A new Coen Brother’s film is always an occasion to look forward to. I’m a big fan of their work and have seen all of their films many times over. They seem to flit seamlessly between comedy and drama, and can take their audiences to (often surreal) places like no other film makers I’ve ever experienced. With a back catalogue dating back to 1984, of their 17 written and directed films there has only been one that I’ve not loved. Their 2004 remake of The Ladykillers didn’t particularly resonate with me. There was the occasional chuckle to be had, and some solid performances, however, I feel of all their work, it is the weakest by far.
I was originally going to attempt a top 5 but realised, with such an amazing collection of films, it was near enough impossible. Having sacrilegiously left out such classics as Blood Simple, Miller’s Crossing, Raising Arizona, The Hudsucker Proxy and O Brother Where Art Thou? and taking into account Intolerable Cruelty, The Ladykillers and their involvement with Paris J’Taime, Crimewave and Unbroken I could have quite easily stretched this out to a top 20. Alas, after much scrutiny, I’ve condensed it down as narrowly as I could. So, with the whimsical Hail, Caesar! fresh in my mind, here’s my top 10 films from the Coens:
10. True Grit (2010)
Having re-watched this film recently, True Grit was a late contender for the top 10. Just pushing out Miller’s Crossing, the Oscar nominated Western kicks off my list. It would be unfair to call the film a remake of John Wayne’s 1969 classic as the film’s don’t share a great deal of DNA. Focusing more on the source material of the original novel, Jeff Bridges and Matt Damon partner up brilliantly with Hailee Steinfeld and lead a wonderfully shot drama about a revenge fueled manhunt. The soundtrack and cinematography really breathe life into the film, and having seen many modern Westerns, this is without doubt one of the finest.
9. Burn After Reading (2008)
It’s been rather a common trend for the Coen’s to immediately follow one of their gritty, awards heavy dramas with a furiously offbeat comedy. Rasing Arizona came after Blood Simple. The Big Lebowski followed Fargo. Intolerable Cruelty proceeded The Man Who Wasn’t There and their latest release Hail, Caesar! came off the back of Inside Llewyn Davis. 2008 was no exception. With No Country For Old Men collecting 4 Oscars, including best film, best director, best screenplay and best supporting actor, it’s hardly surprising that their follow up Burn After Reading was met with mixed reviews. In my opinion the film is vastly underrated. With a superb ensemble cast, and some genuine laugh out loud comedy moments, the film is definitely one of their quirkiest. I think it’s one of those films you either go with or think “what on Earth is this?”. I went with it.
8. Hail, Caesar! (2016)
Set in the 1950’s Hail, Caesar! is a touching homage to the golden age of cinema. From biblical epics, to Westerns, to period dramas to all singing-all dancing musicals, the film follows Josh Brolin’s Eddie Mannix around the sound stages of ‘Capitol Pictures’. Keeping a cool head he skillfully attempts to deal with a kidnapped leading man, a pregnant starlet, an inarticulate cowboy actor and an eccentric yet acclaimed European director. All whilst keeping journalists at bay, juggling his home life and perusing new employment avenues. The film is laugh out loud funny in places, and the attention to period details is superbly accurate. When it comes to Coen Brother’s comedies, they are quite comfortable taking their films to offbeat conclusions and have on occasion flirted with the surreal. The end of Hail, Caesar! is definitely one of the most bizarrely baffling endings I’ve seen for a very long time. The sheer absurdity of it is nothing short of genius.
7. Fargo (1996)
I love ‘cold’ films. The Thing, The Shining, Edward Scissorhands etc, and Fargo has to be a contender for one of the coldest films of all time. It has all the best Coen Brothers traits, skillfully merged together with fantastic performances across the board. Blending comedy with bloody violence, mystery and drama, Fargo is perhaps the finest example of their formula. Using the classic Coen’s trademark, of a very simple idea that goes disastrously wrong and spirals out of control, Fargo begins with a scheme for two men to kidnap the wife of a car salesman. Arranged by the husband, the plan was to stage a kidnapping and set a ransom for his millionaire father-in-law to pay. He would then pay off the kidnappers and keep the remainder of the ransom for himself. Complications arise and the body count starts increasing, which attracts the attention of the local law enforcement. Long time Coen Brother’s collaborator Frances McDormand turns in her finest performance to date as the Chief of Police Marge Gunderson.
6. A Serious Man (2009)
If Burn After Reading is one of the brother’s quirkiest films, A Serious Man may be THE quirkiest. It took a few repeat viewings for me to get my head around it. After the first, I was slightly underwhelmed. I’ve probably seen the film around 5 times now, and it’s grown to be one of my favourites. Like a lot of the Coen’s comedies, the comedy is so straight faced and bleak it’s almost none existent. It’s one of the most unique films they’ve done to date, which is really saying something.
5. Barton Fink (1991)
The 1990’s was perhaps the brothers most optimal decade. Producing arguably their finest work. From 1990 – 2000, there wasn’t really any filler. I’ve always championed Barton Fink and for a short while it occupied the number 1 spot in my list. A really oddball film with some powerful performances. With such a claustrophobic setting, and horrors gradually unfolding it’s possibly the finest film ever made about the writing process.
4. The Man Who Wasn’t There (2001)
This slow burning noir-thriller, has all of the Coen’s finest traits. One of their many films following an anti-hero and a seemingly straight forward criminal scheme. As is usually the case, the plan goes drastically wrong, and a suspenseful drama plays out with twists, turns and horrific moments. It’s one of Billy Bob Thornton’s finest roles and a massively underrated installment in the Coen Brothers back catalogue.
3. Inside Llewyn Davis (2013)
I fell in love with this film instantly. As Oscar Isaac opens the film, playing Hang Me, Oh Hang Me in it’s entirety you get a sense of the tone. From there, it plays out beautifully giving the audience a glimpse into the Greenwich Village folk scene of the early 1960’s. With a wonderful supporting cast, and one of the finest soundtracks of all time, Inside Llewyn Davis, is currently their finest film of the decade.
2. No Country For Old Men (2007)
Possibly the least Coen brothers Coen brothers film I’ve seen. And not in a bad way. I mean simply that, the Coen’s work generally seems to hide away just outside the mainstream. Despite working with global superstars and having A-list ensemble casts, their work is usually too kooky and unique to get the acknowledgement of the general public. Nearly always popular with critics, their work has more of a cult following with audiences. No Country For Old Men however seemed to break this trend, becoming hugely popular at the box office. At it’s time of release, in terms of the box office numbers, it was their highest grossing film by quite a margin, as well as their most successful film in terms of Academy Awards achievements. It’s a beautifully simplistic tale about a drug deal gone wrong. With it’s unique minimalist soundtrack and superbly talented ensemble cast, the Coen’s manage to create some of the most tense and gripping moments in modern cinema.
1. The Big Lebowski (1998)
This was the film that really kick started my fascination with the Coens. I first discovered the film in a typical cliched film student manner during my first year of Uni. After being recommend the movie by a fellow student and advised to get merry, I settled into the bizarrely brilliant work and let it unfold magnificently. There’s been too many repeat viewings since then to count (none of them sober) and this cult classic still remains my favourite Coen brothers film to date.
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