CBS Films
This year marks the fortieth anniversary ofBlood Simple , the first theatrical going from Joel and Ethan Coen . Through four decennium of film , the Coen brothers have proven themselves as both film writer and theater director with the 18 pic they ’ve work on together , and the three films they direct by themselves , including Ethan Coen ’s recently unloosen road comedyDrive - Away Dolls .
Since the Coen brothers have n’t collaborate since 2018 , it ’s unidentified if they ’re design to make motion-picture show together again at any point in the future . But even if that chapter of their lives is closed , they ’ve leave behind an indelible stain on the diligence . To celebrate four decades of the Joel and Ethan Coen ’s films , we ’ve assembled this lean of the 10 best Coen sidekick moving picture .
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10. A Serious Man (2009)
When it comes to dim comedy , the Coen brothers ca n’t get enough of it . A Serious Mandoesn’t dive into offence the mode that many of the Coen brothers ’ other movies do . But it does put Larry Gopnik ( Michael Stuhlbarg ) through run that would pause any other world . Not that Larry was n’t a bit damp to begin with . His married woman , Judith Gopnik ( Sari Lennick ) , wants to lead him so she can marry a widower , Sy Ableman ( Fred Melamed ) . Larry ’s Logos , Danny ( Aaron Wolff ) , is also having trouble with a yobbo at school , and Larry ’s medical prognosis for landing place tenure as a teacher are looking grim .
Larry ’s attempt to find solace in his Jewish religious belief only seems to lead to more tragedy . If he can vary his position , perhaps Larry might rule the answer that he ’s looking for .
9. Raising Arizona (1987)
The Coen brother ’ signature sense of humor really come to the forefront inRaising Arizona . Nicolas Cage ( Longlegs ) and Holly Hunter star as Herbert I. ( H.I. ) “ Hi ” McDunnough and Edwina “ Ed ” McDunnough , an unconvincing couple who are profoundly in love . Ed ’s a former policewoman and Hi ’s a habitual offender who reformed for Ed ’s sake .
Because the yoke ca n’t have a kid of their own , they adjudicate to slip one of the quintuplet Son of Nathan Arizona Sr . ( Trey Wilson ) . For all of their faults , Hi and Ed really love Nathan Jr. , but they are n’t the only single look to give ear on to him . And this full mishap may crowd the love that Hi and Ed have for each other to its breakage point .
8. O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000)
Only dead on target cinema lovers have seen Preston Sturges’Sullivan ’s change of location , the film that inspired the Coen Brother to use the nameO Brother , Where artistry Thou?for their own picture show . In the earlier flick , fictional manager John L. Sullivan wanted to makeO Brother , Where Art Thou?as a serious film about the plight of America ’s downtrodden . The Coens went in a more comedic instruction , which is especially appropriate since Sullivan add up to agnize that his drollery are just as important as his play .
The photographic film riffs onThe Odysseyby setting the story in America during 1937 , as Ulysses Everett McGill ( George Clooney ) convince Pete ( John Turturro ) and Delmar ( Tim Blake Nelson ) to escape from a chain gang in ordering to recover a hidden hoarded wealth before a valley is flood . But the only treasure that Ulysses really want is his ex-husband - wife , Penny Wharvey - McGill ( Holly Hunter ) . Through their mishap , Ulysses , Pete , and Delmar circumstantially become radio virtuoso as the Soggy Bottom Boys and thwart the KKK . The folk music in this pic is contagiously elated , much like the movie itself .
7. The Big Lebowski (1998)
It ’s easy to mistakenly think thatThe heavy Lebowskiis call for its most iconic character , Jeffrey “ The Dude ” Lebowski ( Jeff Bridges ) . But misguided identity is at the heart of this law-breaking comedy , as the Dude ’s gelidity is destroy by men who angrily demand money from Jeffrey “ The Big ” Lebowski ( David Huddleston ) . The crook do n’t even apologize when they realize that the Dude is the wrong Lebowski , and that ’s just rude .
soon thereafter , the Big Lebowski ’s trophy married woman , Bunny ( Tara Reid ) , is apparently kidnapped , and the Dude is roped into surrender the ransom money . All the Dude really wants is to do is bowl with his chum , Walter Sobchak ( John Goodman ) and Theodore Donald “ Donny ” Kerabatsos ( Steve Buscemi ) . Yet once he gets involved with the other Lebowski ’s matter , the Dude is targeted by everyone who wants to get their hand on the ransom money .
6. Barton Fink (1991)
Barton Finkshares its name with its chair character , who is portrayed in the photographic film by frequent Coen brother performing artist John Turturro . In 1941 , Barton is a Broadway scribe who has a chance to be a Hollywood screenwriter , if he can get past his crippling writer ’s block . His hotel neighbor , Charlie Meadows ( John Goodman ) , is also making unusually loud noise in the elbow room next doorway .
Out of desperation , Barton release to secretary and ghost author , Audrey Taylor ( Judy Davis ) , for help with his hand . However , their one night together direct Barton into an even more terrible spot with a serial killer . And the cops trust that Barton might be working with the humans they ’re depend for .
5. True Grit (2010)
Hailee Steinfeld had her breakthrough persona at only 13 years previous in the Coen brothers ’ remake ofTrue Grit . After her forefather is murdered by Tom Chaney ( Josh Brolin ) , Mattie Ross ( Steinfeld ) is willing to do anything to bring his killer to justice . She wrench to Deputy U.S. Marshal Rooster Cogburn ( Jeff Bridges ) for aid , bring up enough money to charter him .
However , Mattie ’s insistence upon accompanying Rooster leads him to leave without her . This military unit Mattie to make a new alliance with Texas Ranger LaBoeuf ( Matt Damon ) . Once Mattie and LaBoeuf get up with Rooster , their conflict personality cause a lot of tension between them . But if they do n’t stick together , then Tom and his better half - in - offence , “ Lucky ” Ned Pepper ( Barry Pepper ) , may release the table on all of three of them .
4. Blood Simple (1984)
Blood Simplewas the first full - length feature film by the Coen brothers , and while it ’s not as well - know as their late movies , it ’s a moderately fantastic neo - noir story on its own . John Getz stars as Ray , a man who is in love with his boss ’ wife , Abby ( Frances McDormand ) . And by the prison term this attractiveness is consummate , private police detective Loren Visser ( M. Emmet Walsh ) is already taking pictures to show Abby ’s husband , Julian Marty ( Dan Hedaya ) .
When Julian orders Loren to down Ray and Abby , it localize off an unexpected strand of event . Loren does n’t adhere to the hand , and that may have fatal consequence for everyone involve in this scruffy thing .
3. Inside Llewyn Davis (2013)
The title ofInside Llewyn Davisalso happens to be the name of the record album of the chief character , Llewyn Davis ( Oscar Isaac ) . And Llewyn simply can not catch a severance in this movie . No one ’s buying his record , and he ’s couch - surfing in the other sixties because he has no other selection .
Llewyn also has a knack for ego - destructive decisions , which may be him one of the last friendships that he has . Jean Berkey ( Maestro‘s Carey Mulligan ) order Llewyn that she is meaning and the baby may have been fathered either by him or by her husband , Jim Berkey ( Justin Timberlake ) . As Llewyn function to raise the money for Jean ’s miscarriage , he learns the backbreaking way that there ’s still room for him to fall even further .
2. Fargo (1996)
Fargowas the awards season darling of 1996 films , although it only pull ahead two Oscar , including good Actress for Frances McDormand . For a generation of motion-picture fan , this is the film that delineate the Coen brother . It also spawned theFargoseries on FX , even though the Coen blood brother are n’t directly involved with writing or orchestrate that show .
The moving picture keep an eye on Marge Gunderson ( McDormand ) , a local sheriff who is investigating the abduction of Jean Lundegaard ( Kristin Rudrüd ) . Jean ’s hubby , Jerry Lundegaard ( William H. Macy ) , has been peculate money from the family business and he came up with the abduction scheme to get himself out of trouble . However , Jerry ’s problem only magnify when the kidnappers he charter , Carl Showalter ( Steve Buscemi ) and Gaear Grimsrud ( Peter Stormare ) , prove to be both murderous and inept as they leave a trail of bodies behind for Marge to follow .
1. No Country for Old Men (2007)
SinceNo Country for Old Menis the only Coen brothers picture show to win Best Picture and Best Director at the Oscars , it ’s the obvious selection to be No . 1 . But it ’s also the most deserving , thanks to its fascinating performances by Tommy Lee Jones , Javier Bardem , and Josh Brolin . Bardem is especially notable for his Oscar - winning turn as Anton Chigurh , one ofthe best villain of all time .
The pic adapts Cormac McCarthy ’s novel of the same name , and observe a man named Llewelyn Moss ( Brolin ) who comes across a drug deal go wrong . More importantly , Moss find the briefcase full of money that was presuppose to make up for the drug . Moss ’ decision to keep the drug money is why mob assassin Anton Chigurh is sent to get it back at all costs . Sheriff Ed Tom Bell ( Jones ) is just stress to keep the pacification , but he ’s unprepared for the violence that unfolds when Chigurh , Moss , and a Mexican drug cartel collide over the money .
