I was surprised that the Coen Brother's latest effort was snubbed for a Best Picture nomination, having heard nothing but positivity from film critics. Here's my take on it...
Inside Llewyn Davis is directed by Joel and Ethan Coen and stars Oscar Isaac in the title role. Following one week in the life of struggling folk singer Llewyn Davis, the movie has a lot to say about pursuing your dreams and finding belief in yourself in order to succeed. Although I found it to be more impressive than enjoyable, Inside Llewyn Davis is still a movie for all film fans to see.
As with every movie directed by the Coen's, the actors on screen all look laid back and comfortable with what they are doing. Justin Timberlake, Carey Mulligan and the legend that is John Goodman all do well with their allocated screen time, John Goodman producing exceptional acting despite being on screen for only 10 minutes or so.
However it is Oscar Isaac who is fantastic at centre stage as the man Llewyn Davis. Perfectly cast in the role, Isaac does brilliantly at portraying a man who is always down on his luck. Also, he adds the right mixture of likeability and genuine personality to a man who isn't exactly a Saint himself.
Another thing that impressed me was just how well the story of this man was told. The movie had a surprisingly large grasp on the story it wanted to tell on the surface as well as loads of other small details/metaphors which could spark debate amongst critics and avid film goers alike. Also with all of the misfortune Llewyn Davis is experiencing it would be easy to make the bad luck he receives far-fetched and unbelievable. Fortunately, it's realistic and believable.
Never really hugely emotionally attached to Llewyn Davis, I was more interested to see where this man's journey would take him. Granted it isn't exactly a feel-good movie with a lot of depressing stuff happening, but it is intriguing to watch the character of Llewyn Davis experience these things and develop his ideas about show-business and what he wants to do in life.
The story is at it's strongest when it is just him sat there in front of a microphone plucking away at his guitar, singing his heart out. This is where the Coen Brother's directing really shines. Also, despite missing Roger Deakins, the cinematography is fantastic. There's one category at least the Academy didn't overlook. The blurred visual style of the movie offered a welcome variation to the film and while initially it did bother me, I slowly warmed to it.
At times though the movie seems to overload itself with metaphors to the point where there really isn't a point in them being there, rather it is just the Coen's having fun by creating things that could be interpreted too deeply by film lovers. Infamous for having dividing ending's, Inside Llewyn Davis further proves this point. To me, the ending didn't seem right. It felt unfulfilled and inconclusive in my opinion.
Ultimately it is a movie that movie fans should see, and is very good movie at it's surface. I was impressed with what I saw:
Rating - B+
1 sentence summary - More impressive than it is enjoyable, this movie has some excellent story-telling minus a few confusing metaphors!
We're done. The Oscar nominations are out, I've seen all the movies that I need to and I can finally release my final Top 10 Movies of 2013 list. That is coming very soon.
Thanks for reading,
Matt
No comments:
Post a Comment