Coen Bros Articles
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Notable Festivals: Venice Like the recording industry before it, the film industry has sustained a seismic shift over the past decade and change— both in small movements made gradually and in giant, abrupt leaps. While experts and armchair analysts alike feared that the advent of home video in the 1970’s and 80’s would result in…
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In 2017, directors Joel and Ethan Coen returned to the commercial fold for a high-profile Super Bowl spot. Titled “EASY DRIVER”, the spot for Mercedes-Benz pays winking tribute to the lasting influence of Dennis Hopper’s pioneering independent film, EASY RIDER (1969), depicting a gang of goofball bikers blasting Steppenwolf’s “Born To Be Wild” in a…
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There’s a saying in Hollywood that goes: “you’re only as good as your last movie”, and while we all would like to think that’s really not the case, it’s unfortunately been proven true time and time again in the court of public opinion. Directing team Joel and Ethan Coen are well acquainted with this sentiment,…
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Notable Festivals: Cannes (Jury Grand Prize), New York Inducted Into the Criterion Collection: 2016 Any aspiring artist can tell you the long, sad, often-frustrating story of their attempts to break through in their chosen medium. The pursuit of making art as one’s primary means of income, while incredibly exhilarating and fulfilling in its victories (both…
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Notable Festivals: Berlinale (Opening Night) Joel and Ethan Coen’s most recent film, 2010’s TRUE GRIT, also happens to be one of their best. Positioning itself as a second adaption to Charles Portis’ original novel (as opposed to a remake of the 1969 film starring John Wayne), it would go on to become one of the…
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Over a career spanning nearly three decades, Joel and Ethan Coen have built up one of the most impressive bodies of work in cinematic memory. Their feature work is often held up as the gold standard of directing excellence, made all the more special by their independent roots. So color me surprised to learn (when…
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Notable Festivals: Toronto, London Independent Spirit Awards: Robert Altman Award In the late 2000’s, Joel and Ethan Coen were experiencing a career resurgence in the wake of their Best Director win at the 2008 Academy Awards. After shooting BURN AFTER READING (2008), a comedic palette-cleanser of sorts, the Coens again defied expectation by tackling subject…
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Notable Festivals: Venice (Out of Competition) Hot off the career highlight that was the dual Oscar wins (Picture and Director) for 2007’s NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN, Joel and Ethan Coen found themselves the subject of lofty expectations regarding their next project. While a short contribution to the TO EACH HIS OWN CINEMA anthology project…
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Notable Festivals: Cannes (In Competition), Toronto, New York Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Adapted Screenplay The year 2007 was a watershed year for me in regards to my development as a filmmaker. For starters, it marked ten full years that I had been making films– I was only eleven when I…
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Notable Festivals: Cannes (Un Certain Regard) In 2006, a film called PARIS, JE T’AIME premiered with a unique concept. It was an omnibus film, consisting of twenty separate shorts directed by twenty different directors. The common thread uniting them was that timeless city of light, Paris. It was well-received, spawning a series of similar anthology…
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Notable Festivals: Cannes (Jury Prize) I had never seen Joel and Ethan Coen’s 2004 feature, THE LADYKILLERS, until only recently. However, funnily enough, I do remember its release. I remember seeing posters for the film displayed at Pioneer Place mall in downtown Portland, OR, which had a theatre that I frequented in those days. I…
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The Coen Brothers are generally regarded as two of the finest living American filmmakers. Each of their films has been released to some modicum of critical acclaim and/or box office success. However, they are people like you and I, and are prone to mistakes. Every career has its mis-step, and the Coens’ tenth feature– 2003’s…