Director's Series - Coen Bros. BARTON FINK (1991)

Halfway through my viewing of the Coen Bros. 1991 weird dark comedy BARTON FINK my thoughts drifted to wondering if this film was just going to be weird or was there going to be a point/plot to this film.

And then the 2nd half of the film kicked in and I got my answer…in spades.

A dark satire of the Hollywood Studio system of the 1940’s, BARTON FINK tells the tale of a NYC Theater writer, Barton Fink (John Turturro) who is hired by a “Big Hollywood Studio” to write a “B” flick. Writer’s block ensues.

The first half of the film is weird and disjointed as Barton meets a bevy of Hollywood types. Studio Head Jack Lipnick (Michael Lerner in an Oscar-nominated turn), his “go-fer”/lackey, Lou Breeze (Jon Polito, the Coen Bros. MILLER’S CROSSING), famed writer W.P Mayhew (John Mahoney, the father, Martin Crane, in the FRASER TV Series), his wife Audrey (2x Oscar Nominee Judy Davis), Famed Director Ben Geisler (Tony Shalhoub, TV’s MONK) as well as the Bellman of his hotel, Chet (Steve Buscemi, FARGO in a role specifically written for him) and his next door neighbor, Charlie (John Goodman, RAISING ARIZONA in a role ALSO written specifically for him).

All are interesting and quirky characters but they all are in different scenes that (seemingly) have nothing to with each other (except that Barton is involved in it).

And then the 2nd half of this film kicks in and all of these disjointed characters and scenes coalesce into a whole that elevates this film to something that hits pretty hard in the end.

While Michael Lerner was nominated for an Oscar for his portrayal of studio boss Jack Lipnick (and he has the Oscar speech in this film that helps to elevate his performance and role), it is Goodman who really comes into his own in this film and it is on his broad, capable shoulders that the 2nd half of this film explodes.

And…of course…the writing, direction and cinematography of the Coen Bros. is top notch, a pair that are entering their prime as filmmakers and are exercising their artistic talents strongly.

While the first half the film is interesting, it is the 2nd half that makes this movie truly entertaining. If you haven’t seen it, check it out and if you haven’t seen this oddity in awhile, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by how strong and hard hitting this film is.

Letter Grade: A-

8 stars (out of 10) and you can take that to the Bank(ofMarquis)