The Big Lebowski is a film very much about America in the nineties, so perhaps a Brit would feel a bit puzzled by it, in the same way I react to those certain Monty Python sketches that you kind of "had to be there" to get. I also think criticizing Lebowski for self-indulgence is a misguided criticism, it would be like saying the same of Eraserhead. It allowed the Coens to indulge their love of language to an exceptional degree, so it's ok with me.
Totally agree with Kermode on "Barton Fink" being the Coen Brothers best film..It is certainly one of the films of the 90s & far superior to "Millers Crossing" & "Fargo" in my opinion..."A Serious Man" although not quite as good as "Fink" is right up there..also agree with Kermode on the seriously overrated "Big Lebowski" , their clumsiest & least witty film ( I can't believe people who should know better , found the lame drug humour, & one dimensional character of "Lebowski" at all interesting)
@machiaveliyoohoo Well, the reason that film is so great, is because it's taken on a raymond chandler frame work, it has the exact episodic nature of pulp fiction novels, and Jeff Bridges in that film is a character, not euipped for handling such convoluted mess -- that's why it's funny. Jeff Lebowski is one dimensional, in the fact that all he wants is his rug, thats the joke. The whole set up and characters are inspired. The only drug joke is that he smokes weed...it's his character...
I'm kinda counter-drugculture, but I still think that Lebowski is a fun film. I don't think that Lebwoski is a one dimensional character, actually he's a really interesting well rounded dude, and of course based on people you will occasionally encounter in southern cali.
I find that some Coen movies are sometimes improved by turning on closed captioning. Actually reading the dialogue along wit the film cements how clever the writing is.
omg mark. how could you not enjoy the big lebowski? i don't really see much room for discussion. it's one of those films where you either totally love it or you don't. i saw it when i was like 10 years old and i didn't see anything special. but since i saw it again when i was 17 i fell in love with it and i've since learned every line. i can't stop watching it. if you have any sense of humor at all and you enjoy film noir, i really can't see how you can possibly not love it.
I thouroughly enjoyed a serious man the first time i watched it however the second time i watched it i felt like i had got the punchline and whether i really needed to watch it again. ill still watch all their films and i still do like a serious man i cant help but not like in some way all their films. Is that a positve attribute or a curse i wonder?
I love all the Coens films but I found nothing likable about 'A Serious Man', didnt laugh once through it. Supposedly its about the biblical story of Job set in the 60s, but I think if a film has a deeper meaning like that it should work on a superficial level as well (a good example is the Coen's 'O Brother Where Art Thou')
Sorry Mark but you're just not cool enough to get down with the DUDE! You gotta turn off your film critic head and just roll with it! Is it self-indulgent? YES, and that's why it is great!
That and it's razor sharp, witty and observant dialogue make it a cinematic gem shining out in a big pile of slag.
the problem i have with the coen's can be encapsulated in two words; whimsical nihilism. for me, their best films, like fargo, big lebowsi, barton fink and miller's crossing transcend this tendency they have to look at cruelty with amused detatchment and have some engagement with their characters. i personally feel that their recent work has lost this quality and has opted for a series of pychological gags. a serious man is my least favourite film of theirs for this reason.
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
i couldnt watch Millers Crossing strictly because of the dialogue. because of the way they were speaking i kept on zoning out. it was so annoying. their pieces of dialogue just went on and on and on until it was over. like a whole monologue is just one sentence. i had to turn it off it was terrible
While I'd say that the Coen's films are always better the more you watch them and the same holds true for BAR, I'll agree it's not one of their best. It's a vignette, a throwaway piece after the weight of NCFOM. I just enjoy watching them exercise their finely-honed control over their craft. The writing, the cinematography, the editing, the performances the actors play around the Coen's characters, every aspect of film is a joy to observe when it's done by such masters, even when less serious.
agentk, that is one of those quintessential stripped down thrillers that's perfect for a film class. I also think the similarly titled 'A Simple Plan', an annoyingly overlooked film by Sam Raimi, is another prime candidate for dissection.
When watching Burn After Reading I felt like I was watching a rather star studded inside joke...that being said, No Country For Old Men felt like a great piece of cinema, appealing to many film enthusiasts.
It seems after their success with NCFOM they have actually become more focused on creating films which we could never find as funny as they probably do.
Although BAR was amusing, I did feel like an outsider listening in to an aquaintences private jokes with friends
Well, the Coen Bros. have had a number of hit movies over time, I wouldn't say that they are mainstream at all, I think that they make movies that are true to their aesthetic, without regard to financial success.
I really enjoy most of their films, even if they aren't profound they are at least entertaining and novel.
The best thing about their work though, are the scripts. Their writing is awesome, just watch O' Brother with the closed captions turned on.
so the coen brothers make coen brothers films. ive learnt alot from this clip.
Mark says a serious man has got mixed reviews. Where has it gotten a bad review? all the reviews I read are quite positive.
AND being from Ireland I am very pissed off that even though the Coens are now very well known and popular, their films are only released in a few select cinemas in Dublin.They won a best picture oscar 2 years ago for God sake!
Is any other person residing in Ireland pissed off by this?
In fact it's not showing anywhere near here (I'm in Newry. Northern Ireland)
I'm going to have to go to Dublin if I want to see it. It's not even showing in Belfast...WTF!?
If I want to go see that teenage emo vampire film, no porblem it's on in two screens at the same time in my local Omniplex...but a film by arguably the best film makers in the world? No chance
I don't think this is being part of the establishment.
I totally agree to Burn after reading, too many stars that wanted to be in it (, probably without reading the screenplay).
And the big lebowski was kind of fun, but I agree that drinking a few beer would help making the film much funnier. ;)
I think the Coen brothers make the films for themselves. The movies are mainly made for men who want to have a nice time, whether it's fun or brutality that amuses them.
The background sounds are copyrighted oh this invades copyright law!
EmpireLS56KW 4 months ago
The Hudsucker Proxy is the best comedy by the Coen Brothers
queenrocks21 5 months ago
themselves, not themself.
lickmylovepump12 8 months ago
the best coen brothers movie is Barton Fink
1976TRASHMAN 9 months ago
i want to see this movie!! going to check out in web movie tube
cheryklemish95 1 year ago
I like their comedies like Hudsucker Proxy.
Kotowboy 1 year ago
The serious man is their first good film in a long time. The Big Labowski is one of the best films ever!
theMAXILOPEZpsycho 1 year ago
I cannot wait for True Grit to be released in the UK
ehmazin 1 year ago
The Big Lebowski is a film very much about America in the nineties, so perhaps a Brit would feel a bit puzzled by it, in the same way I react to those certain Monty Python sketches that you kind of "had to be there" to get. I also think criticizing Lebowski for self-indulgence is a misguided criticism, it would be like saying the same of Eraserhead. It allowed the Coens to indulge their love of language to an exceptional degree, so it's ok with me.
CarrotBallSquash 1 year ago
GIMME THAT FUCKER
RoyalBlue43 1 year ago
Totally agree with Kermode on "Barton Fink" being the Coen Brothers best film..It is certainly one of the films of the 90s & far superior to "Millers Crossing" & "Fargo" in my opinion..."A Serious Man" although not quite as good as "Fink" is right up there..also agree with Kermode on the seriously overrated "Big Lebowski" , their clumsiest & least witty film ( I can't believe people who should know better , found the lame drug humour, & one dimensional character of "Lebowski" at all interesting)
machiaveliyoohoo 1 year ago
@machiaveliyoohoo Well, the reason that film is so great, is because it's taken on a raymond chandler frame work, it has the exact episodic nature of pulp fiction novels, and Jeff Bridges in that film is a character, not euipped for handling such convoluted mess -- that's why it's funny. Jeff Lebowski is one dimensional, in the fact that all he wants is his rug, thats the joke. The whole set up and characters are inspired. The only drug joke is that he smokes weed...it's his character...
jazz4 1 year ago
@machiaveliyoohoo
I'm kinda counter-drugculture, but I still think that Lebowski is a fun film. I don't think that Lebwoski is a one dimensional character, actually he's a really interesting well rounded dude, and of course based on people you will occasionally encounter in southern cali.
I find that some Coen movies are sometimes improved by turning on closed captioning. Actually reading the dialogue along wit the film cements how clever the writing is.
Jcolinsol 1 year ago
omg mark. how could you not enjoy the big lebowski? i don't really see much room for discussion. it's one of those films where you either totally love it or you don't. i saw it when i was like 10 years old and i didn't see anything special. but since i saw it again when i was 17 i fell in love with it and i've since learned every line. i can't stop watching it. if you have any sense of humor at all and you enjoy film noir, i really can't see how you can possibly not love it.
acrophobe 1 year ago
Please buy your camera crew a tripod.
FlyingSpanners 1 year ago
I thouroughly enjoyed a serious man the first time i watched it however the second time i watched it i felt like i had got the punchline and whether i really needed to watch it again. ill still watch all their films and i still do like a serious man i cant help but not like in some way all their films. Is that a positve attribute or a curse i wonder?
carbine125 1 year ago
I love all the Coens films but I found nothing likable about 'A Serious Man', didnt laugh once through it. Supposedly its about the biblical story of Job set in the 60s, but I think if a film has a deeper meaning like that it should work on a superficial level as well (a good example is the Coen's 'O Brother Where Art Thou')
haribo687 1 year ago
Sorry Mark but you're just not cool enough to get down with the DUDE! You gotta turn off your film critic head and just roll with it! Is it self-indulgent? YES, and that's why it is great!
That and it's razor sharp, witty and observant dialogue make it a cinematic gem shining out in a big pile of slag.
kingraffa 2 years ago
the problem i have with the coen's can be encapsulated in two words; whimsical nihilism. for me, their best films, like fargo, big lebowsi, barton fink and miller's crossing transcend this tendency they have to look at cruelty with amused detatchment and have some engagement with their characters. i personally feel that their recent work has lost this quality and has opted for a series of pychological gags. a serious man is my least favourite film of theirs for this reason.
scudder91 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
i couldnt watch Millers Crossing strictly because of the dialogue. because of the way they were speaking i kept on zoning out. it was so annoying. their pieces of dialogue just went on and on and on until it was over. like a whole monologue is just one sentence. i had to turn it off it was terrible
slimshadyfan4ever 2 years ago
'The Big Lebowski' is such a good film
topcat4eva 2 years ago 30
@topcat4eva That is the easiest way to get thumbs up, lol. You're right.
SethHesio 1 year ago
For me any comedy aspect of their films is only a bonus
kevycanavan 2 years ago
While I'd say that the Coen's films are always better the more you watch them and the same holds true for BAR, I'll agree it's not one of their best. It's a vignette, a throwaway piece after the weight of NCFOM. I just enjoy watching them exercise their finely-honed control over their craft. The writing, the cinematography, the editing, the performances the actors play around the Coen's characters, every aspect of film is a joy to observe when it's done by such masters, even when less serious.
Kitsua 2 years ago
im quite annoyed too, as this film only seems to have been released in the very central london cinemas here in england.
markors13 2 years ago
Blood Simple was very good. Saw it in a film class.
agentk1986 2 years ago
agentk, that is one of those quintessential stripped down thrillers that's perfect for a film class. I also think the similarly titled 'A Simple Plan', an annoyingly overlooked film by Sam Raimi, is another prime candidate for dissection.
TheConciseStatement 2 years ago
And so they should. I don't think that's any kind of put down at all. I think they're the greatest living film makers.
Kitsua 2 years ago 2
When watching Burn After Reading I felt like I was watching a rather star studded inside joke...that being said, No Country For Old Men felt like a great piece of cinema, appealing to many film enthusiasts.
It seems after their success with NCFOM they have actually become more focused on creating films which we could never find as funny as they probably do.
Although BAR was amusing, I did feel like an outsider listening in to an aquaintences private jokes with friends
hiiimatthew 2 years ago
Well, the Coen Bros. have had a number of hit movies over time, I wouldn't say that they are mainstream at all, I think that they make movies that are true to their aesthetic, without regard to financial success.
I really enjoy most of their films, even if they aren't profound they are at least entertaining and novel.
The best thing about their work though, are the scripts. Their writing is awesome, just watch O' Brother with the closed captions turned on.
Jcolinsol 2 years ago
They manage to tread that incredibly fine line where they satisfy the needs of both Art and Entertainment.
Not many achieve it in any medium, but not many people are the Coen Brothers.
Kitsua 2 years ago 2
so the coen brothers make coen brothers films. ive learnt alot from this clip.
Mark says a serious man has got mixed reviews. Where has it gotten a bad review? all the reviews I read are quite positive.
AND being from Ireland I am very pissed off that even though the Coens are now very well known and popular, their films are only released in a few select cinemas in Dublin.They won a best picture oscar 2 years ago for God sake!
Is any other person residing in Ireland pissed off by this?
dunnededunnedunne 2 years ago 7
yes mate. Me.
Read my posts below yours
kevycanavan 2 years ago
yes sorry didnt see it until after I posted my rant there
dunnededunnedunne 2 years ago
In fact it's not showing anywhere near here (I'm in Newry. Northern Ireland)
I'm going to have to go to Dublin if I want to see it. It's not even showing in Belfast...WTF!?
If I want to go see that teenage emo vampire film, no porblem it's on in two screens at the same time in my local Omniplex...but a film by arguably the best film makers in the world? No chance
I don't think this is being part of the establishment.
kevycanavan 2 years ago 2
Comment removed
dunnededunnedunne 2 years ago
Where would we film lovers be without Fargo?
The Coens rule the roost for me. Up there with Kubrick, PTA and QT.
You are right Dr K that they always make films for themselves.
Sometimes it turns out a bit miss unfortunately (Ladykillers)
sometime it turns out fun but nothing to write home massively about (Burn After Reading, Miller's Crossing)
but most of the time they hit the target 100% (Fargo, No Country, Labowski)
Can't wait to see Serious Man. Unfortunately it's not showing in my local
kevycanavan 2 years ago 2
I agree with everything you said, except for the fact that Miller's Crossing is my favourite of their films.
Another I'd throw up with your list of greats is Terry Gilliam.
Kitsua 2 years ago
Yeah, they should do a preview.
yes it's like they are making the moives for them selves
danxtur 2 years ago
i agree with kermy about big lebowski.
cuntscab555 2 years ago
I totally agree to Burn after reading, too many stars that wanted to be in it (, probably without reading the screenplay).
And the big lebowski was kind of fun, but I agree that drinking a few beer would help making the film much funnier. ;)
I think the Coen brothers make the films for themselves. The movies are mainly made for men who want to have a nice time, whether it's fun or brutality that amuses them.
Just typical men...
Teleringelfon 2 years ago