Inside Llewyn Davis

Starring: Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan, John Goodman, Justin Timberlake, Garrett Hedlund, Adam Driver
Directed by: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
Rating: R
Genre: Drama, Music
2013

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: A New York City folk singer (Oscar Isaac) struggles with life and his career.

Review:

Tim: I really like the Coen Brothers, but they aren't as bulletproof as many critics believe. Inside Llewyn Davis is a good movie, but this is a far cry from their better work. This film has some real strengths, but it has some obvious faults as well. While in the end, the movie does enough well to be considered good, but it is still somewhat disappointing when you consider the talent involved.

One of the big problems is that the story just doesn't go anywhere (in fact, it circles back on itself). Now, you can use a non-moving story to great effect if done right. That doesn't quite happen here. We have to invest 104 minutes in a meandering, plodding story that really offers no momentum and no change. Our characters are mostly the same at the end of the film as they are at the beginning. This could be called an accurate portrayal of human beings, but it doesn't make for the most entertaining viewing. Artistically, it's kind of cool the Coens fought against any character development or progress in the story, but it kind of makes for a lackluster viewing experience. There were various points where I just wanted something- anything- to happen.

The best part of the film is Oscar Isaac. I really like Isaac and think he has massive potential in Hollywood. I loved that he got a starring role here and was able to showcase some of his talent. He does a really good job playing this very unlikeable character in a way that we can't quite not like him. Even though he is selfish, unmotivated, prideful, and egotistical, we still want him to succeed. That is an accomplishment by Isaac.

The supporting cast is fine, but this movie is all about Isaac. I think Carey Mulligan is one of the most overrated actresses. I just don't get why people think she is so good. She gave an okay performance here, but I did not see anything special from her- at all. John Goodman was really good in a small but memorable role. I was he had more screen time. Justin Timberlake was fine, but again, super small role and not much impact on the overall film. Garrett Hedlund's presence was nice, but he says almost nothing and adds very little to the film. For such a great cast, the Coens really underutilized them.

I admit that I do enjoy folk music, so it was fun to have entire songs played during the movie. The music was fantastic and it was a lot of fun to listen to it. I also like the interesting look at the folk music scene in New York in the early 1960s. While these characters aren't real, they are almost all based on real people. That gives this a believable, realistic quality to it. I also love that the Coens are so willing to embrace these complex, unlikeable characters. Llewyn Davis is a fascinating character because he is so completely flawed. That was interesting to see.

In the end, the positives do outweigh the negatives in this film. Unfortunately, the muted emotional impact of the story and the plodding plot really do prevent this from being one of the better Coen Brother films. Still, if you are willing to put up with the problems, there are some real strengths in Inside Llewyn Davis. This is a good movie, but not nearly as good as it needed to be. The Coens are better than this.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 7



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Burn After Reading, A Serious Man, Crazy Heart