Inside Llewyn Davis
A lovely film and bound to be one of my long term faves.
I like the Coen brothers... but not all of their stuff. I didn't enjoy 'Big Lebowski' nor 'No Country for Old Men' (I found the nature of the violence disturbing), so I was uncertain what Llewyn Davis might offer.
It's a gentle story well told. It's apparently based on - or inspired by - a real folk singer, whose name evades me at the moment. I'm sure there's some mythological reference intended with the cat, or a significance of some sort, but that bypassed me. No worries as I doubt it's essential to get it.
What remains could be seen as a slightly cynical view of talent v money, real v sham. I began by disliking Davis, he used people because he was an 'artist', but as the story progresses I began to warm to his plight. He considers himself real, genuine - in both experience and desire. This is contrasted with, amongst others, the matching fishermen's' cable knit sweaters of a 'look the part' trio - they've probably never been near a boat whereas Davis is a card carrying merchant seaman. Davis' final performance (of the film) is full of gut belief, but he's somewhat unappreciated beyond the confines of this poky club. He's doomed to repeat the cycle and never find success in his terms.
And who's the act the follows him? Why, I'm sure that's meant to be Bob Dylan!
'Inside Llewyn Davis' is a well made film, well shot and acted. John Goodman makes an inspired appearance as heroin addicted jazzman, and amusingly disses folk and Davis generally, seemingly to alleviate his own boredom. The guy who plays Davis (again, the name's gone) is a singer turned actor and he owns the role, a truly engaging and committed performance. And Justin Timberlake shows a similar - though less complete - performance. What's her name, the English girl currently garnering a name for herself, gives a solid and believable performance too - as I say, great acting all around.
Again, a film I'd recommend.
(Btw, I'm employing a new tactic for selecting films to watch and - so far - it's working!)