The Coen Brothers: The Story of Two American FilmmakersEverything you wanted to know about the direction of Fargo, The Big Lebowski, and Barton Fink. A terrified woman plunges a knife through the hand of her pursuer. A leftwing playwright turns to the woman in his bed, only to find a river of blood. A baby, abandoned in the middle of the highway, smiles happily. A professional killer stuffs his partner into a woodchipper while a pregnant cop pulls her gun. Welcome to the world of the Coen Brothers. With the smash success of Fargo (winner of two major Academy Awards), the filmmaking team of Joel and Ethan Coen finally received their deserved recognition. But well before that the two brothers were writing and directing terrific films -- from the film-noir thriller Blood Simple, to the comedy Raising Arizona, to the gangster epic Miller's Crossing, to the bizarre Barton Fink. With each film they have surprised fans and critics alike, always refusing to repeat themselves or compromise their independence. While still in their early twenties, Joel and Ethan Coen raised the money for their first film -- by knocking on the doors of the wealthy in their native Minnesota. Starring an unknown actress named Frances McDormand (who would later become Joel's wife), it was an art-house hit and allowed the brothers to make Raising Arizona with Nicolas Cage and another Coen brothers' discovery, Holly Hunter. But despite their high reputation, the brothers would not make another financially successful picture for years. Were their films just too offbeat and intellectual? And then came Fargo. Here is the story of how two middle-class Minnesota boys have come to write, shoot, and direct some of the most gruesome, exhilarating, and funny films of our time. |
Contents
SIBERIA USA OR HOW TO GROW UP JEWISH IN MINNESOTA | 1 |
PULP FICTION BLOOD SIMPLE | 13 |
TRIAL RUN CRIMEWAVE | 37 |
BABY WRANGLING RAISING ARIZONA | 43 |
GANGSTERS WITH HEART MILLERS CROSSING | 59 |
THE WALLPAPER MOVIE BARTON FINK | 81 |
THE COMEDY OF BUSINESS THE HUDSUCKER PROXY | 103 |
BLOOD ON THE SNOW FARGO | 119 |
CALIFORNIA STORY THE BIG LEBOWSKI | 139 |
ETHAN COEN AUTHOR | 155 |
MORE MOVIES BIGGER CAMERAS | 159 |
BOOKS BY AND ABOUT THE COEN BROTHERS | 169 |
SOURCES | 170 |
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The Coen Brothers: The Story of Two American Filmmakers (Large Print 16pt) Josh Levine No preview available - 2012 |
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acting actor actually already American appeared artistic asked audience baby Barton Fink beginning Bernie Big Lebowski Blood Simple building called camera cast character COEN BROTHERS comedy critics Dead decided Directed director Dude Ethan Coen Evil fact Fargo feel felt film find first gangster give Goodman hand head heart hired Hollywood Hudsucker Proxy idea interesting Ioel Iohn Jewish Joel and Ethan John keep kind later look March Marge McDormand meaning Miller’s Crossing move movie murder named needed never Norville once opening performance Perhaps person picture play plot producer Raimi Raising Arizona released role scene screen screenplay script seemed shoot shot Sonnenfeld Star story studio style success talk theater thing took trying turned Turturro visual wanted writing wrote York young
References to this book
Bibliographic information
| Title | The Coen Brothers: The Story of Two American Filmmakers No Series Information Required Series |
| Author | Josh Levine |
| Edition | illustrated |
| Publisher | ECW Press, 2000 |
| ISBN | 1550224247, 9781550224245 |
| Length | 178 pages |
| Subjects | › Biography & Autobiography / Entertainment & Performing Arts |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |