Author Topic: I just finished watching the Coen brother's filmography to date (Read 2101 times)

Great Rumbler · « **on:** October 30, 2009, 02:46:59 PM »

Caught a showing of A Serious Man a few weeks ago and finally got around to watching Blood Simple last night. The latter is still a very good movie and it's clear that even 25 years ago the Coen's knew exactly what they wanted to do and had the talent to pull it off. All of their movies do a very good job of casting the right people for the right character and getting great performances out of actors in even the minor roles. They're also well shot too and weave dark humor into even the most serious of their movies. Not all of their movies are American classics, but even the worst are better than the average movie Hollywood puts out. I can't really think of American director working today that's been that consistent across 25 years and 14 movies.

I'd put their movies into three tiers:

Top Tier
-Blood Simple.
-Raising Arizona
-Fargo
-The Big Lebowski
-No Country for Old Men
-A Serious Man

Middle Tier
-Miller's Crossing
-Barton Fink
-O Brother, Where Art Thou?
-The Man Who Wasn't There
-Burn After Reading

Bottom Tier
-Hudsucker Proxy
-Intolerable Cruelty
-The Ladykillers

Don Flamenco · « **Reply #1 on:** October 30, 2009, 03:25:36 PM »

I've been meaning to watch Blood Simple forever, but it wasn't on netflix for a couple years.

whoa, hudsucker proxy towards the bottom? I know it's their crowd pleaser, but damn, I loved it. and seeing Prezbelewski from the Wire act like he did in that movie was surreal.

Tauntaun · « **Reply #2 on:** October 30, 2009, 03:25:57 PM »

I wanna watch you up to date.

Great Rumbler · « **Reply #3 on:** October 30, 2009, 03:30:42 PM »

Quote from: Kranz Fafka on October 30, 2009, 03:25:36 PM

I've been meaning to watch Blood Simple forever, but it wasn't on netflix for a couple years.

I had the same problem. I was watching a bunch of their movies on Netflix, they had all of them EXCEPT Blood Simple. They've got it now though.

Quote

whoa, hudsucker proxy towards the bottom? I know it's their crowd pleaser, but damn, I loved it. and seeing Prezbelewski from the Wire act like he did in that movie was surreal.

I waffled on that one a bit. Thought about putting it in the middle tier, but ended up going with the bottom tier instead. It's fun, but I just don't think it's as good as their other movies, barring how great it looks.

Quote

I wanna watch you up to date.

OptimoPeach · « **Reply #4 on:** October 30, 2009, 03:32:28 PM »

O Brother, Where Art Thou? doesn't deserve to be in the same tier as Burn After Reading

Great Rumbler · « **Reply #5 on:** October 30, 2009, 03:34:17 PM »

Quote from: OptimoPeach on October 30, 2009, 03:32:28 PM

O Brother, Where Art Thou? doesn't deserve to be in the same tier as Burn After Reading

George Clooney is great in both, don't be hatin' now.

Hitler Stole My Potato · « **Reply #6 on:** October 30, 2009, 03:45:57 PM »

Quote

Bottom Tier
-Hudsucker Proxy
-Intolerable Cruelty
-The Ladykillers

Hudsucker is better than that.

TakingBackSunday · « **Reply #7 on:** October 30, 2009, 03:48:04 PM »

I love O Brother Where Art Thou?, thats probably one of my personal Coen brother favorites. For me, from what I've seen:

1) Big Lebowski
2) No Country for Old Men
3) O Brother Where Art Thou?
4) Burn After Reading
5) Intolerable Cruelty

Unfortunately I haven't ever seen Fargo all the way through, nor the other ones. I'm working on it, they're all on my netflix account

Kestastrophe · « **Reply #8 on:** October 30, 2009, 03:55:45 PM »

Quote from: BrandNew on October 30, 2009, 03:48:04 PM

Unfortunately I haven't ever seen Fargo all the way through

wtf

BobFromPikeCreek · « **Reply #9 on:** October 30, 2009, 03:57:51 PM »

Fargo is amazing. You must rectify this immediately.

The Fake Shemp · « **Reply #10 on:** October 30, 2009, 03:59:59 PM »

Fargo is pretty amazing.

You have criminally underrated Barton Fink and Miller's Crossing.

OptimoPeach · « **Reply #11 on:** October 30, 2009, 04:00:06 PM »

Quote from: Great Rumbler on October 30, 2009, 03:34:17 PM

Quote from: OptimoPeach on October 30, 2009, 03:32:28 PM
O Brother, Where Art Thou? doesn't deserve to be in the same tier as Burn After Reading

George Clooney is great in both, don't be hatin' now.

Woops. I meant that it should be higher. Burn After Reading was a funny but sloppy mess, and I love O Brother, Where Art Thou?

Barry Egan · « **Reply #12 on:** October 30, 2009, 04:03:45 PM »

I more or less agree with how you've ranked things, and yet, goddamn if that middle tier isn't filled with awesome movies.

Kestastrophe · « **Reply #13 on:** October 30, 2009, 04:03:59 PM »

Quote from: Willco on October 30, 2009, 03:59:59 PM

You have criminally underrated Barton Fink and Miller's Crossing.

John Goodman and Tony Shaloub in Barton Fink

The Fake Shemp · « **Reply #14 on:** October 30, 2009, 04:09:00 PM »

I'm getting kind of restless with their supposed adaptation of Michael Chabon's The Yiddish Policemen's Union. The book is pretty good, and if there was ever a novel that felt like a Coen Bros. movie, it's that one.

Where is it, jerks?

Also, The Hudsucker Proxy is ranked too low. It co-stars Bruce Campbell and was co-written by Sam Raimi. Where is the love?

Brehvolution · « **Reply #15 on:** October 30, 2009, 04:13:10 PM »

Quote from: Kestastrophe on October 30, 2009, 03:55:45 PM

Quote from: BrandNew on October 30, 2009, 03:48:04 PM
Unfortunately I haven't ever seen Fargo all the way through
wtf

Of that list, I've only seen burna after reading and the big lebowski.

TakingBackSunday · « **Reply #16 on:** October 30, 2009, 04:15:50 PM »

I said I'm working on it, I'm not proud of that fact!

Mr. Gundam · « **Reply #17 on:** October 30, 2009, 04:16:23 PM »

Quote from: Willco on October 30, 2009, 04:09:00 PM

I'm getting kind of restless with their supposed adaptation of Michael Chabon's The Yiddish Policemen's Union. The book is pretty good, and if there was ever a novel that felt like a Coen Bros. movie, it's that one.

They're making Yiddish Policeman's Union?

Kestastrophe · « **Reply #18 on:** October 30, 2009, 04:17:30 PM »

Quote from: Zero Hero EDGE™ on October 30, 2009, 04:13:10 PM

Of that list, I've only seen burna after reading and the big lebowski.

smh :spitzer

time for Boresquad^TM date night

http://www.netflix.com/RoleDisplay/Joel_Coen/18016?strackid=776432aed54742e3_1_srl&strkid=1324699381_1_0
no excuses now, half of those are instant viewable

The Fake Shemp · « **Reply #19 on:** October 30, 2009, 04:21:59 PM »

Quote from: distantmantra on October 30, 2009, 04:16:23 PM

Quote from: Willco on October 30, 2009, 04:09:00 PM
I'm getting kind of restless with their supposed adaptation of Michael Chabon's The Yiddish Policemen's Union. The book is pretty good, and if there was ever a novel that felt like a Coen Bros. movie, it's that one.

They're making Yiddish Policeman's Union?

Yeah, it was announced almost two years ago. And still no word.

I mean, that is great source material to work with.

TEEEPO · « **Reply #20 on:** October 30, 2009, 04:23:34 PM »

sorta related but heard this while listening to all things considered yesterday.

Roger Deakins, Keeping An Eye On The Small Things
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114249616

The Fake Shemp · « **Reply #21 on:** October 30, 2009, 04:23:37 PM »

... We should definitely do a BORE POPCORN AND J.O. MOVIE NIGHT (NO GAY STUFF) for Miller's Crossing and Barton Fink. I'm down.

Great Rumbler · « **Reply #22 on:** October 30, 2009, 04:25:01 PM »

Quote from: Chipopo on October 30, 2009, 04:03:45 PM

goddamn if that middle tier isn't filled with awesome movies.

Yeah, like I said, even their worst movies are still pretty good.

Quote

Also, The Hudsucker Proxy is ranked too low. It co-stars Bruce Campbell and was co-written by Sam Raimi. Where is the love?

I keep thinking about moving it higher, but then I think "is it REALLY as good as the other movies in the middle tier?" and I move it back down. I'd say that's the one I'm most conflicted about. It's easily the best of the bottom tier though.

Quote

I'm getting kind of restless with their supposed adaptation of Michael Chabon's The Yiddish Policemen's Union. The book is pretty good, and if there was ever a novel that felt like a Coen Bros. movie, it's that one.

Me too, man. I haven't read the book, but my brother told me about it and it sounds like it would make for a really awesome Coen movie.

Quote

You have criminally underrated Barton Fink and Miller's Crossing.

I like them, in their own way, but they just didn't click with me as much as the other movies in the top tier.

Bebpo · « **Reply #23 on:** October 30, 2009, 07:39:09 PM »

ARGHHHHHHH

Hudsucker low tier?!?!?
Miller's Crossing & Barton Fink mid-tier!?!?!!?

ARGHHHHHHH

/Miller's Crossing & Barton Fink & Lebowski are my top3

//This makes me realizes I never got around to watching Raising Arizona because I hate Cage so much. I should do that.

OptimoPeach · « **Reply #24 on:** October 30, 2009, 07:55:07 PM »

Quote from: Willco on October 30, 2009, 04:21:59 PM

Quote from: distantmantra on October 30, 2009, 04:16:23 PM
Quote from: Willco on October 30, 2009, 04:09:00 PM
I'm getting kind of restless with their supposed adaptation of Michael Chabon's The Yiddish Policemen's Union. The book is pretty good, and if there was ever a novel that felt like a Coen Bros. movie, it's that one.

They're making Yiddish Policeman's Union?

Yeah, it was announced almost two years ago. And still no word.

I mean, that is great source material to work with.

Was the novel good? I've heard mixed opinions on Chabon, but I haven't actually read any of his stuff

Bocsius · « **Reply #25 on:** October 30, 2009, 08:15:16 PM »

I didn't particularly like The Man Who Wasn't There. Of course, I only watched it once, and it was on a night that admittedly wasn't the best night of my life.

I have the aforementioned movie, The Big Lebowski (obviously), Fargo, O Brother, Hudsucker, and Raising Arizona in my collection. I haven't seen the others.

Great Rumbler · « **Reply #26 on:** October 30, 2009, 08:21:19 PM »

Quote from: Armitage on October 30, 2009, 07:36:46 PM

Looking at a list of their films makes me realize just how talented these guys are.

Oh definitely. 14 movies in 25 years and almost all of them are at least GOOD, there aren't a whole lot of directors that can boast that many in 50 years.

Hitler Stole My Potato · « **Reply #27 on:** October 30, 2009, 08:29:47 PM »

Quote from: Bebpo on October 30, 2009, 07:39:09 PM

//This makes me realizes I never got around to watching Raising Arizona because I hate Cage so much. I should do that.

My Nicolas Cage hatred runs wide and deep but I'll be damned if he doesn't play the perfect white trash bumpkin in Raising Arizona. He was born to play that role.

Great Rumbler · « **Reply #28 on:** October 30, 2009, 08:40:01 PM »

Quote from: Hitler Stole My Potato on October 30, 2009, 08:29:47 PM

Quote from: Bebpo on October 30, 2009, 07:39:09 PM
//This makes me realizes I never got around to watching Raising Arizona because I hate Cage so much. I should do that.

My Nicolas Cage hatred runs wide and deep but I'll be damned if he doesn't play the perfect white trash bumpkin in Raising Arizona. He was born to play that role.

Yeah, he plays that role really well. Plus, it's Coen brothers movie, it's not going to have bad acting in it.

Phoenix Dark · « **Reply #29 on:** October 30, 2009, 09:00:00 PM »

I've only seen NCFOM, Fargo, and Big Lebowski. All three rocked

Don Flamenco · « **Reply #30 on:** October 30, 2009, 09:16:14 PM »

Quote from: Hitler Stole My Potato on October 30, 2009, 08:29:47 PM

Quote from: Bebpo on October 30, 2009, 07:39:09 PM
//This makes me realizes I never got around to watching Raising Arizona because I hate Cage so much. I should do that.

My Nicolas Cage hatred runs wide and deep but I'll be damned if he doesn't play the perfect white trash bumpkin in Raising Arizona. He was born to play that role.

There was a time when he was cool. See also: Wild at Heart.
[youtube=560,345] ZXP5ODvsXko[/youtube]

Great Rumbler · « **Reply #31 on:** October 30, 2009, 09:28:24 PM »

[youtube=560,345]WxCR5KA47kU[/youtube]

Dickie Dee · « **Reply #32 on:** October 30, 2009, 10:34:43 PM »

Fargo

O' Brother was slightly a mess (it was based loosely on the Odyssey for much good reason), but it was an enjoyable mess.

COW! I HATE COWS WORSE THAN COPPERS!

Donono · « **Reply #33 on:** October 31, 2009, 07:20:04 AM »

Coen brothers need to make a movie about American hero Lynndie England. A dark comedy.

Great Rumbler · « **Reply #34 on:** October 31, 2009, 12:08:20 PM »

Quote from: Donono on October 31, 2009, 07:20:04 AM

Coen brothers need to make a movie about American hero Lynndie England. A dark comedy.

:|

HyperZoneWasAwesome · « **Reply #35 on:** November 01, 2009, 11:43:42 AM »

I'm not sure I could pick out a personal favorite Coen bros. film, as there isn't any of their movies that I don't, at the least, like a lot (even The Ladykillers is a riot I tells ya). And even though they came very close to one with No Country for Old Men, I fervently believe if they ever tackled a straight horror film, they would absolutely nail it.

Oh, and by the way, did you all know that Blood Simple is getting remade by Chinese auteur Zhang Yimou. Yes, really, here you can see the awesome Sun Hong Lei (Mongel, Triangle) as M. Emmet Walsh.

[youtube=560,345]yF_-J3yX2Vw[/youtube]

look for it in American art house theaters sometime next year.

News:

Author Topic: I just finished watching the Coen brother's filmography to date (Read 2101 times)