Every time a new film by the Coen brothers comes out, I dread having to hear from the same old so-and-so’s who can’t bear to slog through the Coens’ peculiar brand of pessimism. The words “bleak” and “cynical” often pepper their reviews rather liberally, along with some gasp of regret that the brothers don’t seem ... read more »

My identification with and love for THE WRESTLER has been growing in the day since I saw it, and then I remembered I wrote a whole piece in Bright Lights Film Journal about BARTON FINK and the use of wrestling as universal metaphor: Blood, Sweat and Canvas a couple issues ago. “The titles of the ... read more »

(warning, a few tiny spoilers) I caught the newest Coen over the weekend. I’ll save the crux of my critical argument for a more official review, but I mostly liked it; although as a screwball comedy it was a bit lazy. The pace never really climbs to that maniacal pandaemonium we’ve always wanted from los ... read more »

[SPOILERPHOBES BEWARE!! The following post comments in a general fashion on the endings of No Country for Old Men and The Great Silence, as well as what happens to Marion Crane (Janet Leigh) in Psycho. Oh yes, and Rosebud was Kane's sled.] The Coen Brothers’ No Country for Old Men has emerged as the most ... read more »