The Coen Brother’s latest movie, “Inside Llewyn Davis” is a
slice-of-life movie that drops you in the middle of Llewyn Davis’ (Oscar Issac)
life, takes you in a circle and ends where you started. It’s a visually
striking mood piece about the blossoming folk culture of the 60s and about one
man who just can’t cut it. Davis can’t get a break, either because he doesn’t
have the ambition or the latent or because he can’t curb his aggressively
egocentric attitude. The Coens have created a film around an annoyingly
unlikable person who is also uninteresting. Davis is so thoughtless and in so
many different ways, so stupid, that it’s impossible to feel any sympathy with
or empathy for him. And David’s negativity seems to bring out the worst in the
people around him – Jean (Carey Mulligan), an ex reduced to hurling insults and
invectives at him; Roland Turner (John Goodman), a decrepit hipster who sees
through him, sizing him up in clear terms; and Mitch and Lillian (Ethan
Phillips and Robin Bartlett), a patient academic couple who don’t always
understand their narcissistic friend. (They are the owners of one of two cats
that have unfortunate encounters with Davis.) The one positive is the soundtrack, which is enjoyable; especially fun is Justin Timberlake's song, 'Please Mr. President.' “Inside Llewyn Davis” has a
central character that challenges us to like him and the movie. And perhaps the
Coen Brothers really don’t care if we like either. 1/7/14
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