Summer Binge Watch — Coens, Part 1

Some might argue it's a finite line, but I think there's two kinds of Coen Brothers movies — comedies and dramas. Often the comedies are black comedies that have some dramatic elements, but I like to make that distinction.

Since the second season of "Fargo," a TV anthology series inspired by the Coen Brothers' 1996 movie, is about to be released, it seems like a good time to examine the filmography of the brothers. So I decided to break it up into two parts (with my five favorite dramas listed Wednesday). Today, it's my five favorite Coen Brothers comedies.

1. The Hudsucker Proxy (1994)
About: "You know, for kids." This is a strange movie, and I mean that in the best possible way. It feels like a bit of a period piece, and you could also call it a Christmas movie in the same way "Die Hard" is a Christmas movie. I like the comedy here, I love the performances from Tim Robbins, Paul Newman, and Jennifer Jason Leigh. And it's just a fascinating story about corporate America, of sorts, and how it can chew up and spit out dreamers and nice guys. I like the dialogue and the way the film is paced. I liked the supporting performances from Bill Cobb and Bruce Campbell, too. It's just a light-hearted and fun Coen Brothers film.
Rating: PG for mild language and thematic elements
Verdict: Four stars out of four.

2. Barton Fink (1991)
About: This is a borderline film in this category. Some might consider it a drama. However, I think it's an absurdist black comedy. It's the story of a writer (John Turturro) who has writer's block and is set in the film industry in the 1940s. It's got some beautiful shots, an incredible sense of tone and character, and some ridiculous sequences and story. John Goodman is great in this movie, as is Steven Buscemi. This was a personal movie — one the Coen's worked on while suffering writer's block in the process of creating "Miller's Crossing." I can't really tell you specifically why, but I love this movie. It's a quirky gem.
Rating: R for language and some scenes of violence.
Verdict: Four stars out of four.

3. The Big Lebowski (1998)
About: This is one of the most oft-quoted and commercially successful Coen Brothers movies. When you watch it, it's not hard to see why. Jeff Bridges is great in the lead role, while Buscemi, Goodman, and Turturro — Coen Brothers favorites — are all great in supporting roles. Then there's Julianne Moore, who plays a strange character and fleshes out the world in a great way. But it's really Bridges — or more specifically his character, The Dude — that helps make this film iconic. Plus it's got some fun bowling scenes.
Rating: R for pervasive strong language, drug content, sexuality and brief violence.
Verdict: Three stars out of four.

4. O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000)
About: Another of the most commercially successful Coen Brothers film, I don't love this one as much as the others. I appreciate the story, I'm fascinated by the exploration of religion — a theme they come back to often — and the musical element makes this film unique. It's a good movie and one that tells a unique story. Plus it has a great, unexpected performance from George Clooney.
Rating: PG-13 for some violence and language.
Verdict: Three stars out of four.

5. Inside Lleywn Davis (2013)
About: This is a Coen Brothers film that, I think, was largely overlooked. I was disappointed it didn't make it into the Best Picture field when it was released, because I thought it had a great sense of charm. The Coen Brothers are great at making period pieces, and this is yet another period for them to explore. Their look at folk music was fascinating — and the music in this film was very good — but it's the characters that make this work. I loved Oscar Isaac in this role, and I found myself drawn to the film. Some will quibble about the structure and the story, but I thought it was a great return to form after some underwhelming films from them. I hope in a few years this gem is appreciated for what it is.
Rating: R for language including some sexual references.
Verdict: Three stars out of four.