I agree that No Country had great cinematography but considering that the film that beat it for that category was There Will be Blood I think that can be accepted.
I had a similar mindset about the Fargo TV series, fearing that it might taint one of my favorite movies. But I finally watched it and it is genuinely fantastic. I would recommend it to anyone.
Honestly, one of the best things about the Fargo TV spinoff is that it manages to respect the original movie and keep it at arms length. I don't think lack of enjoyment within the TV series could ruin the movie for anyone.
It is ridiculous how many brilliant films these guys have made. Who can compete with them? Hitchcock, maybe. But for sheer quantity of quality they are a cut above anyone living. Also worth remembering how comfortably they move through genres.
Brother, Fargo, Lebowski, No Country, in no particular Order. No. 5 is negotiable. Could be Miller, Fink, Lewellin, basically any of 10 films. But IMO, those 4 remain the standouts.
I felt exactly the same about the Fargo TV series.....but then I actually watched it and was blown away. The film is undoubtably an untouchable classic, but the TV show is excellent as well. They nail the dark comedy and atmosphere of the film and still manage to put an original slant on it. Would highly recommend it to anyone who has doubt about it.
interesting note about the double bill of Blood Simple and Evil Dead. Joel Coen actually worked on Evil Dead as an assistant editor, in fact it was one of his first jobs in film I believe. Also, Evil Dead was the inspiration for how Blood Simple was funded
The Coens are some of my favorite filmmakers. Their view of the world is alternately hilarious and terrifying in ways that no other storytellers can describe. For my money, my five favorite films of their's would have to be: 5. O, Brother Where Art Thou? 4. No Country for Old Men 3. Fargo 2. A Serious Man 1. Inside Llewyn Davis, which happens to be the latest movie I have seen that has utterly bowled me over and changed the way I look at film and, in a way, at life.
With you on 'No country...' and yes it should have won the cinematography Oscar. Blood simple is quite simply brilliant, the best modern Noir I ever seen. Fargo yes as well, good to hear what you think about the Coens work.
Fargo's also my favourite Coen brothers film but Mr Kermode you should definitely watch the TV series. It's set in the same universe and is outstanding television!
I could say that my Coen brothers entry point was Raising Arizona, because that's the first of their movies I saw, in 1988. But it was Miller's Crossing really, for the simple reason that it made me want to know who created it. I was so mad for that movie, I remember calling people, specifically to tell them to watch it.
I saw the TV show of "Fargo" first, so for me that's the best version. Plus there's something beautiful about seeing the coen brothers go back to work on something they did so well, and improve on it.
Inside Llewyn Davis is one of my top 10 favourite movies. Plus the phone pad sketch in The Big Lebowski is the greatest visual gag in the history of cinema.
Got to say, i would have popped The Big Lebowski in maybe instead of Millers Crossing, or at very least as an extremely honourable mention. Fargo is just.. Its incredible. I love it. And the TV show too. First, and second series. Some of the best television i've ever watched. Capturing the character, and the world just perfectly.
Glad you watched Big Lebowski a few more times. It's genius is so subtle, it's nuanced scenes so meaningful in their meaninglessness that it is truly a master level work. Every viewing, you will enjoy it more. Watch it 5 more times and I bet it would easily take a top spot in this list!
The TV series of Fargo in no way spoils or cheapens the film. It is made with the same genuine love and respect for the people of Minnesota that came from the film. If anything the series made revisit the film and appreciate it more.
Interesting how this differs for so many people. I'd have put The Man Who Wasn't There somewhere, being that I saw that for the first time recently and it became a firm favourite.
The body of work of the Cone Brothers is so strong and varied that the chances of someone having the exact same top five as you are slim. My top 5 in no particular order is No Country, For Old Men, Miller's Crossing, Inside Llewyn Davis, The Man Who Wasn't There and Fargo although there are many more that are close.
Fargo is my favourite too, and it always reminds me how cool my dad was because he loved it so much. It also has Steve Buscemi in it, my ultimate fave living actor.
There is so much that I love about A Serious Man, that it became my favourite Coen Brothers movie. The never ending sorrow of Larry Gopnik, the acting of the ALL actors (the fist time I saw Michael Stuhlbarg in a film, this movie put him certainly on the map) is astoundingly great and funny. The running gags ('just a minute!'), the rabbi's (especially Simon Helberg who is awesome). So yes, it's in my top five Coen Brothers.
2016 and still not watching TV's Fargo Mark? Pretty silly move if you ask me. We all expected it to be a heartless cash grab but its was in fact absolutely wonderful. The Coens themselves signed off on it and even mentioned that show runner Noah Hawley did such a good job that to the Coens themselves it felt like something they had written when they first saw the scripts. Fargo is still my favourite film of theirs but the show really does deserve to be seen. Its been the best show on television for the past 2 years.
The Big Lebowski. Loved it the first time around in theatres, have been rewatching and enjoying it ever since. Rest of my Coens top 5: Blood Simple No country for old men The man who wasn't there Fargo
I think you've found a great film maker(s) when you can have a completely different top 5 of their films as someone and still completely agree with their list. Any ways here is mine 5. A Serious Man 4. Inside Llewyn Davis 3. No Country For Old Men 2. Fargo 1. The Big Lebowski
1. 'The Big Lebowski'- Nothing to do with Vietnam 2. 'Barton Fink'- You're alright, Charlie 3. 'Inside Llewyn Davis'- A little careerist 4. 'The Hudsucker Proxy'- An antelope... or an ibex 5. 'Fargo'- Are we square?
My top 5 (tho I haven't seen Miller's Crossing, Barton Fink or Hudsucker Proxy): 1. O Brother, Where Art Thou? 2. Burn After Reading 3. No Country for Old Men 4. Fargo 5. Inside Llewyn Davis
I still need to see Blood Simple, A Serious Man and The Man Who Wasn't There, but the rest are probably my favourites of the Coens so far from what Kermode picked.
1 A Serious Man 2. Inside Llewelyn Davis 3. Blood Simple 4. No Country for Old Men 5. Barton Fink Of course, Raising Arizona and the Big Lebowski are both incredible films too, and Fargo obviously. He is right about this list being tough to forge. Very prolific duo!
1. The Big Lebowski (!!!) 2. No Country for old men 3. Inside Llewyn Davis. 4. Fargo 5. Oh brother were art thou. Miller Crossing only just missed a spot there.
Excellent choices! Fargo is a masterpiece! And yep, The Big Lebowski deserves an honorable mention! I actually enjoyed the quirky, hysterical "Raising Arizona" and the very ironic adaptation of "The Ladykillers". "True Grit" isn't too shabby either. Brilliant casting and acting - Jeff Bridges is hilarious as a parody of the old, grizzled, bearded, seen it all, but not too bright Old West guy (just like Sam Elliott was in TBL, in a more clean cut and collected way). Haven't seen it yet, but I guess Kurt Russell does something very similar in "The Hateful Eight". Anyway: love the dark humor and irony in all of the Coen Brothers' work (Just couldn't make it through: "O Brother, Where Art You?" - perhaps I should give it another try?). Thanks for another great video!
“Are you sure? Because - I mean - how do ya know?” - Marge Gunderson The real top 5 are: Fargo, Big Lebowski, A Serious Man, Inside Llewyn Davis and True Grit. This is where the Coens go from merely excellent and impressive to hypnotic.
i myself love O' Brother Where Art Thou i do not particularly care for bluegrass music but the soundtrack is amazing plus its a wonderful adaptation of Homer's Odyssey. and i loved their version of True Grit
1. Fargo 2. No Country For Old Men 3. Inside Llewyn Davis 4. Burn After Reading 5. O Brother, Where Art Thou? Haven't seen the following: Blood Simple Miller's Crossing Barton Fink Raising Arizona The Hudsucker Proxy A Serious Man Hail, Caesar!
I'd say this top 5 are my top 5, but in different order. For me, it's: Blood Simple, No Country, Fargo, Miller's Crossing, Barton Fink. All masterpieces.
I very often don’t agree with Kermode, but I like his constructive criticism. In this case his favourite Coen brothers’ movie happens to be mine as well.
As much as I respect you and I know you finally "Got" The Big Lebowski, but surely one of the greatest comedies ever made deserved a mention. Also O Brother where art thou, which I recently rewatched, and I think as time goes by that too will become a classic. But Fargo would also be my number 1. Hopely Hail Ceaser is as good as the trailers.
Fargo, Inside Llewyn Davis, A Serious Man, The Big Lebowski and No Country For Old Men. Honourable mention: Miller's Crossing. I think honestly the greatest strength of the Coen bros. films is how different they are, and yet with such quality through their output.
