Sunday 6 September 2020

Barton Fink (1991 Joel and Ethan Coen)

Darkly satirical look at the movie business in the early forties, referring to the practice of bringing in famous authors to write scripts. Barton spends most of the film on the first paragraph, but he's distracted by eccentric neighbour John Goodman, and alcoholic writer's wife Judy Davis. A beautifully directed and shot film - by Roger Deakins, the first of their twelve collaborations - it's also full of atmosphere (invoking The Shining, Rosemary's Baby and Rear Window). Music by Carter Burwell, production design Dennis Gassner. Great use of sound too. Sound Editor Skip Lievsay reveals how he overdid the sound of air rushing in when Goodman's door opens and the Coens liked it so much they put it in every time it happens.

Good cast of John Turturro, John Goodman, Michael Lerner (studio boss), John Mahoney, Tony Shaloub, Jon Polito, Steve Buscemi.






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