True Grit - 2010 - Dir. Coens

I was pretty doubtful of this movie after I saw the trailer. I had the sneaking suspicion that the Coen's weren't going to radically part with the original. Which, you know, it's a classic and all... I'm not the biggest fan but I don't really begrudge it much. I feel similarly about this remake. If anything, I can easily say I like the remake more. I dug the performances way more and there's a much stronger streak of humor. It's not exactly Coen Bros humor but they are certainly present in the film. It's a bit like they decided to make a straight genre movie. And they did it with as little irony as possible. They certainly do a good job, but the movie's strongest point has got to be it's cast. Everyone is great! I can think only positive things of each performance. Brolin's whiny murderer is especially memorable for me. And Bridges' accent/mumble in the film is awesome. The Coens' are basically the best WORD MAGICIANS I know. The additions from the original (perhaps from the book) are also strong... perhaps some of the strongest scenes in the film (my particular favorite is the hanged man and the bear sequence). The film mostly looked terrific. I felt a little bugged by the end, I felt similarly about the original which the Coens do stray from a little but it does nothing to improve my opinion. It feels particularly anti-climactic and they stretch it out even longer than before. A fun movie, certainly worth seeing, but not without some bothersome details.

Why is this the only picture of this god damn movie!?

A Serious Man - 2009 - Dirs. Coens

You know, I liked this movie when I first saw it and I'm writing my bit a little later. And my feelings for it have only grown since seeing it. I really liked this movie. It was one of those movies that to me, just proved that the Coen brothers can still make awesome movies. Sure, they've been on a roll recently what with the terrific No Country and the silly Burn After Reading, A Serious Man is a kind of middle ground between the two. Not an outstanding No Country but not as strange as Burn After Reading. I have to say, Sy Ableman is an incredible kind of villain. He's the kindest man in the world, and all he wants to do is see Larry Gopnik be destroyed. Also, Richard Kind but most importantly is the Mentaculus, which is just a kind of hypnotizing notebook in the film and Kind as its creator is just perfect. But lets not sell short Michael Stuhlbarg, who is not so sympathetic or pathetic that we're watching a man be cut down by life, but paints a man in a struggle just perfectly. I guess it's just pleasing that he didn't end up as much as a pushover as the commercials set him up to be. I mean, he's milquetoast to the end but hell, he doesn't take it sitting down nearly as much as he could have.

Hey who is this guy? Oh yeah... He's Fucking Awesome.

Barton Fink - 1991 - Dir. Coen

Another movie I've seen before. But it's been a while. Even so, Barton Fink has always held a place in my heart and mind. Often time, since I started watching movies I viewed from back in the day. I'm starting to see little trends and how these films fed over into my writing, which I think is terribly interesting. Barton Fink, I think, must have been SUPER inspirational. I dunno, the way they handle story-telling and atmosphere. SIGH. They're just pretty damn neat is all. Even though I remembered chunks of the movie, like the Fiery ending. I forgot the little touches. Like Chet! And his crazy entrance. The movie isn't terribly interested in answering many questions and the Coen's have come out and said that there isn't exactly an over-reaching message, at least, one they planned out. But everything feels connected in a sense, the movie flows naturally. And also much faster than I remember. I had distinct memories of it dragging but as I'm a bit older and perhaps more comfortable to slowly paced films, it felt pretty light. Although, I'm not sure light is really a word you should use to describe Barton Fink. Although, at the same time, the movie is terrifically entertaining. :D

Man, John Goodman is just the coolest.

Miller's Crossing - 1990 - Dir. Coen

I was too young to really enjoy Miller's Crossing. I know that. Sure, I appreciated some elements of the film but I don't think I really got it as a whole as much. Although, I'm not sure it's really moved up too much in ranking with the others. A lot of the film feels like Coen's testing the waters. They have such a good grip on mythic story-telling though. Something I was getting a little too much of with O! Brother, but Miller's is just the perfect amount, especially in the crime genre. But I suppose, I'm always supporting 'em if there's some fine gangsters around. The film just has some completely mind-blowing moments which really stick with you. Albert Finney is just awesome, and I would have liked a bit more of Steve Buscemi. Maybe just one more scene, just to actually watch him deliver lines that fast. Although, Jon Turturro has got to be the most memorable if only for the scene where he begs for his life. Watching it through this time, though, he's just friggin' awesome in every scene. I wanna just give him the biggest high-five. I always have fun watching the Coen's in this period. They have these awesome tendencies towards excess and cartoonishness, something illustrated by their close affiliation with Raimi, who you can also see being a doof in the sweet Erin's pub shoot out.

MAN! Rolling up your sleeves all old school and whatnot! Who do you think you are, Albert Finney!?