characters, Mike Yanagita stood out for me amongst the supporting cast, my mind dealing with the juxtaposition of someone who did wacky, broad comedy to a more subtle, darker yet still comic performance here.
Thanks, Steve.
When I saw this movie with all it’s quirky characters, lovely cinematography and haunting music I knew it was going to be an award winning classic. Brilliant performances by Mr. Park and the other actors.
It hooked me immediately. I'd gone to school in MN just a few years before that, and loved the way the Coen Bros. captured subtle little things about the people, and the state. It became one of my all-time favorite films, and led me to an addiction to their work.
When both Gene Siskel _and_ Roger Ebert chose it as their 1996 movie of the year, I knew that others had seen the same brilliance that I thought I had.
Yep! Especially when he was at the car dealership with a customer and went to talk to his manager. Who hasn’t been there when buying a car. Last time we bought a car I couldn’t get that scene out of my head when the salesman went to talk to his manager!😂@@kurtkensson2059
Funny Park lines:
a. I'm an engineer at Honeywell. An engineer could do worse.
b. I've always liked you! I've always liked you......SO MUCH! (Big Grin)
Park's appearance in the film was a gem.
LOVE this scene. Amazing actor. So cool to hear him talk about this.
Steve, you did a great job! I remember watching the review on Siskle & Ebert highlighting your scene and never thought it perpetuated that “weak Asian man” stereotype. If Ebert and Scorsese loved it, you did something right. Your character and Shep Proudfoot made that film great!
Superficially, on paper, one can see why he was concerned that this scene might be cut. But the performance and the dramatic elements were so outstanding, and the indirect tie-in to the reinterview of the Macy character gave the scene a retroactive significance. There was no way the Cohens would have cut this gem.
"As far as I'm concerned, I'm the star of the movie."
You were indeed, Stephen. You were indeed.
Talented actor, for sure. I was just saying in another thread about this scene that he brought SO MUCH to that character - and thus, the entire film - in such a brief time on camera. It's one of my favorite scenes to cringe at during any movie.
I appreciate this scene on a totally different level now. Thank you sir.
I loved that scene and so happy to see Mr Park describe how he did it and felt about it. Thank you so much. ❤
You killed it man Your such a super lady might be the best line in cinema history mind blowing!🧠🤯🔫
This man is a true artist who takes his craft seriously. Respect!!!!
God what an incredible job bringing this character to life. Out of everything in such an exceptional movie he still manages to stand out, you feel a lifetime of pain.
one of the greatest scenes ever
absolutely nails a Minnesotan Chinese guy on the edge of nervous breakdown
Thank you for posting this.
I never knew why that dude resonated with me so much.
I think I understand now.
Thanks again
It's a brilliant scene because it plays on any man's fear of being alone, without his spouse.
Fargo is quite possibly my favorite movie ever, and I've never known anything about the actor who played Mike Yanagita.
This was delightful to watch.
Park nailed it he was great. Playing a Lonely Japanese man.
Absolutely amazing interview. Thank you so much for sharing! No one exists like this anymore. Wow. Such a great scene. I was not at all concerned with this movie. I had questions about this show. This scene kept being brought up. So I finally clicked on it. No one exist like this anymore.
Always love characters that can make you feel a range of emotions watching them, and Stephen Park more than delivered in a short scene.
WHAT AND AMAZING ACTOR. WHY HAVE WE NOT SEEN MORE OF THIS A GREAT ACTOR ?
This is so awesome! Love this movie it NEVER gets old. So nice of Stephen to share this with us. Thank you! And thanks for posting!
This scene has always been the one I remember from this movie whenever someone brings it up. There are absolutely more bombastic moments, but my brain always defaults to this scene
He’s so incredibly talented.
People often think of the wood chipper scene when Fargo gets brought up. I always think of this scene.
👏 👏 👏
This scene is so vulnerable and relatable to those whom have ever felt something, or someone is not quite within their grasp.
It speaks to the quality of people the Cohen’s attract when Stephen reveals Frances’ request that they shoot his side first - gracious.
I agree with Martin Scorsese, Fargo is without a doubt a film I cannot stop watching should I stumble upon it.
holy shit...I've seen this movie so many times and never realized the connection of her realizing he was lying and then going back to talk to Norm again
He was AMAZING in this role.
Fascinating to watch this. His memorable performance is one that has always stuck in my memory.
Thanks for uploading this. It was insightful and enlightening!
This performance plus the great script give so much perceived depth to a character who only has a few minutes of screen time
This video is fantastic. And I guess I’m going to watch Fargo again right now.
The character you created is iconic! Forever part of film history.
It was a great scene. Thank you for all of your good work, Mr. Park.
This is a pretty great little interview. I've watched longer interviews with more famous actors in bigger roles and they don't reveal or elaborate even half as interesting information as this guy does in six minutes. Props
“You know it’s a Raddison, so it’s pretty good.”
One of my favorite lines from the movie.
Nice vid. Nice to see the smaller bit players get some quality camera time. I flipping LOVE this movie. Mr Park, you were GREAT in this movie. You killed this scene.
It's scenes like that that make the Cohen brothers' movies so good.
If they cut that scene, they'd lose a huge pivot point. This interaction causes Marge to realize she'd better not just take people's words at face value, and the whole movie goes in a different direction.
What a great interview... And what a memorable scene....
I give movies 20 minutes like an audition - If they don't suck me in that time I'm done - Fargo pulled me in from the opening scene - Awesome screenwriting and acting and the accents well what can you say..sublime.
The awkwardness of the scene is what helps make the movie so great!
This is amazing. Such a powerful breakdown of a powerful scene.
This scene was always a mind-boggling mystery to me. Thank you so much for this. Stellar job, Stephen!!
At the end of the movie when she says "I just don't understand," this guys character and behavior was one of the things she was confused about. Great scene, great movie.
This character is hilarious. This guy did such a great job in this role.
When I first saw this movie, this scene made it a Cohen Brother's movie to me. It is nice to know the back story and Stephen's motivation for the performance. This guy really caught lightning in a bottle.
What a great listen this was. Thank you.
A lot of small scenes like that makes this movie one of my top 50.