Question:
What is your favorite Coen film? Persoanlly, I didnt think "Fargo" was up to par with "The Big Lebowski" in terms of humor, nor did it reach my expactations as one of the greatest films of all time. "Raising Arizona", "Barton Fink", and "Miller's Crossing" are all unseen by me, but Ive been told that they are sort of mixed in quality. I did, though, see "Hudsucker Proxy" which was funny, but far too goofy and cartoonish for my taste. As for they're newer stuff------I hate it. "Intolerable Cruelty" was terribly weak and ventured back into they're caricature days (a la "Big lebowski" and "Hudsucker Proxy"). But, prior to "Intolerable Cruelty" posty-"Big Lebowski" theyve been consistently brilliant. "Oh, Brother Where Art Thou" is one of the more fun moviegoing experiences in a while. As for, "The Man Who Wasnt There" I think it's great simply because the cinematography is so beautiful. In retrospect, "Fargo" probably is their strongest entry into film history. It's characters are well-defined and it is pretty darn hillarious. No matter what, the Coen brothers are a huge comedic/dramatic/directing/screenwriting/producing talent!

Choices:
Fargo
The Big Lebowski
Raising Arizona
Oh, Brother Where Art Thou
The Man Who Wasnt There

 

Well, E, of the ones you put up, I HAD to vote for "Fargo", but all I can say is get to the video place and check out "Barton Fink", "Miller's Crossing" and "Raising Arizona." (While you're at it, check out "Blood Simple.") "It's a great, wide, wonderful world we live in." (Turn that SHHHHT off!)

I've seen all the Coen brothers movies except "The Hudsucker Proxy" and "Intolerable Cruelty", so I hope I remember them all here. I find them to be frustrating because their movies run the gamut...either very, very good, or very, very bad.

VERY, VERY GOOD
1. Fargo
2. Raisin' Arizona

VERY GOOD
3. The Man Who Wasn't There

GOOD
4. The Big Lebowski

FAIR
5. Miller's Crossing
6. Blood Simple

VERY BAD
7. Barton Fink
8. The Ladykillers

VERY, VERY BAD
9. O Brother, Where Art Thou?

quote:

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Originally posted by asc85:

VERY, VERY BAD
9. O Brother, Where Art Thou?

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Wow! This seemed to be a movie loved by all. Just curious, why didnt you like it? At least you could have closed your eyes and just listened to the music!

Hi Eccentro,

Well, first I checked the MetaCritic score for "O Brother, Where Art Thou?", and it received a 69...a good score, but by no means universal acclaim.

It's hard for me to remember why I hated it so much, although I was particularly struck by Tim Blake Nelson's "mugging" for the camera throughout the movie.

I read somewhere once that Coen brothers movies seem to sometimes be a private joke from one brother to the other, and if you "get" it, you think the movie's great, but if you don't, then you're lost. I think that probably sums up my feeling for this picture...I just never "got" it. Although I have read that much of the humor in their movies is one brother trying to make the other brother laugh. And I don't exactly appreciate that when I don't "get" their movies.

I still haven't seen Blood Simple, and I own a copy of Miller's Crossing on vhs, yet have never gotten around to watching it. Come to think of it, I should rectify that soon. Haven't seen Ladykillers either. As far as what I have seen, I loved The Man Who Wasn't There, found both The Hudsucker Proxy and Barton Fink to be very amusing, and enjoy O Brother and The Big Lebowski equally. Raising Arizona was alright, but my dislike of Cage and Hunter impedes it. Intolerable Cruelty was pretty lame, but I expected worse. Fargo I expected a lot from and while I won't trash it (as it is a well done movie), it just did nothing for me personally. I find it boring and obnoxious, as the setting and accents would imply, although the wood chipper scene is a killer!

you have to see miller's crossing. it's got some of the snappiest dialogue i've ever heard and it's a great, great story. i thought intolerable cruelty was going to be awful, and i actually ended up liking it.

For me The Big Lebowski is a work of genius and one of the best comedies ever!

Fargo was very good but I expected better to be quite honest.

O brother Where Art Though! was really good! One of their best!

Intolerable Cruelty wasn't a masterpiece but was really funny indeed

Ladykillers was flawed and slightly disappointing but Tom Hanks' performance and the directing made it a good comedy anyhow

The Hudsucker Proxy was underrated, I thought it was great, you guys have to see it.

I think they're geniuses and along with Tim Burton and Shyamalan, they're the best directors working today.

El Duderino

Try watching the Coen Brothers films without any pretense, like "these guys are geniuses, so this movie better be great" or anything like that. Go back and watch "Blood Simple". What an amazing directorial debut! "The Hudsucker Proxy",
What a beautifully shot film! And a great story too! "O Brother..." is an amazing film, told only as the Coens could tell it. I could go on. The point it, each film is original (or an original telling) and deserves respect on that level. Granted, I didn't care much for "Intolerable Cruelty" (I felt they were getting too "commerical" with this film) but none-the-less, each story they have told has been genuine, original and executed unlike any other filmmaker could have.

But...the Coens ARE geniuses!

I know I may be alone on this one but I actually liked the Ladykillers! I was, of course, a bit disappointed by the lack of Buscemi, Goodman or Turturro but still, I thought it was original and fun