For me, I enjoy so many aspects of the “Coen Style,” from the visual style that created with Barry Sonnenfeld on their first three films, then perfected with Roger Deakins, to the pregnant pauses that are a staple of their characters.
I also enjoy the fact that they try different stories, even if they are, in the end, a Coen Bros. story, they don’t really do the same thing twice.
Even in their missteps (Ladykillers and Intolerable Cruelty), they still make credible films.
I like the Coens because of Fargo and A Serious Man. You can ignore everything in between and before those two films.
Berjuan, what do you like about those two? And what is your issue with the other 12?
question: why do you like the Coen Brothers?
answer: Blood Simple
I think their main thesis is the transitory nature of life and how “narrative” film is can and cannot convey that. I think Fargo and ASM convey that very clearly.
What about it do you like? discuss
I like its simplicity and unapolagetic dark humor. its a daring debut
Berjuan, and how do they do so, that you appreciate in those films? And how did they fail your sensibilites in the others?
I still have to see some of their better regarded films, like Miller’s Crossing and O Brother, Where Art Thou?, but I have grown to admire them tremendously as their style has matured. Their mixture of existential questions and absence of answers, violence and satirical, absurdist humor works wonders for me. They perfectly exemplify the duality between altruism and misanthropy that is drawn from reflecting on, ahem, the human condition.
Formally, they have an appealing sense of rhythm and know how to use people’s types (even caricatures) to their advantage.
i like the thought of a two-headed director
All of their movies are nuanced in ways that seem very theatrical (on the verge of over-stylization), and yet at the same time, also speak true to a lot of real life situations and feelings. Their movies always put me in a ‘no man’s land’ between reality and fiction, and I totally dig that they can tell a story that can carry that kind of interaction.
Well, both films have this unconclusive narrative that just keeps on going. Its not that the “story” doens’t end, but once the “story” ends you realize that it is only part of a greater narrative. For example towards the end of Fargo you have the cop’s husband getting the award for the 2 cent stamp and the baby is about to be born. Suddenly the focus is totally shifted and the “story” and the bag of money becomes irrelevant.
I happen to be watching A SERIOUS MAN again right now. This movie haunts me.
So, how was it Truman?
I like how they can have characters or scenarios that are basically over the top but are painted with detail and nuance. So, for instance, in Barton Fink we are slipped subtly into a Nathanael West fever dream with that bell that just keeps ringing and ringing. The details build with the peeling wall paper and the like, so that by the time the movie get outrageous, it just seem the natural trajectory
I like the Coen Brothers because they remind me of Flannery O’Connor.
I don’t really see a lot of depth in their movies, particularly their older movies, which felt more like clever stunts, but i appreciate their work, esp Miller’s Crossing, The Big Lebowski and Fargo.
@ BERJAUN
If you haven’t seen it I suggest you drop whatever your doing and go get it right now! Pretty good.
I like so much the Cohen Bros films. I think they put a lot of Nietzschean Philosophy in his films like “A Serious Man”, “The Big Lebowsky” and “No Country for Old Man”…
I like the unpredictable nature of a Coen film, often at least one thing you dont expect will happen.
I also like the comedy mixed with the darkness and I like their take on genre films.
I do think they should avoid remakes and am not looking forward to True Grit. A wonderful True Grit already exists
@ DEN
You really think TRUE GRIT is wonderful? I don’t think it’s very good at all. Am looking forward to the remake. But the only film they made that I don’t like is THE LADYKILLERS. And I don’t hate it.
I love the book and, for me, tho the movie is radically different, Wayne can do no wrong.
His iconic performance makes the movie and he gets good supporting help plus the villans have some menace and it is paced pretty well
Can’t argue anything you said. Maybe I should watch again. You like ROOSTER COGBURN, I’ve never seen it?
Rooster Cogburn I kind of enjoy. I mean it is Wayne and Hepburn after all but I rate it higher than I should I mean truthfully its not very good
“Nietzschean Philosophy in his films like “A Serious Man”, “The Big Lebowsky” and “No Country for Old Man”…”
where? esp in Big Lebowski? I haven’t watched A.S.M yet.
Hi Joks,
The Serious Man tells something about the end of reason on the comtemporary life. I loved this film. The big lebowski tells a lot about nihilism.
Den, the Coens’ True Grit is gonna stay closer to the girl than to Cogburn, it’s less a remake of the film, more a re-adaptation of the novel.
yes the novel is way different and at least as good as the movie
yet i think the original movie was as good as it gets in terms of a True Grit movie
I am sure I will see the new one but my guess is it will be about as good as The Ladykillers was compared to the original
I think it will be darker.
Uli Cain, Cinefidel¹³
What about the Coens’ work do you appreciate; what makes it that you enjoy their films, or not enjoy their films?
I’m not interested in lists, I’m interested in reasons.