****THE 57TH LONDON FILM FESTIVAL****
Directors/Writers: Joel Coen and Ethan Coen
Stars: Oscar Isaac, John Goodman, Carey Mulligan, Garrett
Hedlund, Justin Timberlake.
Released in UK: 24th Januray 2014
The Coen brothers have debatably rarely put a step wrong or
out of line, creating some truly visually impactful storylines (No Country for
Old Men) and showcasing some of the most moving performances from actors who
have gone on to win awards a plenty (Fargo,
True Grit). Here they are back recreating 1960’s New York in a sweet, funny
and witty love song to the folk era, and when this opening at the Cannes Film
festival it received glowing reviews.
Llewyn (Oscar Isaac) is a penniless drifting travelling folk
artist, a man with a beautiful talent but desperately trying to recapture the musical
success he once had with his now diseased singing partner, but to little avail.
Occasionally getting a few gigs at The Gaslight Cafe in Greenwich’s West
Village, he spends most of his time wandering the shivering cold streets of New
york and bunking favours and free beds off his friends. Those little of his
friends are an eclectic group of New Yorkers, some of whom have very little
sympathy or tolerance for him including Jean (Carey Mulligan) a married singer whom
he had a short term fling with.
In a last ditch attempt he hitches a ride to an audition in
Chicago in the hopes of winning over the manager. His travelling companions consist
of an opinionatedly pompous but ailing jazzman Roland (John Goodman) his
silently brooding valet Johnny Five (Garrett Hedlund) and a ginger cat!
Some of the most engaging and funny moments involve Llewyn’s
attachment to that pesky cat, and his attempts to try and get him back to his
rightful owner. This results involve some hilarious scenarios with Llewyn
lugging the poor creature half way around New York, not just on the long
journey to Chicago but also on a crowded subway and in a café.
The music in the film is a crucial as the dialogue itself,
and yet its not overcooked but blended perfectly within the story. Gorgeous heartbreaking
melodies flow like running water, with touches reminiscent of the Coen’s
previous work O Brother, Where Art Thou?
The cast are excellent. Mulligan’s constantly enraged Jean
is bitchy and sharp tongued, Goodman is hilarious and his short on screen
presence is missed when he’s no longer there. However this film belongs to one
performance alone, Issac. His central performance is quite superb, brilliantly
cast and played with a sensitivity and likeable charm that flows throughout the
film, despite his character’s struggles and his capability to piss every one
else off! His voice is purely beautiful, with a deeply moving sadness and
reverence very much missing on our radios today.
Charming, beautiful and heart breaking, yet not short on
laughs what truly is inside of Llewyn is a heart of gold and certainly one of
the best the Coen brothers have ever produced.
VERDICT: * * * * *
Inside Llewyn Davis is very much about the missed
opportunities, of how easily a career comes and goes, and the desperate pursuit
of something greater and more wonderful. Chuck in the moody landscape of bitter
New York, gorgeous music and a cat, and you have a masterpiece!
Inside Llewyn Davis was shown at the London Film Festival and will be released in UK cinemas from 24th January 2014.
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