Inside Llewyn Davis

The Coen brothers knock it out of the park once again with their painfully truthful portryal of a 1960's folk singer's struggle for success and survival. 

Directed by: Joel & Ethan Coen
Released: 2013
Staring: Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan, Justin Timgerlake, John Goodman, Garrett Hedlund, & Adam Driver.
Rated: R

  If there's one thing Hollywood loves, it's films about show business and rising stars. If there's one thing Hollywood loves more, it's films about those rising stars crashing and burning. Quite often we see these films taking place on the glittering streets of Broadway, grungy British pubs, and Cadillac recording studios. The Coen Brothers take the story of the struggling artist and place within a minimalist genre. The absence of  gaudy, loud shows leaves the audience susceptible to the characters and the raw emotions that fuel this quiet powerhouse of a film.

  Born in St. Louis Park Minnesota, the Coen Brothers bring their uniquely distinct Midwestern style to New York's Greenwich Village. The Brothers are known for their odd company of characters and relatively abstract stories and Llewyn Davis is no exception. The Coens have released a series of hits and misses throughout the past couple years. No Country For Old Men ('07) hit, Burn After Reading ('08) miss, A Serious Man ('09) miss, True Gritt ('10) hit. Inside Llewyn Davis is a sure fire hit.

Ethan Coen, Oscar Isaac, and Joel Coen on set.

  A first rate acting ensemble brings the Coen's distinct troupe of characters to life. Oscar Isaac's performance verges on bitter perfection. In the title role, Isaac creates a character the audience gets behind and supports, but he doesn't shy away from Llewyn's nastier nature. It's that brutally honest frustration, jealousy and exhaustion that makes Isaac's performance one worthy of Academy notoriety. Blending seamlessly with his emotion acting performance, is Isaac's singing talents; his voice is clear enough to raise goosebumps but it's the spontaneous edge that brings his character to life. Marcus Mumford adds his famous voice to the brilliant folk soundtrack, fusing perfectly with Isaac.

  Cary Mulligan, who has become quite the Hollywood darling over the past couple years, gives a firecracker performance as Llewyn's friend, part time love, and worst enemy. Mulligan doesn't hold back when it comes to berating Llewyn and giving him a piece of her mind.  The performance borders on melodramatic but works, adding a spark of heat to the chilly atmosphere of the film. Accompanied by a giddy Justin Timberlake, the two make an odd and slightly cartoonish couple; a perfect fit for the Coen's script.


  Inside Llewyn Davis works so many levels because the Coen's don't shy away from reality. What we the audience may see as unfair treatment of our anti-hero are the truthful consequences of many an artist. Llewyn's struggle and stubborn attitude are unrelenting, leaving the audience almost as frustrated as he is. The the film, like so many in the Coen's repertoire, are neither drama nor comedy, simply a commentary on the life of one man. That being said, Inside Llewyn Davis is one of the Coen's more humorous films thanks in large part to a restless cat and a handful of supporting actors like Timberlake, Adam Driver, and John Goodman.

  With it's misfit company of characters, superbly performed folk melodies, and heat-wrenching story, Inside Llewyn Davis should be a critical and commercial success for both Writer/Directors and actors alike. It's modern, yet classic; Isaac's performance is definitely in contention as one of the best of the year and as far as the film itself is concerned, it's one of my personal favorites of 2013.