The Director's Series: The Coen Brothers No. 4


Throughout 2025 I'm turning my focus to Directors. They help craft the vision on screen that makes a movie work. This year I'm looking at five favorite films from 18 directors I admire and 10 films directed by different women that I have enjoyed. Join me Fridays and Saturdays throughout 2025 as we take this journey.

Barton Fink (1991)
Starring: John Turturro, John Goodman, and Judy Davis
Director: Joel and Ethan Coen
About: There are some films that stick with you. Barton Fink is one of those films for me. I was first introduced to it during Film Theory in college. My professor loved the visual language of the film. After seeing a few clips, I decided to rent it and check it out. I loved what I saw. It's strange. It's quirky. It's wild. And it's incredible. This film was a gateway for me into the world of The Coen Brothers. I still love it, though it isn't my favorite of their films. But I love the way it's crafted and I love the story. But it's still the visual language of the film that sticks with you. That final sequence, with Goodman running down the hall of flames, lives on in my head.

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