I've probably seen Fargo over a dozen times. This time I'm thinking about Stan Grossman.

We're not a bank, Jerry.

It's the way we prefer to handle it, Jerry.

This is our concern, Dude.

A stock character for the Coens (see the more pathetic Brandt from Big Lebowski, Lou Breeze in Barton Fink, David Rasche's character in Burn After Reading; dumber versions include the entire board of directors from Hudsucker Proxy and Pappy O'Daniel's campaign advisors from O Brother, Where Art Thou?), he's there to repeat the tirades of his master sans profanities, always wary to offend but eager to carry out the orders, a walking press release, an anthropomorphized step-stool, happy to cower in the corner of the big office until his services are required.

Why is this guy here? Is power not believable unless someone's there to shine the shoes? Or maybe this is the nature of power—sure, the tyrant can make a pronouncement, but it's meaningless until someone fills out the paperwork, dispatches the goons, etc. Stan Grossman: a winking representation of the banality of middle-management.