Screen Time

The Coen Brothers‘ universally praised “No Country for Old Men” hits select theaters (ahem - outside the RGV) this weekend. The new flick, based on a Cormac McCarthy novel, is being called a big and bloody return to form for the Coens, who many agree slipped with their last two releases (”Intolerable Cruelty,” “The Lady Killers”).

I’ll admit that I have no love for “The Ladykillers,” and the only thing that worked for me in “Intolerable Cruelty” was George Clooney’s spastic lead performance. So, I’m glad the critics are lovin’ on the Coens again, and I’m looking forward to catching “No Country.” Still, this isn’t the first time the Coens have had a so-called “comeback” after a few coldly-received movies.

Everybody loves unforgettable flicks like “The Big Lebowski,” “Fargo” and hits like “O Brother, Where Art Thou?,” but some of the Coens’ most interesting work can be seen in some of their least popular movies. Let’s take a quick look at a few:

‘The Hudsucker Proxy’ (1994) - I can see how this box office flop can be a tough one to love - with Jennifer Jason Leigh’s 30’s-style motor mouth, the bizarro quirkiness of the story, and the setting’s artificial quality. Still, all those elements help make this an unforgettable work. “Hudsucker” is a fun, fast-paced and original flick with Capra and Howard Hawks-style screwball comedy filtered through the Coens’ unusual lens and brilliant visual style. Tim Robbins stars as a naive 1940’s businessman who’s set up by a selfish exec (a great Paul Newman) and an ambitious journalist (Leigh), but all he wants to do is sell hula hoops. The cast is amazing, and Bruce Campbell even steals a few short scenes.

“Barton Fink”(1991) - John Turturro plays an eraser-head playwright who’s tortured by writers block while trying to write a Hollywood screenplay. This surreal comedic thriller was a hit with critics, but audiences didn’t really embrace its dark tone, slow pace and deadpan comedy. ‘Fink’ was reportedly born out of the Coens’ own frustrations with writers block. How they can create such a twisted, compelling and original movie that’s still deeply steeped in homage is a mystery to me. John Goodman’s eerie supporting performance still haunts me - even more than Turturro’s hairdo.

‘The Man Who Wasn’t There’ (2001) - This highly-stylized black-and-white effort’s look and score recall early film noir, but “TMWWT’ is more of a dark absurdist drama than anything else. This isn’t one of my favorite Coen movies. It’s probably one of the most difficult to embrace due to its ponderous storyline, but the cinematography is glorious, and the Coens pull amazing performances from their talented cast (Billy Bob Thronton, James Gandolfini, Frances McDormand) who really sell the flick’s themes of detachment and isolation. There are so many layers to this one that it demands repeat viewings.
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Photos courtesy Miramax,  Warner Bros., 20th Century Fox, USA Films