The Coen Brothers have gone from Funky Indy filmmakers to mainstream Hollywood since they first arrived in 1984. A follower of their work since “Blood Simple,” which I saw at The Quad theater in NYC’s Village area, I’m looking forward to their new film “Inside Llewyn Davis.” Starring Justin Timberlake, the film also more than solidifies the singer’s place as an A-List movie actor.
Joel and Ethan Coen have worked with a multitude of talent from Holly Hunter to Cedric “The Entertainer”, from the recently departed James Gandolfini to the legendary Paul Newman. Additional thespians that have entered the Coen Brothers school include a plethora of noted actors and actresses, several of them with an Academy Award win or nomination to their credit. Among the list are: Tom Hanks, Jeff Bridges, Hailee Steinfeld, Matt Damon, George Clooney, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Josh Brolin, John Goodman, Nicolas Cage, Julianne Moore, John Turturro, Richard Kind, Marlon Wayons, Steve Buscemi, Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Frances McDormand to name a handful. McDormand and Joel Coen got married the year “Blood Simple” hit theaters. Frances frequently collaborates with her spouse and brother-in-law Ethan. In 1996, she won an Oscar for “Best Actress” for her role in the duo’s critically acclaimed box office hit “Fargo.” I can remember going to see it like it was yesterday. I took my friend Khristina, it was her first Coen Brothers flick — “What the fu*k did I just see,” she exclaimed as we were exiting the theater. “Fargo” the television series is in pre-production and expected to air in 2014. By now, fans and theater goers have pretty much caught on to the quirkiness and avant-garde style of a Coen Brothers film. One of the greatest pop-cultural phenomena related to a Coen Brothers movie, is post ‘Big Lebowski’ success ala “Lebowskifest”. The irony of the success of the festival, is that “The Big Lebowski” movie closed in theaters only after six weeks when it was released. Held all over the world, “Lebowskifest” is in its 12th year — the movie came out in 1998 — http://www.lebowskifest.com/default.aspx
Since “Blood Simple,” the Coen Brothers have helmed 17 feature films as directors and written and produced other noteworthy projects. Their next endeavor as producers is for the film “Unbroken,” which is Angelina Jolie’s third film as a director. “Unbroken” chronicles the life of Louis Zamperini, an Olympic runner who was taken prisoner by Japanese armed forces in the midst of World War II. “Inside Llewyn Davis” is the story of a singer/song-writer who navigates his way through New York’s folk music scene during the 1960s. In addition to Timberlake, Carey Mulligan, Coen favorite John Goodman, Adam Driver, F. Murray Abraham, Garrett Hedlund and Oscar Isaac star in the movie slated for the silver screen in December.
for the love of the Funkin’ Coen Brothers
c-dub
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