Barton Fink (Joel Coen [& Ethan Coen], 1991) dp Roger Deakins; John Turturro, John Goodman, Judy Davis
A renowned New York playwright is enticed to California to write for the movies and discovers the hellish truth of Hollywood.
The first Coen film I saw was Blood Simple (1984) but I didn't 'get' that. (I'm not sure I do even now.) The one I enjoy most is Fargo (1996) — but Barton Fink is the one that makes my top ten list. It's not only complex, and surrealist, but also set in the cinema world, so I can call it metafilmic. And the actors are very good. I remember this as the first time I saw John Goodman (tho I may have seen him in some TV show) and I thought - and still think - he's wonderful.
Fear, David 2021, 'Barton Fink at 30: why the Coen brothers’ movie is a masterpiece', Rolling Stone.
Garry Gillard | reviews | New: 25 March, 2017 | Now: 26 April, 2023