Saw this yesterday but I figured better late than never to post a review. I'll keep this one short and sweet.

What can I say? It's a Coen bros. film. Dark, sad, funny, strange, etc. all in one package.

Definitely more for fans of Barton Fink or A Serious Man than Fargo or Big Lebowski. It's a slow burn with a hard, often miserable edge to it and a lot of symbolism and open-endedness. But it's also extremely entertaining, often hilarious, and features some excellent folk music. I'm not a big fan of folk music but these songs were good enough that I would listen to them on my own time. The film also doesn't try to sell you on the music; its role is much bigger than that and brings A LOT to the table.

That's about it, really. One of the best films this year and possibly my favorite. Haven't really decided yet. Not for everyone but there's no denying the talent behind it. The Coens are just the best.

Highly recommended.

Hmm, interesting. I love most of the Coen Brothers stuff, so last year I read the script. And I was beyond disappointed. I thought it was a pointless, meandering story, with a character that's hard to like, stakes that didn't matter, and a climax scene with the father that felt hollow, not genuine, and maybe even adolescent.

That said...it was just the script! James is usually a good judge of film, so this is probably an example of a script that was transformed in the hands of masters into something more satisfying. I'll wait for Netflix, though, just in case.

Quoted from KevinLenihan Hmm, interesting. I love most of the Coen Brothers stuff, so last year I read the script. And I was beyond disappointed. I thought it was a pointless, meandering story, with a character that's hard to like, stakes that didn't matter, and a climax scene with the father that felt hollow, not genuine, and maybe even adolescent. That said...it was just the script! James is usually a good judge of film, so this is probably an example of a script that was transformed in the hands of masters into something more satisfying. I'll wait for Netflix, though, just in case.

I can totally see how someone could call it "a pointless, meandering story." The film is much more "a day in the life" than plot. I wouldn't call it pointless but "meandering" might be fair to say. The plot revolves around a character who can't get his shit together. Makes sense.

As for your other points, I think they may indeed be instances which worked onscreen and not on the page. The character on the page can vary depending on who's reading them. In the film, Oscar Isaac brings them to life and makes them real. The scene with the father is also very strange. I can't imagine how it would play out in screenplay form.

I'd recommend Netflix as well. For you, anyway, based on your response to the script. Like I said, it's for everyone. The fact that I even liked it could be suspect. I often find myself on my own little island when it comes to taste.

Carson's review was pretty scathing.  But after watching the trailer, I don't doubt it.  Looks dumb.

I thought the movie was ok.

There wasn't much of a story if any in the movie. Like James stated it's more like "a day/week in the life of Llewyn Davis". At times it seemed to me like the movie was just looking for an excuse to put some songs in. I fond it mildly entertaining and somehow cute.

You definitely have to be a "name" of some sort in the business to get a movie like this made with these actors.

For me the Coens are hit and miss. Some of their recent offerings have been very "miss" with me. I thought: Burn after reading, A serious man and True Gritt were all bad movies. I liked this one a bit better, mainly because it had a bit of charm.

My second favourite film of the year (behind Place Beyond The Pines). Not for everyone, sure. But, in my opinion, it was brilliant.

However, I can see why people were put off after reading either the script, or reviews of the script, as this is a classic example of talented directors and actors making an average script great. Plus, so much time in the film is dedicated to the songs (which I also thought were brilliant), which really allowed you to understand the world in which this story was set. However, you won't get any of this from reading the script.