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| Courtesy of CBS Films |
Not
even three weeks into January and I’m already second-guessing my Best of 2013. I
included Inside Llewyn Davis, Joel and Ethan Coen’s take on the Greenwich
Village folk scene in 1961, as an honorable mention, but it should’ve made the
Top 10. The more I reflect on the film, especially its unique characters, poignant
music, and sardonic wit, the more I love it. There’s no question it’s built for
repeat viewing.
Llewyn
Davis (Oscar Isaac, in a remarkable performance) is a struggling musician who’s
out of money, crashing on friends’ couches and quickly burning through any
goodwill he still has with his fellow artists (Justin Timberlake, Carey
Mulligan and Adam Driver). His social skills leave something to be desired (okay,
he’s a massive jerk), but he’s unquestionably talented. He just can’t seem to
catch his big break, even though he sees it happening to people he’s played
with for years.
He’s
up against impossible odds – partly because of his own ego – but he’s
determined to achieve success on his own terms. That goal includes making deals
with coffeehouse managers, taking a road trip from hell with a verbally abusive
jazz musician (John Goodman, wonderful as always), and auditioning for a
prominent Chicago manager (F. Murray Abraham, who delivers the film’s most
devastating line).
At
first glance, Inside Llewyn Davis is nowhere close to the Coen brothers’ best
work. For a couple of days after I saw it, I admired it on a technical level
but I can’t say I “liked” it. Then something strange happened. The film’s
songs, executive produced by T-Bone Burnett (the genius behind the music in the
Coens’ O Brother, Where Art Thou?), wouldn’t leave my head.
The
raw, emotional power in Isaac’s voice forced me to think about the film on a
deeper level, mulling over its subtext, its many metaphors and even the
adorable feline that launches Llewyn on his strange, melancholy journey. (I’m
only half-joking when I say that cat is one of the best actors in the movie.)
Now I count the understated movie among the duo’s best work – it sneaks up on
you.
There’s
not really a plot to speak of. Instead, the filmmakers throw viewers into a
pivotal week in Llewyn’s life. He’s forced to decide whether to keep pursuing a
dream that’s likely impossible or throw in the towel for good. Burnett’s music,
Bruno Delbonnel’s cinematography and, of course, the Coens’ masterful dialogue draw
you into the protagonist’s dilemma and make you hopeful despite his attitude
and the staggering odds.
Almost
everyone dreams of stardom and almost everyone fails to achieve it.
Inside Llewyn
Davis portrays that truth in a brutal but honest fashion.Inside Llewyn Davis is rated R for language
including some sexual references.
Grade:
A-
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