Directed by Joel Coen
Written by Joel Coen and Ethan Coen
Cinematography by Roger Deakins

John Turturro as Barton Fink John Goodman as Charlie Meadows Judy Davis as Audrey Taylor Michael Lerner as Jack Lipnick John Mahoney as W.P. Mayhew Tony Shalhoub as Ben Geisler Jon Polito as Lou Breeze Steve Buscemi as Chet

Running Time: 116 min.
Release Date: Aug. '91

Overall Call:
The Coen Brothers just can't be beat when it comes to oddball story telling and even oddballier characters. If you're in the mood some night for a movie that strays far from the norm check this one out. The story moves at it's own unique slow pace allowing you plenty of time to contemplate what could possibly be going on in Barton Finks (Turturro) head. The scenes are thoughtfully framed allowing the actors to come in and out of the shot while seemingly pertinent action is happening off camera. This technique allows you to use your own imagination to enrich the story much like books do. Barton Fink is one example of the Coen Brothers growing line of brilliant films. Most of the story is left ambiguous enough for you to decide which way the scenarios really unravel. What's best is that you can almost feel the Coen Brothers laughing behind the camera at the characters and the bizarre timing they all have. They also dish out symbolism left and right leaving you to decipher it's meaning up to the last frame. None of the uniqueness seems as forced as David Lynch pictures can (or the numerous look-a-likes). This just adds to you feeling like a Mosquito on the wall of this odd tale. Little is mainstream about this picture which won best film, director, and actor(Turturro) at Cannes in '91. If in the mood please give this one a shot.

Reasons For Recommendation:
+ Wonderful Characters
+ Top notch script
+ First rate acting performances
+ Just plain good film making