Coen Mania
I'm a writer, you monsters! I create! I create for a living! I'm a creator! I am a creator!
A watershed occurred in my family room last night, a conclusion reached, now anchored in stone beyond all reasonable bounds of certainty. I've been going this way for a while, sort of dancing around the notion, sensing it was there. But it's all been inside, internalized, nascent and unarticulated, waiting for the right moment to crystalize. Which it did during the course of two hours last night:
Any movie made by Joel and Ethan Coen is amazing and must be watched.
Fargo has long been a top-10 favorite. Raising Arizona, too. I've seen 7 or 8 others. Every time I watch or rewatch something by the Coen Brothers I see something new, something funny that I only just got, some new performance that I only just appreciated.
Last night I watched Barton Fink for the first time. Awesome movie. And I'm saying this despite the fact that I'm sure I don't understand it. It's 1941. Barton Fink is a writer called from Broadway to Hollywood, to write a wrestling picture starring Wallace Beery. Barton lives in a hotel. His room is stifling, moody, and claustrophobic. Barton has terminal writer's block. He meets Charlie Meadows, the affable guy next door. Barton Fink discovers Hollywood is hell.
There is so much to appreciate in Barton Fink. Detail and performances. The hotel hallway scene at the end of the movie (I'll show you the life of the mind!) is incredible. I can't imagine how they filmed it.
So watch Barton Fink. Watch it for the art direction and set design both of which are amazing. Watch it for Chet and the elevator guy and the Hotel Earle. Watch it for the detectives. Watch it because you are a writer and a creator. Watch it because you blog and know how hard it is to put words on paper.
Watch it because for all of us, Charlie Meadows is always right next door.
K-
I suffered that movie about 10 years ago. Loved Fargo, somewhat liked Oh Brother, but didn't get Barton Fink. Maybe I'll give it another go 10 years from now.
I don't always get movies I like. I liked "Apocalypse Now" but I can't say I got it. Working at a movie, thinking about what's going on, what things might mean, can enhance a movie's enjoyment for me. I also saw "Superman Returns" this weekend. Got it no problem. But it evaporated 30 seconds after I left the theater.
K-
"Getting it" is overrated. I can't say I got Pulp Fiction, the Kill Bill movies, or even Fargo for that matter but I loved those. Superman Returns holds no interest for me. The new Spiderman does, though. The previews I saw look promising. I'm glad Toby Maguire signed up for it. He's been an excellent Peter Parker.
"Miller's Crossing" -- the opening credits, with the hat; Gabriel Byrne getting beaten up by everyone else on screen, including the fat society matron; and the immortal quote: "The old man's still an artist with the Thompson."