7. No Country for Old Men (2007)
From this point on, the rankings get more difficult, because each of the remaining films are such ambitious, assured, and singular genre mash-ups that it's like comparing insanely flavorful apples with mind-bogglingly delicious oranges. But I'll give it a shot. No Country For Old Men is, quite simply, one of the most suspenseful films of the twenty-first century, with moments of breathtaking tension and, of course, Javier Bardem's Oscar-winning embodiment of death as the relentless assassin Anton Chigurh. To be honest, the mood of bleak hopelessness the film establishes so well is probably the reason it's not higher on my list, because, really, there's only so much contemplation of mortality I can take, no matter how exhilarating the delivery system may be.
6. The Hudsucker Proxy (1994)
Yes, yes, I know — everyone hates this movie, and I just lost all credibility with you mean kids down in the comments section. And I'm well acquainted with the standard refrain: The Hudsucker Proxy is a desecration of the brilliant screwball comedies it cynically emulates, and Jennifer Jason Leigh's fast-talking homage to Rosalind Russell is an annoying, misbegotten disaster. Critics and audiences loathed the film, and most would rank it as the worst of the Coens' canon. Well, tough. I like it. It's packed with great moments, I laughed all the way through the first time I saw it, I'm still quoting it more than a decade later, Paul Newman is a hoot, the production design is gorgeous, and the "blue letter" and "birth of the hula hoop" sequences are brilliant. So there.
5. The Big Lebowski (1998)
And while I'm pissing you off, I might as well admit I'm not really an orthodox devotee of Lebowski — frankly, I could do with about fifty-percent less screaming from John Goodman's excitable Walter Sobchak — but there's no arguing with the pop-culture canonization of Jeff Bridges' beloved stoner/bowler protagonist, or the fact that legions of cinephiles flat-out love this episodic, anarchic mish-mash of Raymond Chandler detective fiction, Busby Berkeley production numbers, stoner giggling, German nihilism, Tara Reid (!), and a rug that (kinda) ties the whole thing together.
4. O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000)
Another love-it-or-hate-it proposition, this singin', dancin' Depression-era take on Homer's Odyssey annoyed some and delighted others while spawning an octo-platinum smash-hit soundtrack album (and sparking an American roots-music craze) thanks to catchy tracks from the likes of Emmylou Harris, Ralph Stanley, and of course, The Soggy Bottom Boys (fronted by an endearingly charismatic George Clooney in full goof mode, as a pomade-crazed chain-gang refugee determined to get home to his wife and kids). I'm still amazed this feel-good musical hasn't made it to the Broadway stage — after all, if Mel Brooks turned "Springtime for Hitler" into a big production number, just imagine what some clever producer could do with O Brother's Klan rally showstopper "O Death!"
3. Raising Arizona (1987)
Blood Simple introduced the Coens, but Raising Arizona established them as the whip-smart anarchist perfectionists the cineverse would come to know and love. Note the rule-smashing, "try anything" set pieces: like the overstuffed pre-credit sequence — detailing the history of a baby-crazed peace officer (Holly Hunter) and her recidivist soulmate (Nicolas Cage). And don't forget the Looney Tunes diaper-robbery caper after the couple steals one of a set of quintuplets from a family that's "got more than they can handle." If the film ultimately runs out of steam and isn't really about anything but the joy of filmmaking — well, it ain't for lack of trying.
2. Barton Fink (1991)
One of the best films ever made about Hollywood and the perils of creativity, Barton Fink is perhaps the tightest and most consistently enjoyable of all the Coens' films, with barely a wasted shot or moment in its puzzle-box depiction of "the life of the mind." John Turturro delivers an iconic performance as the ultimate tortured writer, and every line of dialogue, murky color scheme, and drop of wallpaper goo fits together in a perfect symmetry of gnawing, claustrophobic, black-comic desperation.
1. Fargo (1996)
But, really, how could the top spot not go to Fargo? Ironically, some derided Frances McDormand's Sheriff Marge Gunderson — one of the most relatable, memorable and likeable heroes in modern cinema, let alone the Coens' oeuvre — as a mean-spirited caricature, simply because she spoke in a funny accent. But aside from that, this tale of a small-town kidnapping gone tragically awry is the most humane and hopeful of all the brothers' films (even if they're too cool to admit it), depicting both the potential for human evil and also the simple acts of decency that constitute goodness. All of the Coens' strengths are on full display in this commercial and critical success, from the smart script and stellar cast to the film-school ingenuity of the direction and production design. And that's not to mention the mischievous indie streak running through the (relatively) mainstream production, like a bright red spray of blood on the gleaming patch of snow over by that wood chipper.
Commentarium (134 Comments)
didn't lose face with me for naming the hudsucker proxy as one of the top coen films... it is full of good moments! but as for raising arizona being THAT high? I'm not so sure...
Raising Arizona is easily a best work by the Coen Brothers. Its dripping with the wit and character constructions that made them a phenom in the film industry.
"Fargo" is deservedly number one. McDormand (and William H. Macy) were brilliant. I may have thought her accent was over the top until I got to know some people from Minnesota. They actually talk like that.
I like "The Man Who Wasn't There" much more than you do, and "Barton Fink" much less. You were correct to rate "Miller's Crossing" as low as you did. I probably would have put "No Country for Old Men" at #2.
Most people, I think, don't get "Man Who Wasn't There." I personaly think it is one of the Coen's best films and is one of those hide the allegory in plain sight specialties of the Coen brothers. Spacecraft represent the triumph of modern technology over American values in the year 1949. Remember, the man who ran the department store was just fine until he was taken aboard the alien spacecraft. Spacecraft theme is repeated when hubcap flies off of car during auto accident brought on by girll's attempt at "mechanistic" (is this too much of a stretch?) sex. The only involvement anyone has with church is the bingo game. Two or three times the question is asked of the protagonist "What kind of man are you?" The answer is provided by the lawyer, roughly paraphrasing from memory he says of the protagonist at his trial, "What kind of man is he? He's modern man, The more you look, the less you see." And finally, he was the man who wasn't there.
Miller's Crossing deserves to be ranked in their top 3.
top one!
Dude you're out of your frickin mind. Fargo? Where are you from? The midwest I bet.
new stuff on Sunday's, eh hooksexup.com? you remain a shifty bastard. but i kinda like it
how on earth do the coen brothers even rate a list like this? all their movies are meh/ok while having a few moments.
Man Who Wasn't There is worse than Intolerable Cruelty? Worse than The Ladykillers? Tony Shalhoub's performance in that film is better than the entirety of Intolerable Cruelty.
Right on! With that first rating, I was already anticipating some shoddy reviews- I loved The Man Who Wasn't There and thought it better than most of the Coen brothers' films.
Thanks, MA! I totally deserve to be #12. Big Ups
Barton Fink and Fargo on the to 2 places? Don;t you ever get bored?? I do!! And i get insanely bored from these 2 movies...
"Burn After Reading" was much, much worse than "The Man Who Wasn't There," which at least was a beautiful homage to film noir. But thanks for ranking "Blood Simple" and "Miller's Crossing" lower than many would; the pacing of those films is so plodding that they're virtually unwatchable. And "Hudsucker" is a neglected masterpiece--easily in their top five.
Burn After Reading was truly terrible. The Man Who Wasn't there is very under appreciated.
@ Amber Lamps: Either they're from the midwest or they actually like good films that tell a complex story and feature career-defining performances.
If your own upbringing doesn't allow you to see that, you're a little hopeless.
This list hurts my eyes. A pox on your house. The Man Who Wasn't There is worse than Burn After Reading? Miller's Crossing all the way down on the list? You people have some explaining to do.
Why is everyone hating on Burn After Reading?? That movie is hilarious. I would've put Lebowski top 3 though, probably. It's actually my personal favorite comedy of all time.
Mr. Osborne. A very interesting but flawed list. No Country for Old Men should be ranked first or second. Barton Fink is extremely uneven but with many flashes of brilliance. Hudsucker Proxy is fun but slight. Miller's Crossing is a classic but it requires one's full attention. No question that Fargo is one of their finest films.
I only needed to see that you ranked "A Serious Man" higher than Miller's Crossing and Blood Simple to know that I wouldn't agree with much else you wrote. Oh well, at least you ranked Hudsucker Proxy near the top...
Braver man than I trying to public ranks these films.
btw Miller's crossing was excellent
Miller's Crossing: top three, not bottom of the barrel. I see an emerging consensus in the comments around Miller's Crossing. It's a travesty to put a film this strong next to the unwatchable Burn After Reading. Interesting that you acknowledge your own taste issue may have hurt the rating you assign. There are few movies that do a better job of showing integrity- the price it demands and the reason so few people have it. The movie is gripping from the intial haunting shot of the lonely hat to the very end. It's not perfect, but it blows away most of the Coen collection.
Raising Arizona suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuucks. It sucks.
you're an iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiidiot.
Raising Arizona should be no. 1 on the list.
I will not lie to you... "No Country for Old Men" should easily be within the top three on this list.
Wow! You have surely opened a can of worms with this list. The beauty of the Coen bros. films is there ability to seem brilliant and feature career defining moments to some while leaving others feeling lost. That being said Miller's Crossing is genius. Or maybe its meh. I need a nap.
Raising Arizona ahead of Lebowski, Blood Simple and Old Country???
The Man Who Wasn't There 14th???
I am in high disagreement on this!
You didn't mention their best movie ever "Crimewave" (1985). Probably the funniest movie ever made.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088967/combined
I cannot take anything that you say about the Coen Bros' movies seriously when you regurgitate the obvious JOKE that the Coens spread about 'O Brother' being a modern take on the 'The Odyssey'. They've even subsequently declared they were joking and roll their eyes at the intelligencia who bought into what was meant to be a extremely thin-veiled joke.
i loved 'no country for old men' and 'burn after reading'...i think both should be in the top five
https://whycantmybestfriendbeme.blogspot.com/
They didn't direct Crimewave though.
Here is the real order:
14. Burn After Reading
13. Intolarable Cruelty
12. Raising Arizona
11. Barton Fink
10. Lady Killers
9, Serious Man
8. Blood Simple
7. O' Brother
6. No Country
5. Fargo
4. Hudsucker -
3. Miller's Crossing
2. Man Who Wasnt there
1. Big Lebowski
Here's a quick ranking of the Coen oeuvre based sheerly on subjective enjoyment, not presuming objective infallibility, with a few random notes:
1.Fargo - still my favorite, static hotel room shot with Carson on the tube clinches it.
2.Miller's Crossing - Finney going for the tommygun under the bed, awesome
3.The Big Lebowski - You don't see Raising Arizonafest
4.Raising Arizona - Early Coens still rule the day; what drugs was Cage on?
5.O Brother - Blake Nelson a revelation
6.Blood Simple - quirky noir put filmgoers on notice
7.No Country - I read the book first, probably would have ranked it higher otherwise
8.A Serious Man - the brothers tackle faith in their inimitable way; ambiguous coda you would expect
9.Barton Fink - Slips in retrospect; Goodman still scary
10.The Man Who Wasn't There - Redeemed by Thornton's Ed nod; non-gangster Gandolp
11.Hudsucker - Screwball homage; like the hula hoops, but something missing
12.Burn After Reading - Airheaded Pitt annoying; seems more of a mainstream bid somehow
13.Intolerable Cruelty - Doesn't really stand out in my mind
14.Ladykillers - Suffers by comparison with original
Lebowski is clearly #1 followed by Fargo, No country and Raising AZ.
I think you should put more of their movies in the top 5
Oh yeah, for Really? Really? In the opening credits of Oh Brother : "O Muse! Sing in me, and through me tell the story..." — which is one translation of the first line of The Odyssey. Go the Wiki page for the movie and get your fill of related info.
I've always hated Barton Fink; Miller's Crossing is my number 1
fuck that barton fink was there 2nd right behind fargo
I really hated Barton Fink. Yeah, I get it, writers can be pretentious, do I really need to watch a whole 2 hour movie about that observation?
Raising Arizona actually probably my favorite, then Fargo, No Country, Lebowski
You lost ALL credibility with the low ranking of Miller's Crossing. Huge Fail. Top 3 easily.
How is Intolerable Cruelty not the worst Coen Brothers film? The Man Who Wasn't There is a very underrated and misunderstood film, apparently so is Miller's Crossing. I love the Hudsucker Proxy but it isn't better than No Country For Old Men, and for that matter neither is the Big Lebowski. I personally think a list like this would be better served split into two different lists. Coen Brothers dramas and Coen Brothers comedies.
My list would be as follows mostly based on how many times I've watched and enjoyed each movie:
14. The Lady Killers
13. A Serious Man
12. Burn After Reading
11. Intolerable Cruelty
10. The Man Who Wasn't There
9. Raising Arizona
8. Blood Simple
7. The Hudsucker Proxy
6. Fargo
5. O Brother Where Art Thou
4. Barton Fink
3. No Country For Old Men
2. The Big Lebowski
1. Miller's Crossing
My list would be as follows mostly based on how many times I've watched and enjoyed each movie:
14. The Lady Killers
13. A Serious Man
12. Burn After Reading
11. Intolerable Cruelty
10. The Man Who Wasn't There
9. Raising Arizona
8. Blood Simple
7. The Hudsucker Proxy
6. Fargo
5. O Brother Where Art Thou
4. Barton Fink
3. No Country For Old Men
2. The Big Lebowski
1. Miller's Crossing
I HAVE VERY STRONG OPINIONS ABOUT YOUR OPINIONS!
I turned off Intolerable Cruelty inside of 30 minutes and never turned it back on. O' Brother, Where Art Thou was contrived, and Clooney was over-the-top to the point of obnoxious. The soundtrack, however, is terrific.
Fargo....
I love Fargo. William H. Macy's character has become for me the very definition of the word 'weasel'. He was just the creepiest of creeps, the whiniest of whiners, the most pathetic of pathetic and the worst kind of coward to boot.
When I call someone a weasel, it is that character to which I am making drawing the reference.
That's just like you're opinion, man
*your
My favorite is Intolerable Cruelty, up there with Raising Arizona as the funniest movies they ever made. Every scene is tongue-in-cheek.
No one else I know would've put Barton Fink in the top 3, even though I put it at number one. So, good list. Also think people forgot about Raising Arizona much too quickly, and that Lebowski just benefits from having the stoner-philosopher quote attached to it. Good movie, but they've done much better.
I've always thought Barton Fink should be number one, but no one else I know would've even placed it in the top 3. Good list. Also agree that Raising Arizona is underappreciated and Lebowski just benefits from the stoner-philosoper cult.
best opinion so far
Fail.
Obviously the Coen's film trigger a highly subjective response in the viewer. Probably because they're so deep. Personally - I think you're wrong about Millers Crossing, Hudsucker, and Lebowski... but as Jason said "That's just like you're opinion, man." The dude does not abide.
This agression will not stand, man.
Lebowski is one of the great films of all time... I would put fargo next and then No country.
10!? Seriously?! This is a complete redo.
I always thought there was something wrong with me because I enjoyed The Hudsucker Proxy so much. I even enjoyed Jennifer Jason Leigh. I do like your list. Of course mine would be in a different order, but there is nothing wrong with yours. O Brother, Raising and Arizona, and The Big Lebowski always give me great joy when I watch them. The other movies were all good in their own way, although I never found Fargo particularly endearing. I waited to watch it for a long time and never wanted to see it again after I watched it, whereas I'll watch O, Brother and Raising Arizona again and again. The other movies on the list were not as memorable though I have yet to see No Country for Old Men (small children).
Hudsucker Proxy was one of the worst movies I've seen in my life and they ranked it above No Country for Old Men one of the best! If you ask me The Big Lebowski tops the list narrowly edging out NC4OM
This list is completely wrong. There is not a single movie in its proper place.
The Man Who Wasn't There is my single favorite Coen Brothers movie. So go figure.
I take issue with putting Barton Fink so high, and above Raising Arizona and The Hudsucker Proxy. Both are better than Fink, a well done movie but unavoidably torturous given the subject matter is writer's block - my worst nightmare.
I know some people think of it as The Movie That Wasn't There, but you should give it another shot.
Are you kidding?? Walter Sobchak MAKES The Big Lebowski. John Goodman nailed that role. It was like he was born for it. His rants are the best part of that movie, in my opinion.
Otherwise, good article. Who doesn't love the Coen brothers?
"You know, for kids!"--Love that movie!
This list is way out of order, Throw "O Borther" and "The Hudsucker" down on the bottom half. "Miller's Crossing" is there best, I can't believe it gets slighted in this list. At least "Ladykillers" is at the bottom where it deserves but is it really better than "the man who wasn't there"?? I think not
"Miller's Crossing" is excellent.
Agreed. While it is wonderful to see so many people exibit enough excitement to debate the order of excellence an overall fabulous collection of films by the Coen Brothers, I recommend everyone take a second look at Millers Crossing. Fight as we may over which films are the best, we can always look forward to an excellent cast, fantastic dialog, suspence, silliness, twisting plots and a quirkiness that is undefinably delicious and distintively Coen.
WTH?! The slugline says ranked Best to worst then counts down to the Best.... I'm so confused. That set me up as a doubter from the git-go. Raising A would go to the bottom in my sequence and Miller's and some of the "higher numbered/worst" ones should be in the top. I hate it when math gets involved. Just fraks up the whole mix.
Okay, it's not my favorite Coen (that would be O Brother Where Art Thou) movie but I really like Hudsucker Proxy and I thought everyone else did too! Then again, I like Intolerable Cruelty...well actually I like 3/4ths of it. The end is obnoxious.
Bad Santa ?
weak
Millers Crossing is easily top three along with Fink and O' Brother. Fargo should be kicked a bit down that list.
This list is shit.
I love the Hudsucker Proxy. One of my favorite movies ever. Only argument is that I'd have Miller's Crossing higher, but everyone is entitled to their opinions.
Sorry, but there are no truly BAD Coen Brothers films.
There is no WORST here -- every Coen Brothers film is SO far above the norm
that they don't deserve this kind of lazy condescension.
It seems a disingenuous Fool's Errand to title this piece BEST TO WORST LIST.
At last, some sense to this discussion. The Coens are truly the most innovative filmakers ever. I particularly enjoy the atmosphere they create with every production. If forced I would put The Man who Never Was up high with Fargo close.
Agreed! Their entertainment value has me looking for more. I can not say that about other directors. At times its spoon feed and other times the value may be hidden. A few have been mediocre in storyline. I find there is more than a few, to put on the top of the list.
This is terrible. I like almost all of these films, but to put No country for Old Men seventh is absurd. It should be 1 or 2. The Big Lebowski and O Brother are the best of the comedies. Blood Simple and Miller's Crossing are more like training exercises when they hadn't fully developed their greatness. Also, the Man Who Wasn't There is actually a pretty good film, and definitely better than the lesser comedies. Barton Fink: meh.
gotta say. fargo is a masterpiece, but it lacks the depth and re-watch value of some of their others like lebowski or o brother.
and the man who wasnt there...easily top 5.
fun list!
I understand that a list like this is extraordinarily hard to make, due to the overall impressiveness of the entire Coen catalog. I do, however, think you need to take a second look at The Man Who Wasn't There. The cinematography is outstanding. Shot for shot, outstandingly done. And listen to Thornton's narration to find several gems within the writing. As for the concept and execution of the story being boring; What's boring about taking a man that no one gives a second look and showing the overall destruction he can create for everyone in his vicinity? Also, as is with all Coen films, the minor characters are all outstanding, and no one is inconsequential. Give it a second look with an open mind. You'll like it more with every watch.
I noticed someone mentioned in one of the films, one must pay attention. This is true with every Coen film. otherwise, you'd get bored or confused. To me its Impossible to rank these films. Each one has a Flavor. Each film has a Hidden concept, character, or even a whole other film. or in the case of Lady Killers, a Short story by Mr Poe. Find Hidden Treasure in all of these films.
Thanks for defending Hudsucker! Such a great film.
There's nothing worse than a hack with a thesaurus.
props to hudsucker!
hooksexup.com's list is retarded. I hope everyone realises this. It's embarrassing, because it point-blank proves that you don't know shit about cinema. All their films are at the least good films. They range from good to masterpiece. This is the COEN brothers ranked, as it should be.
14. Intolerable Cruelty 7/10
13. A Serious Man 7/10
12. Hudsucker Proxy 7/10
11. Burn After Reading 8/10
10. The Ladykillers 8/10
9. Blood Simple 8/10
8. Raising Arizona 8/10
7. Barton Fink 8/10
6. O Brother, Where Art Thou? 8/10
5. Miller's Crossing 9/10
4. The Big Lebowski 9/10
3. The Man Who Wasn't There 9/10
2. No Country For Old Men 10/10
1. Fargo - 10/10
this list is great. i couldn't agree more about fargo and hudsucker proxy
"Oh! Brother" is one of my all-time favorites! LOVE that movie :)
this list is poop. the man who wasn't there is sensationally funny and not some dull exercise, and intolerable cruelty is nothing near the hollywood claptrap the list maker makes it out to be. that accuasation is really laughable, both are, actually. also, the author's qualifiers for each of the picture (i could do with less of walter's yelling, some found o brother annoying, sometimes the light from the screen made my eyes hurt) are just bizarre. and missing out on miller's crossing punch and humor is just daft. the person making a best of list of the coens films should actually know what they're talking; this list maker doesnt even seem to know why he likes several of the movies listed here. miller's crossing doesn't play like some dull boardwalk empire episode. and if you like hudsucker proxy you like it; i don't care if a good deal of people find jennifer jason leigh annoying in it, ignore that baloney. they're annoying. and this list is dull.
However you rate them, the Coens are genius writers and directors. They have their finger on the pulse of darkness and light. They know "what evil lurks in the hearts of men."
The coen brothers films are very overrated , they have poor story lines
an astute critique
NOT
I think most would agree that Barton Fink is exactly where it should be on this list. Although Fargo is an astounding film, I do agree that it just doesn't stand up to repeat viewings like Fink does, or even Big Lebowski. Miller's Crossing was my introduction to the 'Coen genre' so I have a hard time being unbiased by that when I say it is top three material at least.
I couldn't get past the first ten minutes of Miller's Crossing, so I'm with you. Raising Arizona and Oh Brother Where Art Thou were highly overrated (in my opinion), and Blood Simple should be higher. So just fix all that, bump up Lebowski and No Country and we agree! (Actually there are three or four on this list that I haven't seen.
To each his own. The true triumph of the Coens is the way they polarize opinions. Here is my list.
1)Fargo (All-time All-American Classic)
2)Blood Simple
3)No Country for Old Men
4)The Big Lebowski
5)Miller's Crossing
6)Raising Arizona
7)A Serious Man
8)Barton Fink
9)The Ladykillers
10)O Brother Where Art Thou?
11)Intolerable Cruelty
12)The Man Who Wasn't There
13)Burn After Reading
14)The Hudsucker Proxy
I would stick True Grit somewhere between A Serious Man and O brother.
The only good thing about this list, is that it proves this person should never again be allowed to make a numbered list.
Hear Hear! I'm glad there are others like me who also like "Hudsucker", as well. Long live the Hud! ;)
Fine, I'll say it. The Hudsucker Proxy is my favorite movie of all time. It should be a New Years film tradition the way It's a Wonderful Life or a Christmas Story are a week earlier. Flawless film from top to bottom, including the mezzanine.
Amen. I watch it every year; it's mahvelous.
My favorites were Razing A, O Brother, and Hudsucker. Great writing and cinematic style. No Country was quite thought provoking. Fargo was OK, but long dull periods like Minnesota itself. Lebowski was novel, but not that entertaining. Burn After reading was sewage.
I agree with a lot of your list. Hudsucker is under appreciated. Barton Fink is the only Coen brothers' film I couldn't sit through, but that was a decade ago and I should give it another chance.
No Country for Old Men is probably third; it's a fight between that and Raising Arizona. For me Lebowski and Fargo are on a whole other plane above. I think those two films are guaranteed a place on any 'greatest films of all times' list, with Fargo being a strong contender for its top spot. Some comments questioned Fargo's replay value yet I have seen it easily as many times as I have the Big Lebowski—a film I doubt anyone can question the repeatability of. I wouldn't want to admit how many times I've seen either one.
Oh, yeah, you betcha, yeah. Heh, my first boyfriend is from Minneapolis; maybe that's why I . . .
Burn After Reading is woopsie, but the others are not woopsie
I just don't even know why you made this list
just went through 5 classic coen bros. aside from the excess violence that permeates almost allof their work, the 5 were generally enjoyable. the exception Barton Fink. could barely stand 20 years ago in a theater. On DVD I made ample use of the fast forward. It's not satire and it's not comic. its gruesome. there's not a character we can empathize with. it's like a root canal where the novocaine wears off before the drilling is finished.
It's a testament to the breadth of styles and the quality of these films that the rankings given by the author and the commenters are all so different.
Get ready haters: my fave -- Barton Fink. The dialogue is so crisp, and there are so many memorable characterizations. I just love when the ****-faced Faulker-esque guy can be heard screaming "Where's ma honey?!!!" in the background. And Turturro is amazing, as is Goodman. Hard to imagine that the guy who plays the lead in this movie is the same guy as Jesus in Lebowski.
1. Fargo
2. Big Lebowski
3. A Serious Man
Every one of these pictures is a gem! A remarkable body of work from these gifted auteurs!
This kind of ranking is near-impossible with their amazing body of work:
The only Coen brother movies that I dislike are Ladykillers and Intolerable Cruelty.
The Man who Wasn't There is under-rated.
A Serious Man is under-rated.
Burn After Reading - seriously under-rated
Fargo is a bit over-rated. Felt like a re-tread of Blood Simple.
I prefer Miller's Crossing - Barton Fink and Raising Arizona.
Barton Fink - Millers' Crossing - Raising Arizona - my personal favorites.
True Grit - Blood Simple - No Country for Old Men -
I'm out of league here. Too much brain power on dspialy!
You can really tell a Coen Borthers movie - just watched Miller's crossing and did not know that it was a Coen movie going in but i could tell half way though and knew it was. - Good movie.
www.hometeamsells.com
Wow. Miller's Crossing continues to be the most under-appreciated masterpiece. The characters are written so beautifully and acted to perfection, particularly by Jon Polito, J.E. Freeman, Albert Finney, and John Turturro. For once, we have a gangster movie that puts its energy into plot and character instead of trying to be a monument to machismo. And then there's the beautiful photography and design, and the music... Miller's Crossing is way too full of quality to meet with so much indifference!
I've never visited this site before linking to this list.
It's terrible in every way.
But I appreciate the effort.
p.s. I'm just hacking on ya.
Oh Brother, Fargo, No Country, Lebowski, and the others... They're all great. The Coens hit so many human nature chords, and so fluidly, that there's something for everyone, and everyone surely has their favorites.
Interesting read - but what hilariously silly comments this article has inspired! The Coens are capable of such diversity and consistent high quality that I imagine my similar list would be different from one to day to the next, their films are uniquely difficult to rank. Personally I love their sense of absurdity and playful narrative ambiguities the best ... O Brother and A Serious Man probably typify this the best and would be my favorites (for today at least).
The Big Lebowski The Only Movie I wAS Watched For Coens aND it Is So Funny :)
Okay, "Fargo" is a very fine movie. But perhaps #1 on your best movies of all time list?
Are you familiar with movies such as "Casablanca", "Annie Hall", "The Godfather", "The Third Man", "Citizen Kane", "Goodfellas", "The Deer Hunter", "Network", "Manhattan", "Duck Soup", "The 400 Blows", "The Hustler", "The Lives of Others", "Blade Runner", "Unforgiven"... well of course I've only scratched the surface and this is another contentious argument but even if you don't agree with all of these, you must admit that the list of possible contenders of movies from ALL times that are superior to "Fargo" would be formidable.
The Coen's movies are so unique, diverse, and usually brilliant that it's almost impossible to rank them. But, a nod to Miller's Crossing as their best, and in my all time top 5 (Godfather I and II, The Good, Bad, and Ugly at the top). Doesn't get nearly enough acclaim. The Hudsucker Proxy is a great example of their ability to go into so many different realms in such an amusingly quirkly and amazingly clever way
I dont think I have laughed so hard a coen brothers scene as I did during the last few minutes of Burn After Reading. Deserves better.
Totally agree. Great casting. Never realised Pitt was so versatile. And all those CIA guys so up themselves probably total reality.
You, sah, do the brothers' work a great injustice not by ranking them in a list, but by attempting to explain them in a hierarchical manner. Pearls before swine, they are. (lol i've been watching "The Ladykillers")
I realize that ranking movies in a venue like this is thankless job, but you might consider backing up your selections with a bit more than just “hey, that’s how I feel.” There are really strong arguments to be made for Oh, Brother Where Art Thou? or for Blood Simple, but you don’t make them. Somehow after two pages I assumed you’d start to get at a reading of the Coen Brothers or what one can say about their oeuvre as a whole, but your approach seems more interested in wit than insight. That’s not good film reviewing.
Lebowski, Miller's, No Country, Fargo and True Grit all top 3!!!!
Hudsucker Proxy was a great film and Jennifer Jason Leigh was perfect in the role, and easily the best performance in the films, and the best part. She nails the fast-talking actresses of the late-early to mid 20th Century, which was hilariously wonderful. I am nit sure why more do not like it.
Thank you for placing Barton Fink at number 2 (I'd go as far to place it at number 1, but I won't quibble). I have never understood why people go on and on about The Big Lebowski while pretty much ignoring Barton Fink. Barton Fink is a better constructed film and while it is quite dark it's brilliant and the tone is pitch perfect!
You are indeed a brave man. I don't think I could rank a Coen movie. I love them all. That being said Raising Arizona is my favorite. The worst Coens' movie is far better than most of the other Box Office hit's out there. BTW Lady Killers was on cable a few months ago, and I had totally forgotten how funny it was. Yeah Tom Hanks was perhaps a bit over the top, but as in all the Coens' movies (EXCEPT for "Burn After Reading"), it's all about Story and Texture.
Coen bros excel in vapidity
MILLER'S...CROSSING!!!!!!!!
out of all of them. . . the DUDE, man.
As usual with Coen Brothers films, The Man Who Wasn't There is visually stunning, and has it's share of odd touches and sublime moments that set the film makers from the rest of the herd, but I thought it was the least interesting of their films. The varying elements of a James Cain flavored noir thriller filtered through Camus-toned existentialism and the zany insertion of UFOs makes me think of bright guys brain storming against deadline; much of the meaning of Coen Brothers movies is open ended and deferred, but this film just couldn't merge the oddities. Billy Bob Thorton, though, needs special credit for maintaining his granite faced deadpan in a film full of eagerly demonstrative actors.
15. The Ladykillers
14. Intolerable Cruelty
13. True Grit
12. Blood Simple
11. Miller's Crossing
10. The Man Who Wasn't There
9. A Serious Man
8. No Country for Old Men
7. Burn After Reading
6. O Brother Where Art Thou?
5. Fargo
4. The Hudsucker Proxy
3. The Big Lebowski
2. Barton Fink
1. Raising Arizona
For me any Coen Movie is about atmosphere and pace and individual performances. Billy Bob Thornton deserved an Oscar for his performance in The Man Who never Was as did Wiliam H Macy in Fargo. Tuturro and Goodman all shine in each film they grace. Its Film Noir at it's best and even the bad films are great compared to the general shite that passes for entertainment in Hollywood Land. I couldnt list them as they all offer something different dependant on my mood but long may the Coens reign as simply the best filmakers ever with Tarantino a close second
A Serious Man is their best by quite a bit, and the most personal. People severely miss the point of that movie. It works so well as a black comedy, a Biblical retelling, and most of all as a way of them to express Nihilistic nature of their art/life.
serious man
Seriously, hating on a Coen brothers (aside from Intolerable Cruelty) is like saying you like new George Lucas reboots/prequels/sequels--its simply disingenuous. I really enjoyed even the lesser of these movies, particularly the comedies. I disagree that the Ladykillers was sluggish, I actually thought it was well paced given its irreverence. Tom Hanks was good, though his intensity at times took away from any potential immersion factor, but in particular I thought he was overshadowed by JK Simmons (who always seems severly underappreciated to me) and even Marlon Wayans, who were more akin to those types of roles and were both quite entertaining, even though I'm not typically a fan of the latter.
I also enjoyed Burn After Reading, though once again the most entertaining parts of this movie were the brief scenes with the clueless, nonchalant bit role titled simply "CIA Superior" played by JK Simmons. I did go into it hoping Brad Pitt would be more entertaining, but I wasn't so disappointed by his character that it broke the film, and the rest of the cast was excellent.
And, of course, maybe you simply have to be a Coen fan but Hudsucker was tremendous.
Choosing the best Coen brothers film is a tough call.
I can immediately discount A Single Man, which bored me to tears, Intolerable Cruelty, which was pure popcorn, and Ladykillers, which was a pointless remake of a much better original film.
Predictable, perhaps, but I'd have to go for No Country as their best, followed by Fargo and then The Big Lebowski.
Now you say something