Catching up on some noteworthy films I've missed out in my movie watching history. Most classics and cult classics. I watch a lot of films but some of them manage to slip through the cracks somehow and I'm often left astounded at how I let them do so. Case in point, classic Coen bros. flick, Barton Fink.

Simple story. Or so it would seem. Barton Fink (John Tutturo), a playwright enjoying some modest success in New York travels to LA to write a B movie about wrestling. Fink's head seems way too big for disposable entertainment (he wants to revolutionize the scene by writing about the "common man") but somehow he finds himself living at a rundown hotel with writer's block surrounded by a number of curious characters, most notably Charlie Meadows (John Goodman).

I'll keep this review brief. Perhaps it seems inappropriate given that the film is jam packed with symbolism, juicy themes and countless subjects of intense debate, most of it left ambiguous and unresolved. This is one of those films film buffs could go on and on about thematically. For those who've seen the film, I encourage it in this thread. But I won't get into it just yet. I've only just seen the film once and still haven't quite wrapped my head around it.

So I'll just say that this is probably the best film the Coens have ever made. I still love No Country and Blood Simple and in all probability, I'll prefer them to this one after it's sunk in. But Barton Fink is a straight masterpiece. I've seen a fair share of the Coens' work and have to say this one has it all. The best characters, best performances, best direction, best writing, etc. Not to mention there's so many things to talk about and places it can go. Probably the closest the Coens will ever come to a horror movie as well, for anyone who wonders what that'd be like.

That's not to say everything was perfect but I think everything the Coens are good at can be found here and then some.

Also, I've finally come to realize that the Coens are definitely better at mood pictures and artsy stuff than they are at quirky comedies. The Big Lebowski's a fun stoner comedy with not much more prospects than that. Sure, it's got a heap of artistic flourishes not common in the genre. Fair enough. But it just seems like a brain fart compared to something like this. I hope True Grit is more of the same.

Barton Fink = dynamite.

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Nice review James, it is a great film once you settle into it, for me anyway it took a little while first time around. I think John Goodman was brilliant in it, his best role ever I think.

Have you seen The Man Who Wasn't There? I have got a feeling you might like that a lot.

Quoted from Murphy Have you seen The Man Who Wasn't There? I have got a feeling you might like that a lot.

I'll check it out. At this point, I think I've seen enough of the Coens' films that I might just go ahead and watch their whole filmography. Though I think, with the exception of Miller's Crossing, I might've already seen the best ones. I know I've seen the worst (The Ladykillers). We'll have to see.