Spoilers possible.
Notwithstanding the thread drawing comparisons between Barton Fink and Ross Geller (ugh), I don't see a thread for this movie. Damn shame, too. I just saw it this afternoon. Quite an interesting, fascinating flick. One of the Coen's best, IMO. What really made the film for me was the great friendship between Barton and Charlie. But all throughout the film, I had an inkling that something wasn't quite right with Goodman's character. When I finally learned that I was right, I was disappointed, because I liked him a lot. It's a good thing, though, because it showed that the Coen's reeled me in with their great characters, as they are capable of doing.
Goodman is great as always, and Turturro proves his range (as later expanded on in The Big Lebowski), and that he can make it as a leading man. I don't know what to make of the ending. It leaves the film with little point, and is a little bit too ponderous for the off-beat tones that came and went as well. At least I don't need to ask what's in the box. ***½ (8/10)
Quote from: OnomatopoeiaI don't know what to make of the ending.
this (http://imdb.com/title/tt0101410/board/nest/1080380) will make it the opposite + 7.
"opposite + 7?"
Either way, very interesting. Reminds me of the silly twist on Ozon's Swimming Pool. I can see some evidence pointing to this, such as the picture of the woman on the beach, and the fact that Charlie goes back into his room while the hotel is burning. Also, I just remembered that when Fink is reading the Bible, the words are changed to that of the opening of his screenplay. This is a key element of dreams, indicating that the dream theory could be very possible.
Quote from: Onomatopoeia"opposite + 7?"
you
will know what to make of the ending, along with seven other superfluous.. things.
Quote from: Onomatopoeia At least I don't need to ask what's in the box.
......be nice.... :idea:
"Be nice?"
Wow. Read the IMDB 'Fink' discussion, re-watched the movie, re-read the discussion. I really took this film quite literally in previous viewings... Man, I feel dumb.
Quote from: Weak2ndActWow. Read the IMDB 'Fink' discussion, re-watched the movie, re-read the discussion. I really took this film quite literally in previous viewings... Man, I feel dumb.
What do you mean with 'literally'?
I've seen it maybe 4 times and I don't read into it at all. It's about a guy who suffers from writers block.
You can read things like this into every movie made.
Quote from: kotteWhat do you mean with 'literally'?
'Literally' in the sense that I always accepted what happens in the 2nd half was the reality of the movie. There's a strong case to be made that once the camera goes down the drain, we're in a nightmare, and that a number of scenes (if not all) didn't actually happen.
Quote from: Weak2ndActQuote from: kotteWhat do you mean with 'literally'?
'Literally' in the sense that I always accepted what happens in the 2nd half was the reality of the movie. There's a strong case to be made that once the camera goes down the drain, we're in a nightmare, and that a number of scenes (if not all) didn't actually happen.
I always thought it happened, but that the film just took a surreal, metaphorical turn. I think its better assuming it actually happens, there's more to read into that way.
Quote from: Weak2ndAct... Man, I feel dumb.
Ditto.
Thank you, Picolas, for the link.
Now I can go after the Coen Brothers until PTA makes Magnolia II.
I thought that the camera shot "going down the drain" meant that Barton had commited himself to hell. Before, he was just there, maybe didn't deserve it. But now he's really done something condemnable. You know, by having sex with the other guys girl. The bird going into the ocean at the end had the same feel. Going down.
What was the wave breaking on the rock ( twice? ) supposed to represent?
Quote from: fultyWhat was the wave breaking on the rock ( twice? ) supposed to represent?
In a class, a teacher once said it was symbolic of the clash of Barton and Los Angeles meeting.
Quote from: Weak2ndActQuote from: fultyWhat was the wave breaking on the rock ( twice? ) supposed to represent?
In a class, a teacher once said it was symbolic of the clash of Barton and Los Angeles meeting.
I'm guessing Marian Keane would say that it's
obviously a phallic symbol...
Quote from: SoNowThen...it's obviously a phallic symbol...
Yes..!!
So am I a perv if I can see it too?
I took this as a joke, but while discussing this with my daughter, she pointed out that the Coen Brothers like to empower women.
So, maybe it does fit.
With the wave ( female ) splashing over the rock ( ahem ),
this could represent the power Audrey & the picture girl had over Barton and the has-been author.
I don't know, maybe..??
does anyone have any ideas of what motivated him to write such a great sceenplay or what it was about?
Quote from: WithnailPretty much every Coen movie has a surreal quality to them. Hell, it's their style, right? You could apply some other layer to the plot by sayng all the weird things in the plot are nightmares...or you could just accept the quirkyness.
I accept the quirkiness. In the Coens' oeuvre, you always know when the character is dreaming. They don't usually try and trick the audience into thinking that reality is fantasy.
Two examples are:
Raising Arizona: you always see Hi asleep before going into his dreams.
The Big Lebowski: you see The Dude being forced unconscious (by hand or poison) before he dreams.I'm inclined to think that all of Barton Fink happened, just like Ed Crane saw that UFO in The Man Who Wasn't There or Norville Barnes jumped from the 45th floor (not counting the mezzanine) but didn't quite squish hisself.
For me, Barton Fink seemed to be pushing a lot of criticism towards Hollywood. It's an obvious undertone throughout the entireity of the film, and I left the film feeling that there is no such thing as a 'beautiful picture' as long it's coming from Hollywood. Fink really reminded me a lot of Kauffman, as well, considering his background in theatre, his aims as a writer, and love for life. I really do love this film, but Fargo is still my most favorite.
I took the hell approach when I saw the film. I also have a working theory that perhaps when he starts writing the non-studio exec scenes are what he's writing about. This would explain the differences in shooting style of the exec & hotel scenes. I think the only reason I'm even thinking about this is because of Adaptation. I've only seen Barton Fink once so I should see it again with these theories in mind.
i've not seen the movie, but i heard that barton fink is basically a take off on william faulkner, basically trashing him. he is one of my favorite writers and i was wondering if any of the film nerds could confirm or deny this.
Quote from: frylocki've not seen the movie, but i heard that barton fink is basically a take off on william faulkner, basically trashing him. he is one of my favorite writers and i was wondering if any of the film nerds could confirm or deny this.
From IMDB:
The character of W. P. Mayhew is based on William Faulkner, whose first Hollywood contract was to write a wrestling movie.