# Your Favorite Coen Bros. Character **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 13, 2015, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-coen-bros-character/740286 "2015-12-13T01:18:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2015, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-coen-bros-character/740286/21 "2015-12-13T13:50:01Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > Excellent choice! Too bad he was left off the choices. [Another glaring omission!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3RAMjx8aps) (did he even have a name? šŸ™‚ Nope, and [this guy](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6k2FkUF41AA) doesnā€™t, either. ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2015, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-coen-bros-character/740286/22 "2015-12-13T14:54:51Z")
> [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](#): > > (_John Wayne???_) I voted for him - because thatā€™s the only one of those movies Iā€™ve ever seen. šŸ˜ƒ ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2015, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-coen-bros-character/740286/23 "2015-12-13T15:35:16Z")
Amy Archer (Jennifer Jason Leighā€™s character in Hudsucker). I canā€™t explain it, exactly, except that I love the way she stays on script as sheā€™s pitching her phony ingenue story to Norville. (ā€œSeek and ye shall find, thatā€™s what I always believed, and soā€¦ā€ "Water?ā€™ "Oh yes, thank youā€¦ seek and ye shall find, thatā€™s whatā€¦) I also loved the way her contrived ā€œmeet cuteā€ gets narrated by the two cab drivers in the diner. Sadly, she wasnā€™t an option in the poll. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2015, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-coen-bros-character/740286/24 "2015-12-13T19:31:53Z")
Theodore Donald ā€˜Donnyā€™ Kerabatsos. Phoneā€™s ringinā€™, dude. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2015, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-coen-bros-character/740286/25 "2015-12-13T20:22:35Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > The Dude > > But I could have voted for Marge Gunderson, Walter Sobchak, Ulysses Everett McGill, or Carl Showalter as well. This. But what was up with the chance to vote for John Wayne? :eek: Granted, he did a fine job as Rooster, just not the Coensā€™ Rooster. ---
**Author:** ![brossa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brossa/32/3040_2.png) [@brossa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brossa)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2015, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-coen-bros-character/740286/26 "2015-12-13T22:56:06Z")
I also went for Tom Reagan, and was shocked to see how low he was in the rankings. I guess there must be friendlier places to drink than an IMDB poll. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2015, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-coen-bros-character/740286/27 "2015-12-14T01:52:31Z")
> [@scabpicker](#): > > Nope, and [this guy](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6k2FkUF41AA) doesnā€™t, either. Is he also from _Raising Arizona_? Donā€™t remember him. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2015, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-coen-bros-character/740286/28 "2015-12-14T02:57:13Z")
I personally think that _Intolerable Cruelty_ was highly underrated, and the best Coen Bros. character was just about any of them ā€¦ šŸ˜ƒ ## **Miles Massey** : So you propose, that in spite of demonstrable infidelity on your part, your unoffending wife should be tossed out on her ear? **Rex** : Is it possible? **Miles Massey** : Itā€™s a challenge. ## **Miles Massey** : Were there any other specifications? **Heinz, the Baron Krauss von Espy** : [_in outrageous French accent_] She spe-cif-i-cated a silly man. **Freddy Bender** : Objection, Your Honor! **Judge Marva Munson** : Iā€™m going to allow it. **Heinz, the Baron Krauss von Espy** : She spe-cif-i-cated a man who, though clever at making money, would be easily duped and controlled. **Freddy Bender** : Objection, Your Honor! **Miles Massey** : Shut up, Freddy. Sheā€™s allowing it. **Heinz, the Baron Krauss von Espy** : She spe-cif-i-cated a man with a wandering pee-pee. How you say? A philanderer whose affairs would be transparent to the world. **Freddy Bender** : Objection, Your Honor! **Heinz, the Baron Krauss von Espy** : Finally, a man whom she could herself brazenly cuckold until such time as she might choose to, uh - We would say, ā€œfaire un coup de marteau sur des fesses.ā€ You would say, ā€œmake hammer on his fanny.ā€ **Freddy Bender** : Your Honor, objection! I-Irrelevant! **Judge Marva Munson** : Iā€™m going to allow it! **Miles Massey** : Tell us, Baron - Did you introduce her to such a man? **Heinz, the Baron Krauss von Espy** : Sir, I am the concierge! Miles Massey: And to whom did you introduce that calculating woman? **Heinz, the Baron Krauss von Espy** : I introduced herā€¦ **Heinz, the Baron Krauss von Espy** : [_points to Rex Rexroth_] to that silly man. **Freddy Bender** : Your Honor, objection! **Miles Massey** : Let the record show that the Baron has identified Rex Rexroth as the silly man! ## **Freddy Bender** : Objection, Your Honor: strangling the witness. **Judge Marva Munson** : Iā€™m going to allow it. ## **Gus Petch** : You want tact, call a tactician. You want an ass nailed, you call Gus Petch. [_repeated line_] Iā€™m gonna nail your ass! ## **Miles Massey** : ā€œDismiss your vows, your feigned tears, your flattery, for where a heart is hard, they make no batteryā€¦ā€ Mrs. Rexroth, do you know those lines? **Freddy Bender** : Objection, your honor. **Judge Marva Munson** : Grounds? **Freddy Bender** : Uhā€¦ poetry recitation. ## **Marylin Rexroth** : Iā€™ve invested five good years in my marriage to Rex and Iā€™ve nailed his ass fair and square. Now Iā€™m going to have it stuffed, mounted, and have my lady friends come over and throw darts at it. ## **Marylin Rexroth** : What are you after Miles? **Miles Massey** : Well, Iā€™m a lot like you. Just looking for an ass to mount. **Marylin Rexroth** : [Whisper] Well, donā€™t look at mine. **Rex** : My wife has me between a rock and a hard place. **Miles Massey** : Thatā€™s her job. You should respect that. ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2015, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-coen-bros-character/740286/29 "2015-12-14T03:38:48Z")
Marge Gunderson, just a quiet voice of strength and sanity and appreciation for two cent stamps. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2015, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-coen-bros-character/740286/30 "2015-12-14T05:42:00Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Is he also from _Raising Arizona_? Donā€™t remember him. Yes. Heā€™s in Hiā€™s group therapy session during the opening. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2015, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-coen-bros-character/740286/31 "2015-12-14T07:35:33Z")
I voted for Jerry Lundegaard from **Fargo** because heā€™s a different type of bad guy. Evil people in movies and TV are usually portrayed as powerful and intelligent. Jerry was weak, ineffectual and unwilling to cut his losses (one of his main personality traits was that, no matter what happened, he kept trying to move forward). His weakness is one of the things that distinguishes **Fargo** from other crime stories. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2015, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-coen-bros-character/740286/32 "2015-12-14T19:29:17Z")
_Intolerable Cruelty_ also gave us the National Organization of Matrimonial Attorneys Nationwide. Its apt motto: ā€œLet NOMAN put asunderā€¦ā€ > [@scabpicker](#): > > Yes. Heā€™s in Hiā€™s group therapy session during the opening. Ah, thanks. ---
**Author:** ![stillownedbysetters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/41988e/32.png) [@stillownedbysetters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stillownedbysetters)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2015, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-coen-bros-character/740286/33 "2015-12-14T21:15:22Z")
Marge Gunderson - on behalf of all the indomitable, unflappable, dogged, undeterred, and rock solid Minnesota Norwegians I knew growing up. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2015, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-coen-bros-character/740286/34 "2015-12-15T00:42:37Z")
I really liked the head CIA guy in Burn After Readingā€¦so uncaring. ---
**Author:** ![Small\_Hen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ad7895/32.png) [@Small\_Hen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Hen)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2015, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-coen-bros-character/740286/35 "2015-12-15T02:04:48Z")
Mattie Ross (both versions) is very possibly my favorite character of all time, but since sheā€™s not an original Coen creation, I sort of feel that sheā€™s cheating. I voted for her anyway. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2015, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-coen-bros-character/740286/36 "2015-12-15T02:38:37Z")
I have to go with El Duderino, but Iā€™d like to also give a nod to Marty, his interpretive-dancing landlord. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2015, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-coen-bros-character/740286/37 "2015-12-15T04:06:13Z")
Marge Gunderson, now and forever. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Downtown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Mr\_Downtown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Downtown)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2015, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-coen-bros-character/740286/38 "2015-12-15T04:32:40Z")
Iā€™m disappointed thereā€™s not more love for Ed Tom Bell, the sheriff in _No Country for Old Men._ I respect Tommy Lee Jones as an actor anyway, and this role offered up a real, three-dimensional character inextricably linked to a real place. Heā€™s the believable centerpiece in that universe, about which the stranger characters can orbit. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2015, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-coen-bros-character/740286/39 "2015-12-15T07:15:41Z")
Iā€™d love to log in and vote, but some paranoid idiot at IMDB has decided that my account there is so fricken important that I have to enter my ID, my password AND a catcha all at the same time and all correctly! And if I get any part of it incorrect, I have to enter it all again each time I try! BANKS are not this paranoid! ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2015, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-coen-bros-character/740286/40 "2015-12-15T14:47:54Z")
> [@Mr\_Downtown](#): > > Iā€™m disappointed thereā€™s not more love for Ed Tom Bell, the sheriff in _No Country for Old Men._ I respect Tommy Lee Jones as an actor anyway, and this role offered up a real, three-dimensional character inextricably linked to a real place. Heā€™s the believable centerpiece in that universe, about which the stranger characters can orbit. Yes, heā€™s very good in that part. My favorite lines of his: Deputy Wendell: [Viewing the desert crime scene] Itā€™s a mess, ainā€™t it, Sheriff? Ed Tom Bell: If it ainā€™t, itā€™ll do till the mess gets here. Wendell: We goinā€™ in? Ed Tom Bell: Gun out and up. Wendell: [Wendell draws his pistol] What about yours? Ed Tom Bell: Iā€™m hidinā€™ behind you. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-coen-bros-character/740286.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-coen-bros-character/740286.md?page=3)