Oh dear. I just read something very alarming in the big film book. The entry on the Coen brothers:
"Raising Arizona" was, for me, close to unwatchable; unfunny, technologically impelled, showy, and not just empty but condescending. "Barton Fink" was show-off time again, a dash of Nathanael West, a pinch of sophomore surrealism, numb satire, another kid's film — yet much more promising whenever John Goodman was on-screen, and fearsomely beautiful in the burning corridors, as if at last the Coens were on their way.
This raised my hackles, in part because I have generally agreed with everything this writer says. When he described Hugh Grant as "an incipient sneeze waiting for a vacant nose," I wanted to offer myself in marriage.
But this! Oh dear. What do you think of this wicked assessment?
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12 comments:
Well, first off I want to say that I’m now the proud owner of a San Jose Library cast-off. Thanks, kc!
I read that entry too and it didn’t bother me. The Coens are not for every taste and they have never tried to be. Perhaps part of the difference is I have already found several entries where I disagree with him. In the introduction, he describes himself as your “needling, provocative, argumentative companion at the movie”. So I don’t mind the disagreement as long as he says something on behalf of his views. Too bad he didn’t flesh out his take on the Coens more fully.
You're welcome, friend! Hope you enjoy. Tell me if you find more outrageous tidbits or interesting points. I think he's quite brilliant, even if completely batty at times.
In my edition (2002), he doesn't even mention "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" except to note that it is a Coen brothers' movie. I found that strange. Did you?
I was hoping he would discuss it; I've been wanting to see it again because a bunch of people I like think that it's really awesome and I was going to stop liking them if he disagreed.
I do think he has something with a "dash of Natahanel West" and "fearsomely beautiful" burning corridors.
Well, Raising Arizona may be my favorite movie, so I couldn't disagree with him more. Although I will admit that I have been known to have bad taste.
Oh, I think he's dead wrong aout "Raising Arizona." It's an awesome movie, in my book. I'd be willing to say he just doesn't get it, but his distaste seems to be for the Coen brothers in general, and I find that sort of intriguing because they seem so universally beloved.
I think "Barton Fink," even though I really liked it personally, can be rightly criticized as not really adding up when you start doing the math.
Hmmm. I don't understand what he's talking about with "showy" and "condescending" and "show-off time again." Huh?
OK, blasphemy ... I just watched "Raising Arizona" this weekend, and it was fine, but just not great to me. Same with "Fargo." Oddly, I like dark humor, but their flavor just feels off to me. The baby slung around and exploding man in "Arizona," the wife put in a woodchip gadget in "Fargo."
Because I can watch "Prom Night" and "Terror Train" and "Halloween I-H20" without qualms, I don't know what it is about the Coen brothers. Like DW said, the Coens aren't for every taste.
Loved "Barton Fink," though.
Kc, check out what Thomson says about John Waters. I think it is very funny and exactly right. And I like his appreciation of Atom Egoyan.
But I think he is very muddled about Krzysztof Kieslowski. And I wonder of he was drunk when he saw “Brazil”. “...art direction run amok at the expense of any scrutiny?” The answer, David, is no, not at all. And while we are at it, “Brazil” is not Orwellian either.
cl, by the "woodchip gadget," do you mean the woodchippuh?
God, I love Frances McDormand. The pregnant cop! What a freakin' great idea.
So that was Mrs. Lundegaard on the floor in there. And I guess that was your accomplice in the wood chipper. And those three people in Brainerd. And for what? For a little bit of money. There's more to life than a little money, you know. Don't you know that? And here ya are, and it's a beautiful day. Well, I just don't understand it.
Brilliant.
Great Scott! He doesn't like Brazil? The heck you say!
I'll have to read that.
Weird. I just read his Egoyan stuff this morning!
When the long-time police chief up there was asked whether Fargo was based on a true story, he said, "I'm pretty sure I have never been pregnant."
Love it.
He should know, eh?
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