Why is it that acclaimed filmmakers' best films are typically their least known? While this movie is very prevalent with people in the cinematic community, there are so many other films that people focus on when much more energy should be devoted to stories like these. After decades of putting out hilarious, black-comedy treasures, Ethan and Joel Coen absolutely astound with Inside Llewyn Davis, a beautiful look at one man's unfortunate week. While this movie has the same aspects of comedy and lightheartedness that most of their films do, there also exists a tenderness not seen before in any of their characters like these. This might be the Coen Brothers' most mature film to date and not just because of the older subject matter but because of the human way that they handle telling this story. The idea for the plot is simple, the execution is nothing short of expectedly gorgeous, and the unforgettable characters that riddle this film are written with such care and uniqueness that can truly only come from the brains of these iconic filmmakers.
Llewyn Davis (Oscar Isaac) is a folk singer and songwriter living in 1960s Greenwich Village in New York. As he bounces from friend's place to friend's place and tries to make a living being a singer, he finds it more and more difficult to stay secure in one place. Over the course of a week, Llewyn finds his entire perspective on life thrown out of proportion as he tries to establish himself as the talented musician that he is. The entire cast of this film is fantastic and all play into this film's themes of loneliness and not belonging. Isaac is particularly great but Carey Mulligan, Justin Timberlake, Adam Driver, and John Goodman all shine in their respective roles as well. I adore how well this film approaches the idea of finding your place in the world. This might not be something entirely new but the almost musical way of going about the story is what makes this film so soft and special. This is only enhanced by the gorgeous use of color correction and the Coens' editing. Inside Llewyn Davis may look like its composed of entirely raw footage but the subtle use of grays and tans to make this movie appear bleaker than most is what endlessly captivated me. What stood out to me the most is how these often dull colors reflect the state of Llewyn's career and what that meant for his life moving forward. This film didn't exactly deliver the most intensely emotional, transcendent experience that many people have led me to believe but regardless, it is impossible to not fall in love with the atmosphere of this film and never take your eyes off the screen. With each passing scene, I found myself drawn into this world and becoming completely fascinated by each newly introduced aspect, whether it be a character and its accompanying performance or interesting subplot. Which has a lot to say about the Coens' direction and how extraordinarily well they are able to craft such a delicate and beautiful script. With each film of theirs I see, I fall more in love with their style and I know they match my needs to a tee when it comes to telling an unforgettable story.
I have also noticed a trend in the Coen Brothers' films that is not so outwardly obvious but one that only adds to making their style so fantastic. The way that they toy with chronology and ways of telling their stories is amazing and makes their audiences really pay attention to the details and intricacies of their movies. While only subtle, the framing narrative of this film and how it starts and ends with the same flashback sequence of sorts is something that is not made very clear until events of the end of the film. A simple storytelling choice should not be my main point of love for this film but it is elements like those choices that really make the Coens stand out. However, Inside Llewyn Davis would not have the usual stylistic tone of a Coens' film without the earthy use of folk music and setting that help to tell this tale. The New York setting and down-home feel that radiated from this story is incredible and is able to really bring its audience into the world with Llewyn. Hopping from apartment to apartment and city to city is just part of the uncertainty of Llewyn's life and this made for such a compelling character study. The soundtrack of this film is astounding and along with the story, is very reminiscent of something that Bob Dylan might be part of. There is a specific kind of warmth that Isaac gives off when he sings and strums his guitar that I do not think could have been pulled off by anyone else. His voice is incredible as well and makes each song throughout this film so emotionally resonant at the time of the plot. And with the smooth voice of Timberlake and booming presence of Driver, there are no other actors that could pull off a satirical and surprisingly catchy song about outer space.
Inside Llewyn Davis is not just a simple drama to be taken lightly, as I will definitely be thinking about this for a while. Oscar Isaac gives probably his best performance in this breakout role and the story revolving around his character could have not have been more perfectly representative of the Coen Brothers. Along with its amazing soundtrack and folk vibes that never stop giving back, this film is a complete treasure and one that deserves endless recognition.
My Rating: ★★★★
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