Current Events > Final project of my film class: rank the Coen Brothers filmography

(+) Yeah! (+)

Poring over the list of the 14 of their films we watched, it will be tough to get an exact order. To be clear we're ranking by perceived merit and quality, not personal favorites.

I think their masterpiece/most 'flawless' film is probably Inside Llewyn Davis, despite it feeling a bit un-Coen in some ways (perhaps thanks to the departure of Roger Deakins). But I can't discredit No Country For Old Men, and A Serious Man battles to be their most profound film alongside ILD and The Big Lebowski. And I have to acknowledge The Man Who Wasn't There for being a black-and-white modern film that you forget is in black and white.

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That sounds like a p awesome project. Lotta great films to work with.

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nevershine posted...

That sounds like a p awesome project. Lotta great films to work with.

It's hard because every time I place one I feel like I'm slighting the others

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I'd say their best ones are

Blood Simple
Miller's Crossing
The Big Lebowski
No Country for Old Men
A Serious Man

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tag

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Doe posted...

Poring over the list of the 14 of their films we watched, it will be tough to get an exact order. To be clear we're ranking by perceived merit and quality, not personal favorites.

I think their masterpiece/most 'flawless' film is probably Inside Llewyn Davis, despite it feeling a bit un-Coen in some ways (perhaps thanks to the departure of Roger Deakins). But I can't discredit No Country For Old Men, and A Serious Man battles to be their most profound film alongside ILD and The Big Lebowski. And I have to acknowledge The Man Who Wasn't There for being a black-and-white modern film that you forget is in black and white.

I was just about to come here to mention The Man Who Wasn't there as an easy pick for one of their worst. Ladykillers was probably worse, Miller's crossing also bored me a lot.

I like ILD but I just think it lacks enough of a core punch. But I could be wrong.

What are you ranking on? Entertainment? Satisfaction of viewing? Because the Coens like making unsatisfying films (Barton Fink).

I will agree A Serious Man might be their most profound, because I've pretty much found every movie they have to be about different kinds of stupidty, stupidity of Crimes/Simple Plans (Fargo), stupidity of Love (Intolerable Cruelty), stupidity of Boredom (The Man Who Wasn't There), but A Serious Man is a movie about the Stupidity of being smart which I think is a profound thing to offer up.

Fargo/No Country I think is my vote for best, but most I've only seen once or twice, so I might have to rewatch to decide.

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Blood Simple is a REALLY good thriller especially for a first film but it's also kind of empty. You could argue it's a postmodern statement but eh. I really like it but the reason to revisit it is only to appreciate the craft of putting a film together and not what it has to say

Miller's Crossing is alright but I'm not a big gangster film person. Definitely good but I'm not sure it's great. Could've had a shorter run time I feel like though I don't know what I'd cut. I just didn't like it so much.


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Inside Llewyn Davis is a subtle movie, in being devoted to avoiding sentimentality they subvert how other filmmakers shooting a movie about a failed musician grieving their partner's suicide would lean on manipulating your emotions.

Barton Fink is also one of their best, I wouldn't call it unsatisfying because I think the conclusion is amazing in spite of a refusal to unravel mysteries. In general the Coen brothers reject the bow-topped Hollywood ending.

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To me one of the most impressive things about Miller's Crossing is the dialogue. This scene is positively musical

https://youtu.be/Qc5ZtL-_cKU

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I can't stand Barton Fink

Where the unsatisfying bits of A Serious Man, felt very intentional and purposeful, the unsatisfyingness of Barton Fink felt more like a fuck you to the audience.

Like I get it, and I wouldn't call it a bad movie, but I don't like it at all.

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