Barton Fink

A renowned New York playwright is enticed to California to write for the movies and discovers the hellish truth of Hollywood.

The Coen brothers are some of the best around at delivering character driven movies. They seem to be equally adept at both comedy and drama, often throwing in more than the odd tip of the hat to classic Hollywood cinema. Barton Fink is no exception to this, but it also betrays something of a distaste for the Hollywood machine, despite an affection for some of its products.

Like many of the Coens' regular stable of actors, John Turturro is an underrated performer, capable of much more than he has been given to work with in his more high profile roles of late (i.e. the Transformers films, which also featured another Coen favourite, Frances McDormand). He carries the film well in this instance, the passionate, yet naive writer he portrays leaving plenty of room for everything from clumsy awkwardness to the depths of despair. He's not the only one to shine.

The supporting cast of John Goodman, Steve Buscemi, Tony Shalhoub, John Mahoney, the list goes on, are superb. Each bringing their own unique flavour to proceedings, as well as their characters providing plenty in the way of larger than life bluster. The majority serve as the antithesis to Turturro's Barton, his slightly withdrawn, almost shy disposition battered senseless by the onslaught of greedy industry types. A weak man he is not, but most certainly not accustomed to the brash insensitivity that he is subjected to. Dialogue is integral to this kind of material and, as usual with these film-makers, disappointment is not a factor that comes into play. 

Considering the fact that the majority of the film takes place in the halls and rooms of a low rent hotel, there is much to appreciate visually. Framing and composition are one of the movie's strong points and there's a Shining-esque dread that hangs over many of the eerier scenes. What the sets deliberately lack in vibrancy, they more than make up for in the subtle subtexts that really set the tone of the flick. This also facilitates some nice contrasts, particularly in colour, between the hotel and the more richly lit offices of the studio moguls, all blinding lights and polished glass.

The plot takes some surprising turns, considering the confines in which it takes place, weaving enough intrigue into the writer's predicament to keep us from joining him in his panicked and disillusioned state. The scenes between Turturro and Goodman are particularly worthy of note in this respect and the relationship between their respective roles is pivotal to the success of the film. These moments are also where the bulk of the humour lies, though this is definitely a picture that showcases the darker side of the Coens' catalogue. These factors combined result in a flick in which fans of their work will find much to appreciate.

The Verdict:

7.5/10
A surprisingly eerie picture that is defined by its excellent cast and imposing characters.