Directors of the Coen brothers: the best films

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Extraordinary, sometimes slightly absurd plot, unpredictable ending, black humor - it is easy to distinguish from other film, which was shot by the Coen brothers. The creative tandem has been delighting fans with exciting films for more than two decades. So, what are the best thrillers, dramas and comedies made by these talented directors?

Coen Brothers: debut work

The first picture, created by a creative tandem, is low-budget, belongs to the neo-noir direction. She became the thriller "Just Blood", which was released in 1984. In the center of the plot is the story of a bar owner who suspects his wife of infidelity. To collect evidence, he turns to a private detective, after which events take an unexpected turn.

Thriller can be called a kind of calling card, with the help of which the Coen brothers told the world about their very non-standard sense of humor. Interestingly, Joel in the future married an actress who got the role of an unfaithful wife.

Successfulwas the next picture - "Raising Arizona", released in 1987. This time, the Coen brothers surprised the audience with a comedy, the plot of which balances on the verge of absurdity. The main characters of the film were lovers who had difficulty conceiving a child. The solution to the problem for them was the theft of a baby from a large couple.

Best Thrillers & Dramas

"Miller's Crossing" is a drama with thriller elements presented to the public in 1990. The Coen brothers borrowed the plot from the works of Dashiell Hammett, seriously reworking it. The story tells about the confrontation between gangster groups that took place during the triumph of Prohibition in the States. The creators paid special attention to the atmosphere of the picture, achieving the maximum transfer of the oppressive tension that reigned on the streets in the era of the Great Depression. Critics especially noted the excellent characterization of the characters.

Already next year, Ethan and Joel Coen delighted fans with the new thriller "Barton Fink", saturating it with black comedy features. The protagonist of the work is an author suffering from creative stagnation, unable to create a single line of a new script. The writer is forced to seek help from a hotel roommate who turns out to be a very unusual person.

It is impossible not to mention the thriller No Country for Old Men, released in 2007. The story begins with the average hard worker finding two million dollars in the desert, a drug-laden car, and a mountain of dead bodies. The hero embezzles money, which leads toa wave of terrible crimes, in front of which law enforcement agencies are powerless. Interestingly, the musical accompaniment is completely absent, the audience will not wait for the music until the end credits.

The funniest comedies

The comedy genre is a direction in which the Coen brothers have no competitors. Films imbued with their trademark black humor are invariably becoming popular. The comedy Fargo, presented to the public in 1996, was recognized by critics as the best work of the creative tandem. The main character of the story is a pregnant girl who is a police officer. She is forced to search for the culprit of mysterious crimes that have stirred up a small town.

The Big Lebowski is another cult comedy released in 1998 by the Coen brothers. Imitation films trying to recreate the atmosphere of this picture began to appear one after another after its release. The main character of the comedy tape is an unemployed pacifist who, by the will of fate, turned out to be involved in a crime. Bizarre characters, unpredictable denouement, branded jokes - a comedy worth watching.

One more comedy film directed by the Coen brothers in 2008 cannot be ignored. We are talking about the painting "After reading burn." The action takes place in a fictional world in which only idiots live. The creators described their offspring as a kind of parody of modern spy thrillers. Interestingly, the film is completelythere are no characters that could be classified as goodies.

What else to see

"Inside Llewyn Davis" is the latest work of cult directors to date, released in 2013. The protagonist of the musical film is a talented singer who cannot achieve popularity in any way. He floats through life, periodically moonlighting in nightclubs, not even having a permanent home, having lost the support of his family. The character lives solely for the sake of music. By the way, at the time of the release of this work, the Coen brothers already had experience in creating a musical tape, since in 2000 their film “Oh, where are you, brother” was released.

New movie

In 2016, the creative duo will delight their fans with the new film "Long live Caesar", acting not only as directors, but also as screenwriters. The exact timing of the release of the expected picture is still vague, but filming is already underway.