Actors: Michael Stuhlbarg, Sari Lennick
Director: Coen Brothers
Note: Spoilers Ahead
Horrible things are always befalling the characters in a Coen Brothers' film. So when we see a character who happens to be holding an ice pick at the opening of the film, we know that that's going to end up in someone's neck or chest by the end of the scene.
The Coens are so meticulous that they almost certainly nail all of the period details from 1970s Minnesota, as well as all the Jewish family foibles. Tremendous, too, is the way the children swear in this film - they're terrible at it, and yet they do it constantly. The Coens are always spectacular in the details.
However, I'm often left confused by Coen films on first watch - I do suspect there's a lot of symbolism that passed over my head. Larry Gopnik's troubles made me wince, not laugh, nor do I think I was supposed to be laughing. But nor did I really care, it's a Coen brothers film, so I figured he'd continue to be tortured, and I'd have to sit there watching it.
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the end is beautiful
ReplyDeletealso: even though i have not seen quantum of solace, i can't believe that it deserves the same number of stars that this does.
ReplyDeleteit probably doesn't - i hold the coens to a higher standard. obviously this is a far better crafted film.
ReplyDeletei didn't understand the end. one of the two other people who reads this said that the film can kind of be explained as a sick joke - i.e. this person does the right thing, despite the fact that everyone in his life is worthless and that everything is falling down around him, and then he finally chooses to do the wrong thing, and that's when things get really bad. i'd have to see the movie again to actually figure out the ending, but why would i want to do that? although coen films tend to get better on second watch, i have a feeling this one won't.
When I finished watching this I just kept thinking to myself, "I don't understand why the Coens wanted me to know that story." I still don't. Maybe I'm just not smart enough to get it.
ReplyDeletei doubt that, jtg. i sometimes have no idea what the coens are doing, and this might be the most confusing film of theirs i've seen (and i think i've seen all of their films besides the ladykillers and intolerable cruelty). i mean like i said in the other comment, the film seems to play out as an extended joke.
ReplyDeletei'm hoping for something better - their last two films have been pretty cringe-inducing for me.