7. The Arrival – Barton Fink (1991)
There is nothing more important in narrative cinema than introducing your characters with magnitude and purpose; if the audience aren’t interested and involved with the leads, you are already at a staggering disadvantage. Thankfully this isn’t something of any concern when commenting on their 1991 masterwork which uses symbolism constantly to balance the endless laughs and constant emotional punishment.
As the idealist and hungry theatre darling Barton Fink arrives in Hollywood for his first day as a studio scriptwriter, he is confronted with endless and indeed breathless insincerity of the executives and his peers. Here we see how the Coens’ pen is the best weapon in their arsenal; they just need solid performers and a small stage to unload a baron of fireworks. As the film progresses we are presented with a portrait of loneliness so poignant and astute that it seems cruel to laugh, but the film is just so damn funny.
