Summer Binge Watch — Coens, Pt. 2

On Monday I looked at my five favorite Coen Brothers comedies. Now it's time for Dramas. In fact, this list contains my two favorite Coen Brothers films of all time.

1. No Country For Old Men (2007)
About: This is about as perfect a movie as you could hope for. It won Best Picture, and it should have. Even eight years later, it remains an outstanding example of storytelling. And I'd wager to say that this was the perfect kind of story for the Coen Brothers unique talents. It's a story of crime gone wrong. It's also a story that wrestles with the larger ideas of reconciling evil in the world. That, of course, is one of the more powerful themes in "Fargo," too, but I think they nail it a lot more completely here. And of course this is a film with three incredible performances from Tommy Lee Jones, Javier Bardem, and Josh Brolin. This is one of my all time favorite films.
Rating: R for strong graphic violence and some language.
Verdict: Four stars out of four.

2. Miller's Crossing (1990)
About: This was the Coen Brothers third film, and until "No Country" was released, I thought it was their greatest work. It doesn't get the hype and publicity of their earlier films — "Blood Simple" and "Raising Arizona" — or the films that followed — "Fargo," "The Big Lebowski" — but I think it's great. The dialogue is incredible and I love the story. Gabriel Byrne is great as the lead in this film and it's a mob story I love. I first watched it in college, and I've probably seen it more than a dozen times since. I think it's a near perfect creation that perfectly fits the kind of tone and talent the Coen Brothers bring to filmmaking.
Rating: R.
Verdict: Four stars out of four.

3. The Man Who Wasn't There (2001)
About: This is an oft-forgotten Coen Brothers film. Some might consider it a black comedy, but I think it's more of a drama. It has a great cast, led by Billy Bob Thorton and Frances McDormand, and features a great performance from a young Scarlett Johansson. It was also a bold movie, shot entirely in black-and-white to give it a great, moody look. It's a strange story, but it's classic Coen Brothers. I love the mood of the film, the characters, and the dialogue. It's also got a great supporting performance from James Gandolfini. If you haven't seen this one, look it up.
Rating: R for a scene of violence.
Verdict: Four stars out of four.

4. Fargo (1996)
About: This is probably one of the Coen Brothers most famous films, and for good reason. It's a quirky story with good performances. But what really sells it is the location and setting, Minnesota in the dead of winter, and the way the Brothers make that a part of the narrative. McDormand is great in the lead role as the police chief who uncovers this crime gone wrong, and through whom we see the struggle to reconcile this evil crime with what she wants to believe about people. That final sequence — the woodchipper and the ride back to jail — are a great moment of contemplation about all that's come before it.
Rating: R for strong violence, language and sexuality.
Verdict: Three stars out of four.

5. True Grit (2010)
About: This is the Coen Brothers taking on a classic story and re-making, of sorts, a film that was made famous by John Wayne. They get a great performance from Jeff Bridges, again, and Matt Damon. But what really makes this film sing is the work from young Hailee Steinfeld as Mattie Ross. There are some great action sequences here, but I love the quieter moments even more. There's great dialogue and some beautiful shots. The Coen Brothers take this Western and make it hum.
Rating: PG-13 for some intense sequences of western violence including disturbing images.
Verdict: Three stars out of four.