Westside Steve Posted January 11, 2014 Report Share Posted January 11, 2014 Inside Llewin Davis CBS Films R 105 min So it is always a decent bet that whatever Joel and Ethan Coen come up with will be getting some kind of Oscar attention. I've noticed that there latest film (And others) INSIDE LLEWIN DAVIS has been showing in limited release for a while now. By the way again a shout out and big thank you to the guys at the Valleyview Cinemark who have the stones to run something a little bit off the beaten path. Too bad that Cinemark App doesn’t work but what the hell, it’s a nice theater and the popcorn is good. The beauty and the genius of the Coen brothers is that like Forrest Gump's box of chocolates or the next Elvis Costello CD you never know what you are going to get. And nearly everything they do is brilliant. In a way INSIDE LLEWIN DAVIS resists categorization. Yes it's somewhat biographical yet only a few pages from a biography. It’s a glimpse at a short span of the protagonists life. Yes it’s comedic at times but not the over the top humor they used in RAISING ARIZONA. It's also a look inside a portion of the music industry that most of us haven't thought of, with the seminal era of the pre-Beatles folk music scene of the very early 60's. Neither is it a tragedy even though the film deals with a series of disappointing episodes. Compellingly played by Oscar Isaac Llewin Davis is a folk singer based in Greenwich Village in the beginning of the 1960s. He has been a part of a duo that had a minor measure of success but no longer exists. Striving to eke out some sort of a living as a solo entertainer (and striving to hold onto his self-image of a tortured artist) he's often forced to swallow his pride. For example he sleeps on various couches in the apartments of folks he has not yet offended too badly. He makes a few dollars as a session guitarist on an embarrassing novelty song and decides to head to Chicago to audition for a folk music impresario who has taken a liking to much less worthy (in Davis’ opinion) acts. And there are, of course, some quirky characters along the route. It’s a story that every prideful artist actor musician or craftsman should find at least some truth in. The reprise ending brings that realization full circle. I won’t tell you though…… WSS A- (ps I’d have given it an A but for the cat…..we can discuss it after you see it) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zombo Posted March 29, 2014 Report Share Posted March 29, 2014 I saw this last night, and even though there was no plot and the main character was not very like able ... I was riveted. So that's good filmmaking . I think. Just watching a well made movie about the 1961 folk music scene was cool. As for the cat ... To me it represented that Llewelyn kept trying to isolate himself ... From his former partner, from his father, from possible offspring and lovers ... But life kept wanting him to be paired up ... Wouldn't let him be alone with himself. But what do I know ... I'm a dog person. Z Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Gipper Posted March 31, 2014 Report Share Posted March 31, 2014 Well, you knew the guy was a complete loser when he passed up his opportunity to visit Akron... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westside Steve Posted March 31, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 31, 2014 That's an interesting take on the cat, bud. WSS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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