Every year there seems to be one movie that is great in quality and entertainment but, for whatever reason, is continually overshadowed by other good movies.
“Rust and Bone” (2012), “Warrior” (2011), “Never Let Me Go” (2010) and “Bright Star” (2009) are examples from the last few years.
The victim from 2013 comes from cinema’s favorite brother duo, Joel and Ethan Coen. Beginning with “Blood Simple.” in 1984, the two have made a career out of making “weird” films. Not weird enough to turn off most audiences like directors Terry Gilliam or Todd Solondz, but enough to keep viewers interested while raising an eyebrow.
The brothers have established a cult following with films such as “Raising Arizona,” “The Big Lebowski,” and “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” and became Oscar darlings with “Fargo,” “No Country for Old Men” and “A Serious Man.”
Their latest feature, “Inside Llewyn Davis,” like their previous effort, “True Grit,” seems to be trying to ‘normalize’ the duo’s movies just a little bit.
In 1961 Greenwich Village, a struggling folk musician named Llewyn Davis (Oscar Isaac) sleeps on his friends’ couches regularly, owes money, can’t get his new solo album sold and still is mourning the loss of his music partner’s suicide.
His older sister Joy (Jeanine Serralles) thinks he’s wasting his life away, and his manager (Ethan Phillips) is too flaky to help him financially. As if things aren’t bad enough, Llewyn also discovers he has impregnated Jean (Carey Mulligan), wife of fellow musician Jim (Justin Timberlake).
Garrett Hedlund, John Goodman, Adam Driver and F. Murray Abraham make appearances throughout Llewyn’s short odyssey.
“Inside Llewyn Davis” is loosely inspired by real folk artist Dave Van Ronk (the title coming from his album Inside Dave Van Ronk), and features some noticeable “Coenisms” throughout that should ring familiar to fans and other film viewers. But it carries a bleak realism that sticks with the audience for a while after it’s over. There isn’t much color used in the film, save for a red sweater on Jean or album cover, and it translates well with the tone of the story.
Isaac delivers one of the best lead performances that is gaining him some award nods and even a couple wins so far. Llewyn Davis is a character that expresses his emotions as much through his music than by the many arguments he has in the course of the tale that deserves attention.
T-Bone Burnett and Marcus Mumford give us one of the best soundtracks of 2013, with some excellently produced tracks recorded by the actors that include original and traditional material.
If there is anything to complain about with the Coens’ new feature, it’s the lack of Hedlund, who once again convinces us that he really could belong in the 1960s.
For those curious to see what the underdog of awards season is this year, it’s “Inside Llewyn Davis.”
mbianco@durangoherald.com. Megan Bianco is a movie reviewer and also contributes other entertainment related features and articles. She is a graduate of Cal State University, Northridge, where she studied film criticism and screenwriting.
Inside Llewyn Davis
CBS Films presents a film directed and written by Ethan and Joel Coen. Starring Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan, Justin Timberlake, John Goodman, Garrett Hedlund and F. Murray Abraham. Running time: 105 minutes. Rated: R (for language and some sexual references).
