I've had this debate on another message board regarding No Country For Old Men...
BUT am I in the minority that missed the pivotal point where the "hero" (Husband) is killed 3/4 into the film?
(I've read an article where the Coen Bros were angry about scenes in their movies being deleted without their consent.)
I kept expecting Josh Brolin's character to turn up in the end & save his wife.
🍺 Ok,there were a few movies that I couldn't manage to find but here are the ones I have eithier just brought or rented
1.Fargo
2.O brother where art though
3.Raising Arizona
4.The Big Lebowski
5.Millers Crossing
📖 After watching these,I guess,I will be able to decide for myself,whether these guys are overrated or not. I seen ''No country for old men'' the other day,and well, I beleive that movie is very overrated, Although I plan to rewatch it again eventually and give it another chance,as it might grow on me
In my humble and unqualified opinion - they truly are film-making geniuses and getting better and better with age. I don't think they're overrated at all. But had you asked that a few years ago I would not have been so clear-minded about them.
One aspect of their craft is consistency. There are better Coen Bro. movies (Fargo, Big Lebowski) and worse (Crimewave, The Naked Man) - but their very worst efforts are still miles ahead of and above the typical pablum schlock that Hollywood churns out.
Their movies are sort of like "deep tracks" from old vinyl LPs you weren't really sure about when you bought them - but then you were too lazy to take them off the turntable so you played those tracks over and over and finally realized how great they were, compared to say.. the one or two "hits" that might have been released from that LP.
This is probably corny - but I think what makes me so appreciate their films is their work process - they get down in the trenches with their actors and crew, like they actually love every aspect of what they're doing.
While True Grit was alright IMO, but not anything special, The Big Lebowski is a classic and NCFOM is a contemporary Usual Suspects IMO. Just like Usual Suspects, the protagonist (Kajun) is nothing special. It's the villain who makes the film worth it. I enjoyed O Brother Where Art Thou and loved The Lady Killers.
so IMO, no they aren't overrated.
I say that they are overrated in the sense that if they make the film, it's automatically going to get critical acclaim regardless. Ebert was praising The Lady Killers quite heavily in his review for one instance that I can recall off-hand. That said, if The Big Lebowski, Oh Brother, or Fargo were singularly the only good film they had to their names they'd still have done something amazing.
On a side-node, I enjoyed No Country for Old Men, but there were some changes that I felt really took away from the film as a whole.
what changes did you have problems with? I don't there were multiple problems with the movie, there was just one...,there was no point. No message was delivered or analyzed, it was just an open ended story. Looking at their body of work, It might be a good movie if it were the last movie the Coen brothers ever made.
The way the aftermath of the shootout happens at the end was a big issue. The way the sheriff resolves things vs how it happened in the book. Also the scene with Chigur finding Luann in the motel and the chase that follows. There were variations from the book that I just found less enjoyable.
The book had points: some things in the universe are relentless, some things change for the worse, and sometimes there is nothing you can do about either. Some things are the way they are, a la Traffic, Syriana, etc. The flim version was off to me and just wasn't what it could have been.
Originally posted by Esau Cairn
The most overrated director IMO is Tarantino.
Taking old & obscure movies, remaking them & adding some "zanny" dialogue that does not necessarily fit the plot...& then taking credit is what I consider overrated.Talent lies with the Coen Bros.
You just don't get his style. He's certainly not overrated because with each film his message is clear as day. Agree with it or not, that is a unique style. You KNOW when you are watching a Tarantino movie. When you say, "taking old and obscure movies and remaking them". He's not remaking movies, he's making movies of his own, inspired by what he loves. This is what we all do, especially people in the entertainment industry.