I just saw Fargo earlier today, and I decided to write a more informal review about it to express my disdain for the Cohen brothers and their work. I personally haven't liked any of the Cohen brothers movies that I have seen (No Country For Old Men, The Big Lebowski, Fargo, Burn After Reading) and I'm going to make some statements about the Cohen brothers that I've gathered from the movies I have seen. So, hardcore fans, please don't get all offended and start pulling out obscure Cohen films that don't fit the mold that I'm about to state, because I haven't seen them.
The irony of most Cohen brothers movies is the fact that they are so damn formulaic. This is ironic because they are reputed to be a mish-mash of all these crazy circumstances and uniquely odd/quirky characters. These characters could never be repeated in any other movies, right? Or could they?
All of the Cohen Brothers movies have a static character in their films, someone who is unchanged(in thought or opinion) by the end of the movie, and this character is never fazed by any of the crazy events that are going on around them. An example of this would be jerry Lundegaard in Fargo, who negotiates the terms of his wife's kidnapping as if it were a car sale, not knowing that his wife was in the hands of killers. Or Brad Pitt's idiotic character in Burn After Reading. These characters are focused on a single, ultimately, unimportant thing for the entire movie. This is one part of the formula.
The next part of the formula has two parts. Part one includes a nice little bit of intense violence. This is to disgust the audience or startle them, and it serves as a contrast to the second part. The second part is a bit of normal, boring, banter. Everyday, inconsequential things just take up screen time, and you wonder, why do I have to watch some hippie walk around in his underwear for twenty minutes? I mean, I can do these things at home, movies cost a lot these days! If there is a reason this mix of violence/mundaneness is in every single movie, then it is lost on me.
The third part of a Cohen Brothers movie is adultery. Throw in some scenes where there is the tempation or actual act of adultery, and there you have it. I don't know why this could contribute to a movie other than in helping tie the bizarre coincidences together at the end, but that's just me.
I'm not saying a formulaic movie can't be a good one, it's just that I find the Cohen Brothers formula to be very unbearable. I challenge and invite you all to comment on this, but please remember that it is my opinion, and each one of us sees something different when we see a film!
So there you have it, another Cohen Brothers masterpiece! Mix it all together and let it sit and you've got some Oscar nominations!!
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I love seeing a post that says something like "So, hardcore fans, please don't get all offended and start pulling out obscure Cohen films that don't fit the mold that I'm about to state, because I haven't seen them.", and I know that it is to me that you are referring haha. To those of you who are unaware, it is I who have been lending Benny Coen Brothers films in an attempt to show him their excellence.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, they are the Coen Brothers, not the Cohen Brothers. If you are going to insult them, at least get their names right.
Benny, you are a very good friend of mine, and we have been through a lot together. I have nothing but the utmost respect for you, and your opinions are ones that can be valued. That being said, your opinions in this subject are wrong.
To call a Coen Brothers film formulaic seems a bit ridiculous. The Big Lebowski was about a deadbeat who gets caught up in a kidnapping plot that leads to nihilism, porn executive thugs, and a scattering of ashes from a Folgers coffee can. Burn After reading had so many sub plots that saying there was a formula is outright fallacious. Fargo was a bit of a typical kidnapping gone wrong film, but the cinematography and the terrific performances by Macy and McDormand made it something special.
I'd also like to address your hope that a die hard fan will not pull out "obscure" films to negate you. However, if you are going to make such generalizations about film-makers, you cannot expect us to keep those movies a "secret".
Barton Fink was different from the formula you have described. The main character of that film, Barton Fink, was very much affected by the people and events around him. What could be argued is that the character did not WANT to be affected by these people because he was so intent on preserving himself, but he could not help it.
The Man Who Wasn't There was also a film that did not follow a recognizable formula. Although it started as a basic murder mystery, it ended up being a unique experience and a fantastic film noir. I'd love to give you more details, but this comment is too long as it is.
Raising Arizona was about two slow witted rednecks stealing a baby and caring for it as their own, all while dealing with 2 escaped convicts in their home and Nicolas Cage's characters urge to rob convenience stores. Can't find a formula there.
But that's just my opinion. Each one of us sees something different when we see a film!
To add on, it is not to say that you do not make some good points. Yes, the Coen Brothers do tend to reuse ideas such as kidnapping and violence and such, but is it not true that everybody should do what they are good at? How many times has Martin Scorcese made a film that dealt with the mob or corruption?
ReplyDeleteLol I knew the exact argument you'd make Nick! Also, I consider the correct spelling of their names like the same way I think about their movies, not worth my time!
ReplyDeleteWell arguably the movies I have mentioned are the most recent/famous Co(h)en Brothers films, and I can switch my formula to a "formula to trick people to think a particular Co(h)en Brothers film is good". I haven't seen the ones you mentioned so again, I can't comment on them. I just know what I saw, and it was terrible!!!!
That's true about Scorcese, it's just that when he uses a "formula" if you can call it that for his work, it ends up good, lol. I don't mind formulaic movies if they are satisfying, but I would rather watch the Little Mermaid twice over any Coen Brothers movie once!
ReplyDeleteWhy wouldn't it be called a formula for Scorcese? He reuses ideas just as much as the Coen Brothers so why is it called a formula for them and good work for him? Doesn't seem very fair. And by the way, my quest to get you to like a Coen brothers film does not end here. No sir. You still have The Man Who Wasn't There, and Barton Fink, and when I finally get to see Blood Simple, I'll probably show you that as well. The Hudsucker Proxy was pretty good too.
ReplyDeleteI'm totally OK with your opinions Benny. I'm sure the Coen Brothers don't mind either. They have their 4 Academy Awards to comfort them. (5 if you consider Frances McDormand has one, and she is Joel Coen's wife).
Well for one thing, there is absolutely no comparison at all between Scorcese's work and the Coen Brothers. He has produced more timeless films than they could EVER hope to achieve.
ReplyDeleteHaha, I'm open to watching them, but I don't think my opinion will change.
And popular opinion (or Academy opinion) doesn't matter to me, I don't think the number of Oscars a film receives correlates with the quality of the movie itself. P.S. his wife is ugly!
I have to go with Nick on this one, Benny. If the Kohan brothers have any "formula" at all, it is that we live in an utterly chaotic world. THe barrenness of life as depicted in FArgo was "chilling" in every way. The protagonist is pregnant, but we can only surmise that she is bringing forth not life, but living death.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite Cogheen brothers film is still "Blood Simple," their first. I love the opening quote: "It doesn't matter who you are, President of the United STates, Pope in Rome, Man of the year, ... there's no such thihng as a guarantee."
That being said, I can very much sympatize with someone who doesnt like their films. THey are the blackest of black visions of life.
Scorcese? Ha. I've always hated his work. Ask me in class and I'll tell you how I got into big trouble because of my distate for Scorcese.
Well obviously I disagree with you both, but to each his own I suppose! I see you poked fun at my misspelling, I made it out of ignorance but I will leave it out of contempt for the Cogheen brothers!!!
ReplyDeleteHaha, alright Mr. Bennett I'll be sure to ask you tomorrow
I like some of the Coen Brothers films but I don't think they are fantastic. I think that I am somewhere directly in between Nick and Benny on this one as I do like their work, but not all of them, and I don't always like the climax of their films.
ReplyDeleteYour out of your element benny!! jk lol
ReplyDeletei like some of there movies like jimmy, but i love the big lebowski