Go to your local video store and you'll find Barton Fink in the comedy section

No doubt there is a sardonic wit that runs through their films. Even in Miller's Crossing, when Turturro is pleading for his life, it's a very thin line between his acting there and outright farce. I didn't say the comedy ruined anything. The first time I ran through Fargo, I didn't even catch the humor. Now I can't see Buscemi's face without cracking up. As in Shakespeare, those levity devices make the tragedy easier to take and let's face it: part of the Coens' gift is their sense of humor and timing. But to really tackle a story like No Country, they needed to dispense with it, and I'm glad they did. Had they made this film in the 90s, scenes like the coin flip scene in the convenience store would have been peppered with humor. Instead, the Coens made sure the drama escalated with no hint of levity. That is a great achievement.

As for debasing humanity, far from it. The protagonist and Llewelyn and his wife each faced inhumanity without giving in to it. Evil can never be defeated, but when you're no longer gung-ho to face it and fight it, it's time to step aside. That was part of the message of the film.

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"I have found that if you love life, life will love you back." -Arthur Rubinstein (1887-1982)

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - Babel - mishmashmusic 08:05:59 02/19/08 (24)

A brave try... - Harmonia 16:38:19 02/19/08 (3)

RE: A brave try... - Jazz Inmate 17:47:49 02/19/08 (2)

We'll just have to disagree about this one... - Harmonia 21:04:00 02/19/08 (1)

There's no doubt CuarÃ³n is hugely gifted - Jazz Inmate 00:47:41 02/20/08 (0)

A GREAT film!!!! Top 100 of all time. - tinear 15:13:15 02/19/08 (10)

What was your problem with No Country - Jazz Inmate 15:34:09 02/19/08 (9)

Oh come on! A "masterpiece?" If it were, how would you - tinear 16:13:01 02/19/08 (8)

Fargo was practically a comedy like Raising Arizona - Jazz Inmate 17:10:44 02/19/08 (7)

The Coen Bros. just cannot not be funny. nt - geoffkait 12:03:53 02/20/08 (0)

But is it truly comic relief? - Harmonia 22:17:11 02/19/08 (0)

"Barton Fink," "Miller's Crossing," "The Man Who Wasn't There," - tinear 18:10:27 02/19/08 (4)

Go to your local video store and you'll find Barton Fink in the comedy section - Jazz Inmate 01:07:43 02/20/08 (1)

And if you go to the WH, youÂ´ll find George W. Bush sitting at the Oval Office (that is, when he is not... - orejones 11:28:20 02/20/08 (0)

Add Blood Simple to the serious Coens' list. - Road Warrior 19:40:36 02/19/08 (0)

"...art shouldn't debase humanity." - Sage. ~t - mpathus 19:09:08 02/19/08 (0)

The movie kept screaming out about how important, deep and meaningful it was - sjb 12:52:13 02/19/08 (0)

If you predicted each of the plotlines' outcomes, kudos on your mindreading abilities - Jazz Inmate 11:50:03 02/19/08 (4)

But...Inarritu did this sort of thing better... - Harmonia 16:23:43 02/19/08 (2)

I agree with all of that - Jazz Inmate 16:30:08 02/19/08 (1)

Perhaps I went in a bit annoyed... - Harmonia 16:44:52 02/19/08 (0)

RE: If you predicted each of the plotlines' outcomes, kudos on your mindreading abilities - mishmashmusic 12:22:28 02/19/08 (0)

RE: Babel - musetap 11:00:10 02/19/08 (0)

Mucho agreeo. I liked the Japanese story cause of the skin. * - mr grits 10:54:04 02/19/08 (0)

RE: Babel - DWPC 10:27:05 02/19/08 (0)

Follow Ups

Go to your local video store and you'll find Barton Fink in the comedy section - Jazz Inmate 01:07:43 02/20/08 (1)

And if you go to the WH, youÂ´ll find George W. Bush sitting at the Oval Office (that is, when he is not... - orejones 11:28:20 02/20/08 (0)

Go to your local video store and you'll find Barton Fink in the comedy section

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