90s Movie Review - Miller's Crossing

Director: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
Genre: Drama/ Crime
Runtime: 115 minutes
Year: 1990
Starring: Gabriel Byrne, Marcia Gay Harden, Albert Finney, John Turturro, Steve Buscemi

Description: Tom Reagan (Gabriel Byrne), an advisor to a Prohibition-era crime boss (Albert Finney), tries to keep the peace between warring mobs but gets caught in divided loyalties.

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2025 MOVIE CHALLENGE.
WEEK 34: A FILM FROM 1990
 
Review: This is the third film by the Coen brother, Joel and Ethan. In “Miller’s Crossing” they firmly established their signature visual flair, which they would continue in films such as “Fargo” and “The Big Lebowski”.

In this film noir, gangster Leo is asked to eliminate Bernie, but he is the brother of the woman he is in love with. Meanwhile, she is already involved with Leo’s right-hand man Tom.

The theme is good and evil: even the gangsters want to do good, act “ethically”, and be friends with everyone. But their selfishness, distrust, and corruption inevitably gets them killed.

The film feels somewhere between “The Godfather” and “Sin City”, with the gangster and film noir elements, and it’s an intelligent and witty film. Really good, overlooked filmd b the Coen Brothers.

Rating: 3,5 / 5

10s Movie Review - The Ballad of Buster Scruggs

Director: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
Genre: Comedy/ Drama
Runtime: 133 minutes
Year: 2018
Starring: Tim Blake Nelson, Clancy Brown, Zoe Kazan, Tom Waits, James Franco, Stephen Root, Liam Neeson, Harry Melling

Description: Six tales of life and violence in the Old West.

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2022 MOVIE CHALLENGE.
WEEK 25: A MOVIE WITH MULTIPLE STORYLINES
 
Review: A film by Joel and Ethan Coen is always something to look forward to. That Netflix allowed the famous brothers to make a film and gave them a free hand in it makes it even more interesting. The results is an anthology of six stories, all set in the Old West and highlighting an aspect of life in the Wild West.

“The Ballad of Buster Scruggs” has a book as a window for the narratives. An unknown person opens the book and we dive into the first story. It bears the title of the film and is delightfully ridiculous. Tim Blake Nelson plays the smiley cowboy from the title and comes across as somewhat simple. But he manages to win every fight he gets into. That;s how simple the premise of the first story is.

The other five are more or less the same, but there is enough cleverness in them and references to modern times to keep engaging. Gradually, the tone of the film also changes and the lightheartedness disappears. In ‘Meal Ticket’ Liam Neeson plays the callous impresario of a man without arms and legs. The wretch recites poems, but sees his audience shrinking. This was my favorite story. In ‘The Mortal Remains’ we follow a group of people in a carriage. This is my least favorite of the stories and a bit boring actually. Other stories stand out, like ‘Near Algodones’ where James Franco plays a bank robber, or ‘All the Gold Canyon’ with a starring role for musician Tom Waits as a prospector. The stories are not connected, so it’s sometimes difficult to get into them properly.

It’s not one of the best movies by the Coen Brothers and certainly not one of my favorites, but definitely worth a watch.

Rating: 3/ 5

Top 5 Thursday: Coen Brothers Movies

The Coen Brothers have a very diverse filmography. Sometimes it’s a dark comedy, sometimes a modern western, sometimes absurd satire. They certainly have an impressive resume and I love their work. Here are my five favorite movies directed by the Coen Brothers.

5. Burn After Reading
Most people don’t like it, think it’s just a silly film. “Burn After Reading” has a great cast and I think it’s hilarious. I love Brad Pitt, John Malkovich and George Clooney in this film.

4. O Brother, Where Art Thou?
A variation on “Odyssey”. Also not one of the more popular Coen Brothers movies, but I love this film. The first time I saw George Clooney’s comedic talent. And I love the music in “O Brother, Where Art Thou?”

3. No Country for Old Men
A more serious film, an at first sight it’s very unlike the Coen Brothers. It’s a fascinating film, a great story and strong performances. Javier Bardem portrays villain Anton Chigurh and is one of the most convincing and scary villains in movie history.

2. The Big Lebowski
A stoner comedy, with probably the coolest character in any Coen Brothers movie. The Dude is super awesome. Jeff Bridges, John Goodman and Steve Buscemi rock!

1. Fargo
It’s one of the most acclaimed films and has some of the most memorable characters in it. William H. Macy, Steve Buscemi and Frances McDormand are all great in “Fargo”. This movie is so good, that it even got its own TV show.

They Almost Made the Top 5: Inside Llewyn Davis, True Grit, Barton Fink, A Serious Man

100 Movie Challenge 2015 - # 66: Barton Fink

Director: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen

Genre: Drama/ Crime/ Fantasy

Runtime: 116 minutes

Year: 1991

Starring: John Turturro, John Goodman, Judy Davis, Michael Lerner, Steve Buscemi, Tony Shalhoub, John Mahoney, Jon Polito, David Warrilow, Rochard Portnow, Christopher Murney

Description: A renowned New York playwright is enticed to California to write for the movies and discovers the hellish truth of Hollywood.

Review: The Coen Brothers have made a name for themselves already, without even making any blockbusters. There are well known filmmakers, because of their directorial and writing quality. Trademarks are subtlety, eye for details, great dialogue or monologue, symbolism and a big dose of dark humor. But before they gave us “Fargo”, “The Big Lebowski” and “O Brother, Where Art Thou?”, it was “Barton Fink”.

John Turturro plays Barton Fink, a shy maybe even unworldly playwright. From his safe life behind the curtains in the theatre, he goes to 1940s California, to write a script for a movie. Off course this can’t go smoothly. The people of Capitol Pictures want Barton to write a standard script, commercially interesting. And this will also probably go wrong.

While writing in a hotel, Barton meets his neighbor Charlie Meadows, played by John Goodman. An insurance man, very kind, compassionate and present. And Barton meets writer W.P. Mayhew, who he admires, and his secretary Audrey. Both people don’t appear to be who they claim to be. Very slowly you see what all these strangers have in common: Incomprehension.

What makes “Barton Fink” a good movie is the atmosphere that makes you feel everything the leading characters feels. You sympathize this unfortunate man, but you also enjoy all the strange things happening around him. And that weird twist also makes this into a very good film.

“Barton Fink” is probably an underappreciated Coen brothers movie, but not a movie for just everyone.

Rating: 4/ 5

Me & 3 Coen Brothers Movies

This director duo is very unique. Sometimes humorous, sometimes serious, always wit a dark edge. I picked out three movies directed by Joel and/or Ethan Coen.

Fargo
Genre: Drama
Year: 1996
Director: Joel Coen
Cast: Frances McDormand, William H. Macy, Steve Buscemi, Peter Stormare
Description: Jerry (William H. Macy) works in his father-in-law's car dealership and has gotten himself in financial problems. He tries various schemes to come up with money needed for a reason that is never really explained. It has to be assumed that his huge embezzlement of money from the dealership is about to be discovered by father-in-law. When all else falls through, plans he set in motion earlier for two men to kidnap his wife for ransom to be paid by her wealthy father (who doesn't seem to have the time of day for son-in-law). From the moment of the kidnapping, things go wrong and what was supposed to be a non-violent affair turns bloody with more blood added by the minute. Jerry is upset at the bloodshed, which turns loose a pregnant sheriff (Frances McDormand) from Brainerd who is tenacious in attempting to solve the three murders in her jurisdiction.
Opinion: The Coen brother know how to write a great screenplay. I love the dark humor and Marge Gunderson is f***in’ awesome. Frances McDormand rocks this movie. And William H. Macy is perfect playing the ‘not-so-lucky’ Jerry.
Favorite character: Marge Gunderson (Frances McDormand)
Most memorable quote: “Say, Lou, didya hear the one about the guy who couldn't afford personalized plates, so he went and changed his name to J3L2404?” -Marge Gunderson-
Best scene: Marge finds the car and then sees Gaear Grimsrud putting someone in a woodchipper, like it’s nothing.

No Country for Old Men
Genre: Drama/ Thriller
Year: 2007
Director: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
Cast: Tommy Lee Jones, Josh Brolin, Javier Bardem, Woody Harrelson, Kell MacDonald
Description: Violence and mayhem ensue after a hunter stumbles upon a drug deal gone wrong and more than two million dollars in cash near the Rio Grande.
Opinion: A great story told with some interesting characters. Javier Bardem plays one of the most relentless killers ever to be seen in film. Very calm, but that’s the scary part.
Favorite character: Ed Tom Bell (Tommy Lee Jones)
Most memorable quote: “And you know what’s going to happen now. You should admit your situation. There would be no dignity.” –Anton Chigurh-
Best scene: Anton Chigurh at the gasstation, where he’s talking to the gas station proprietor.

Burn After Reading
Genre: Drama/ Comedy
Year: 2008
Director: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
Cast: George Clooney, John Malkovich, Frances McDormand, Brad Pitt, Tilda Swinton, Richard Jenkins
Description: A disk containing the memoirs of a CIA agent ends up in the hands of two unscrupulous gym employees who attempt to sell it.
Opinion: A great combination of dark humor and light humor. Some memorable characters, some likeable and some extremely annoying. The Coen brothers made another good film.
Favorite character: Chad Feldheimer (Brad Pitt)
Most memorable quote: “I have a drinking problem? Fuck you, Peck, you’re a Mormon. Compared to you we ALL have a drinking problem!” –Osbourne Cox-
Best scene: Harry shows Linda what he’s been building in the basement. That’s one weird chair that made me laugh so loud.

Favorite of the 3: Fargo