Joel's 5 Favorite Coen Brother Films

I have seen every film that Joel and Ethan Coen have directed.  One of the interesting things about the Coen Brothers' films is that most of them take more than one viewing to really sink in.  For instance, I remember being almost repelled the first time I saw Fargo, but it has ended up being one of my favorite films not only by the Coens, but also one of my favorite films ever.  Their films have ranged greatly in theme, setting and tone, but they do all have some idiosyncrasies that bind them.  Above all, the Coen Brothers love film making.  When they received an Oscar for Best Picture for "No Country For Old Men", one of the brothers said that they see their film making as playing in the sand box.  The work that they have done exhibits that.  It is entertaining, never overly sentimental, and always concerned with craft.  Here's my list, in no particular order:

Fargo

Though they achieved their glory with "No Country for Old Men", this film, to me, is the quintessential Coen Brothers movie.  It has everything.  It has quirky dialogue, wonderfully realized characters, an engaging plot, and a wonderful setting.  Setting is always very important in the films of the Coen Brothers.  The place in which their films are set often takes on a character of its own.  Perhaps one of the reasons this film works so well is that it is set in the place of their birth.  Minneapolis provides the backdrop for this blood soaked murder tale.  What breaks through in this movie that sometimes doesn't break through in some of the Coens' work is the subtle sentimentality made manifest in the character of Marge Gunderson (Frances McDormand).  It is her simple Midwestern decency which is the heart of this movie.  As Jerry Lundegaard (a wonderfully inept character brought to life by William H. Macy) makes a bigger and bigger mess of his plot, her cleverness solves the mystery.  She is constantly being underestimated, and even though there is tragedy in the film, Gunderson's hard work does indeed pay off. 

Fargo is one of those films that makes you marvel.  The characters are so real, so funny, and so true to life.  The movie has popularized the Minnesota accent, but the longer I live here, the more I see how affectionate the portrayal is.  While the body count continues to grow in the film thanks to Steve Buscemi's loose cannon cut rate criminal, Frances McDormand continues to work to solve the case, and she continues to live her simple, lovely life.  The scenes between her and her husband are among the most poignant I can ever remember seeing on film, and they provide a welcome relief from the blood shed in the movie.  They remind us that the people who execute justice have very normal lives.  The love that the two of them share is comfortable, decent love.  You just don't see that portrayed in films very often.  Stories like this come along so rarely.

True Grit

The Coens' most recent effort may be their least offbeat work, but it is a highly satisfying and engaging western.  It is clear that they loved the novel upon which the film is based, and the result is a good film with great characters and an exciting story.  The setting is important in this film as well.  With many westerns, beautiful vistas and stunning sunsets enhance the film and give them an almost dream like quality.  The sparse landscapes and harsh realities of the West in this film are a noteworthy contrast.  There is still a beauty to the landscape in the film, but one that is much more harrowing and desolate.

When Mattie Ross (a great performance by newcomer Hailee Steinfeld) loses her father, she goes on a quest to avenge her father.  This leads her to hire U.S. Marshall Rooster Cogburn (Jeff Bridges) to help her track down the man who killed her father, Tom Cheney.  The movie is a classic western very well told.  In the end, it does have some distinctly Coen Brothers stamps, but over all it is a simple narrative very well told.  Jeff Bridges is the cornerstone of the movie, making a drunken washed up Marshall truly sympathetic.  Matt Damon is also good as a Texas Ranger who joins in the hunt, and who has more to him than meets the eye.  There is not a lot to really ponder in this movie.  It is simply a great western that reminds all of us that sometimes in a film, story is everything.  This is a great story.

Raising Arizona

One of the most uproarious comedies I have ever seen.  Nicholas Cage plays Hi, an ex con who is trying to get back to the straight and narrow. When he marries police officer Ed, they learn that they cannot have children, and they kidnap one of the Arizona quintuplets.   This sets off a series of mad events which make for a hilarious roller coaster ride. 

A lot of times, comedies can be best remembered for certain scenes.  We all end up quoting these scenes to others, and a certain bond takes place.  For me, the scene in which Nathan Arizona is being questioned regarding the disappearance of his son is gold.  I cannot think of any 5 minutes of screen time wherein more huge laughs are stuffed.  Every performance in this movie is note perfect, and it gets funnier each time you see it.

A Serious Man

The last two films on my list are films that I have only seen once, but they each made a big impact on me.  This film seems like a very personal work, as it was filmed partly in the suburb wherein the Coens acutally grew up.  I worked in St. Louis Park, MN for 3 years, and the synagogue used for part of the filming was very close to the Trader Joe's where I worked.  This film has a lot going for it, primarily an almost Job-like meditation on suffering and what happens when things go terribly wrong for a man.  It follows a professor named Larry whose entire life is in a state of chaos.  The film does not have much closure to it, but it does offer a fascinating look at a cultural enclave.

One of the reasons this film made such an impact on me was a single moment in the film.  I have no idea what the film makers intended with the scene, and that might not matter.  During the bar-mitzvah of Larry's son, there is a moment wherein one of the participants on the platform is carrying a heavy scroll.  As he trips due to the scroll's weight, he utters the curse, "Jesus Christ!"  There is an irony in that utterance.  The Christian belief is that Jesus Christ took upon himself the weight of the law...the sight of a person being crushed by the weight of the law and uttering Christ's name is a rich and ironic sight.  This film will demand further viewings, but my first viewing of it made a big impact.

Miller's Crossing

Though I have only seen it once, this film's narrative really captured me.  It is a lot like True Grit, because it emphasizes story over anything else.  The story of mob right hand man Tom (Gabriel Byrne) navigating his way through the double crosses and triple crosses of organized crime is highly engaging.  What has always stuck with me, however, is the veracity in the voice of John Turturro's desperate criminal.  It is amazing to think that he is not genuine, but the story of the film shows otherwise.  This movie also makes amazing use of story along with music to create some amazing scenes.  I must watch it again.