I agree that No Country had great cinematography but considering that the film that beat it for that category was There Will be Blood I think that can be accepted.
Honestly, one of the best things about the Fargo TV spinoff is that it manages to respect the original movie and keep it at arms length. I don't think lack of enjoyment within the TV series could ruin the movie for anyone.
I had a similar mindset about the Fargo TV series, fearing that it might taint one of my favorite movies. But I finally watched it and it is genuinely fantastic. I would recommend it to anyone.
It is ridiculous how many brilliant films these guys have made. Who can compete with them? Hitchcock, maybe. But for sheer quantity of quality they are a cut above anyone living. Also worth remembering how comfortably they move through genres.
Brother, Fargo, Lebowski, No Country, in no particular Order. No. 5 is negotiable. Could be Miller, Fink, Lewellin, basically any of 10 films. But IMO, those 4 remain the standouts.
I felt exactly the same about the Fargo TV series.....but then I actually watched it and was blown away. The film is undoubtably an untouchable classic, but the TV show is excellent as well. They nail the dark comedy and atmosphere of the film and still manage to put an original slant on it. Would highly recommend it to anyone who has doubt about it.
interesting note about the double bill of Blood Simple and Evil Dead. Joel Coen actually worked on Evil Dead as an assistant editor, in fact it was one of his first jobs in film I believe. Also, Evil Dead was the inspiration for how Blood Simple was funded
The Coens are some of my favorite filmmakers. Their view of the world is alternately hilarious and terrifying in ways that no other storytellers can describe. For my money, my five favorite films of their's would have to be: 5. O, Brother Where Art Thou? 4. No Country for Old Men 3. Fargo 2. A Serious Man 1. Inside Llewyn Davis, which happens to be the latest movie I have seen that has utterly bowled me over and changed the way I look at film and, in a way, at life.
I could say that my Coen brothers entry point was Raising Arizona, because that's the first of their movies I saw, in 1988. But it was Miller's Crossing really, for the simple reason that it made me want to know who created it. I was so mad for that movie, I remember calling people, specifically to tell them to watch it.
Fargo's also my favourite Coen brothers film but Mr Kermode you should definitely watch the TV series. It's set in the same universe and is outstanding television!
The TV series of Fargo in no way spoils or cheapens the film. It is made with the same genuine love and respect for the people of Minnesota that came from the film. If anything the series made revisit the film and appreciate it more.
Interesting how this differs for so many people. I'd have put The Man Who Wasn't There somewhere, being that I saw that for the first time recently and it became a firm favourite.
With you on 'No country...' and yes it should have won the cinematography Oscar. Blood simple is quite simply brilliant, the best modern Noir I ever seen. Fargo yes as well, good to hear what you think about the Coens work.
Got to say, i would have popped The Big Lebowski in maybe instead of Millers Crossing, or at very least as an extremely honourable mention. Fargo is just.. Its incredible. I love it. And the TV show too. First, and second series. Some of the best television i've ever watched. Capturing the character, and the world just perfectly.
I saw the TV show of "Fargo" first, so for me that's the best version. Plus there's something beautiful about seeing the coen brothers go back to work on something they did so well, and improve on it.
2016 and still not watching TV's Fargo Mark? Pretty silly move if you ask me. We all expected it to be a heartless cash grab but its was in fact absolutely wonderful. The Coens themselves signed off on it and even mentioned that show runner Noah Hawley did such a good job that to the Coens themselves it felt like something they had written when they first saw the scripts. Fargo is still my favourite film of theirs but the show really does deserve to be seen. Its been the best show on television for the past 2 years.
The body of work of the Cone Brothers is so strong and varied that the chances of someone having the exact same top five as you are slim. My top 5 in no particular order is No Country, For Old Men, Miller's Crossing, Inside Llewyn Davis, The Man Who Wasn't There and Fargo although there are many more that are close.
Fargo is my favourite too, and it always reminds me how cool my dad was because he loved it so much. It also has Steve Buscemi in it, my ultimate fave living actor.
The Big Lebowski. Loved it the first time around in theatres, have been rewatching and enjoying it ever since. Rest of my Coens top 5: Blood Simple No country for old men The man who wasn't there Fargo
There is so much that I love about A Serious Man, that it became my favourite Coen Brothers movie. The never ending sorrow of Larry Gopnik, the acting of the ALL actors (the fist time I saw Michael Stuhlbarg in a film, this movie put him certainly on the map) is astoundingly great and funny. The running gags ('just a minute!'), the rabbi's (especially Simon Helberg who is awesome). So yes, it's in my top five Coen Brothers.
Glad you watched Big Lebowski a few more times. It's genius is so subtle, it's nuanced scenes so meaningful in their meaninglessness that it is truly a master level work. Every viewing, you will enjoy it more. Watch it 5 more times and I bet it would easily take a top spot in this list!
i myself love O' Brother Where Art Thou i do not particularly care for bluegrass music but the soundtrack is amazing plus its a wonderful adaptation of Homer's Odyssey. and i loved their version of True Grit
Inside Llewyn Davis is one of my top 10 favourite movies. Plus the phone pad sketch in The Big Lebowski is the greatest visual gag in the history of cinema.
I still need to see Blood Simple, A Serious Man and The Man Who Wasn't There, but the rest are probably my favourites of the Coens so far from what Kermode picked.
the Fargo TV series is worth your time... it's only slightly related to the film, it's more of a show that's set in the same place and in no way takes away from the film. I liked Hali, Caesar! a lot and I think that like Lebowski, it's a film that reveals itself on repeat viewings.
My top 5 (tho I haven't seen Miller's Crossing, Barton Fink or Hudsucker Proxy): 1. O Brother, Where Art Thou? 2. Burn After Reading 3. No Country for Old Men 4. Fargo 5. Inside Llewyn Davis
1 A Serious Man 2. Inside Llewelyn Davis 3. Blood Simple 4. No Country for Old Men 5. Barton Fink Of course, Raising Arizona and the Big Lebowski are both incredible films too, and Fargo obviously. He is right about this list being tough to forge. Very prolific duo!
I think you've found a great film maker(s) when you can have a completely different top 5 of their films as someone and still completely agree with their list. Any ways here is mine 5. A Serious Man 4. Inside Llewyn Davis 3. No Country For Old Men 2. Fargo 1. The Big Lebowski
1. 'The Big Lebowski'- Nothing to do with Vietnam 2. 'Barton Fink'- You're alright, Charlie 3. 'Inside Llewyn Davis'- A little careerist 4. 'The Hudsucker Proxy'- An antelope... or an ibex 5. 'Fargo'- Are we square?
1. The Big Lebowski (!!!) 2. No Country for old men 3. Inside Llewyn Davis. 4. Fargo 5. Oh brother were art thou. Miller Crossing only just missed a spot there.
Fargo, Inside Llewyn Davis, A Serious Man, The Big Lebowski and No Country For Old Men. Honourable mention: Miller's Crossing. I think honestly the greatest strength of the Coen bros. films is how different they are, and yet with such quality through their output.
“Are you sure? Because - I mean - how do ya know?” - Marge Gunderson The real top 5 are: Fargo, Big Lebowski, A Serious Man, Inside Llewyn Davis and True Grit. This is where the Coens go from merely excellent and impressive to hypnotic.
1. Fargo 2. No Country For Old Men 3. Inside Llewyn Davis 4. Burn After Reading 5. O Brother, Where Art Thou? Haven't seen the following: Blood Simple Miller's Crossing Barton Fink Raising Arizona The Hudsucker Proxy A Serious Man Hail, Caesar!
I've seen drug deals that are less shadier than these videos with Mark hanging round the back of a car park
Lebowski would have really tied the list together.
No Big Lebowski?
Well, that's like, your opinion, man.
+The Wilfred It took him the second time to watch it, to even laugh at it! there's a vid on utube that shows Mark giving it a second chance
A serious man is criminally underrated, so much depth to analyse.
Oh yeah, I forgot about the Big Lebowski, that's a modern masterpiece in my opinion.
James Bastion A modern masterpiece. One of the best of the 21st century, alongside No Country For Old Men
A Serious Man is in my top 5
Inside Llewyn Davis and Burn After Reading are brilliantly underrated films. I'm surprised how few people have seen either of them.
+Ryan Hollinger Burn After Reading is actually one of their most succesful films financially, a lot of people have seen that one.
DomesticDrone
Didn't know that! That's an interesting one.
+Adam Isaksson I didn't like Inside Llewyn Davis ...
Amazed that anyone would even dislike Burn After Reading, let alone not love it.
Didn't like Llewyn Davis.
I thought the Fargo TV series would be terrible but it's pure genius.
@Withnail No No 1st series wins by a street okey dokey
Not even a mention of 'Raising Arizona'!?!? oh Mark...how could you?! signed a Minnesota girl
I agree that No Country had great cinematography but considering that the film that beat it for that category was There Will be Blood I think that can be accepted.
My current top 5: A Serious Man, Oh Brother Where Art Thou, The Big Lebowski, No Country For Old Men, Fargo.
Honorable mention Raising Arizona.
Honestly, one of the best things about the Fargo TV spinoff is that it manages to respect the original movie and keep it at arms length. I don't think lack of enjoyment within the TV series could ruin the movie for anyone.
Not enough people have given the TV show the respect it deserves
Raising Arizona. First Coen Bros. movie I saw and still my favourite.
I had a similar mindset about the Fargo TV series, fearing that it might taint one of my favorite movies. But I finally watched it and it is genuinely fantastic. I would recommend it to anyone.
Kermode you're out of your element!
It is ridiculous how many brilliant films these guys have made. Who can compete with them? Hitchcock, maybe. But for sheer quantity of quality they are a cut above anyone living. Also worth remembering how comfortably they move through genres.
Miller's Crossing at No.1 for me, every time. It's almost Shakespearean.
The Fargo TV series is well worth a watch, no fluff to pad out the season here.
O Brother, Where Art Thou? easily.
+hurricanebtvs I hate that film
Okay?
Lol just sayin haha, I think it's one of those films. Genuinely bored me.
+hurricanebtvs That is my fav also
Brother, Fargo, Lebowski, No Country, in no particular Order. No. 5 is negotiable. Could be Miller, Fink, Lewellin, basically any of 10 films. But IMO, those 4 remain the standouts.
The Coen Brothers movie I watch almost as often as the Big Lebowski is The Man Who Wasn’t There, a criminally underrated movie.
True Grit. Loved it. Such a wonderfully shot and warm film with such a simple story.
The Hudsucker Proxy is absolutely wonderful.
I too thought Fargo was untouchable. I was wrong. The show is every bit as good as the movie.
I felt exactly the same about the Fargo TV series.....but then I actually watched it and was blown away. The film is undoubtably an untouchable classic, but the TV show is excellent as well. They nail the dark comedy and atmosphere of the film and still manage to put an original slant on it. Would highly recommend it to anyone who has doubt about it.
Both are great. The film and the series. I was praying for the series to be good, and it was! Great characters.
"A Serious Man"
Film haunts me to this day
interesting note about the double bill of Blood Simple and Evil Dead. Joel Coen actually worked on Evil Dead as an assistant editor, in fact it was one of his first jobs in film I believe. Also, Evil Dead was the inspiration for how Blood Simple was funded
"The Man Who Wasn't There." My favorite Coen Brothers movie by a mile.
People that love FARGO *need* to watch the TV show, because holy-cow-is-that-show-good!
The one liners in millers crossing are top notch
The Coens are some of my favorite filmmakers. Their view of the world is alternately hilarious and terrifying in ways that no other storytellers can describe.
For my money, my five favorite films of their's would have to be:
5. O, Brother Where Art Thou?
4. No Country for Old Men
3. Fargo
2. A Serious Man
1. Inside Llewyn Davis, which happens to be the latest movie I have seen that has utterly bowled me over and changed the way I look at film and, in a way, at life.
A serious man is my favorite movie ever.
I could say that my Coen brothers entry point was Raising Arizona, because that's the first of their movies I saw, in 1988. But it was Miller's Crossing really, for the simple reason that it made me want to know who created it. I was so mad for that movie, I remember calling people, specifically to tell them to watch it.
True Grit!
The lack of love for "The Man Who Wasn't There" is surprising. Easily in the top five.
Fargo's also my favourite Coen brothers film but Mr Kermode you should definitely watch the TV series. It's set in the same universe and is outstanding television!
The TV series of Fargo in no way spoils or cheapens the film. It is made with the same genuine love and respect for the people of Minnesota that came from the film. If anything the series made revisit the film and appreciate it more.
No Country for Old Men will always be No. 1 for me. First film I saw twice at the cinema.
Five and a half words define their best film : The Man Who Wasn't There.
Mark you should definitely watch the tv show. It so worth watching. One of the best tv shows.
No one ever says Raising Arizona and it's one of my favourite comedies :-/
+VermillionCain I agree!!
I liked it too. The first Cohen Brothers film I'd seen.
Interesting how this differs for so many people. I'd have put The Man Who Wasn't There somewhere, being that I saw that for the first time recently and it became a firm favourite.
Hail Caesar! is excellent. It is highly enjoyable, well-paced, and serves as a great love letter to the golden age of Hollywood.
There is no Top Five for me. I LOVE the Coens. Start to Finish.
With you on 'No country...' and yes it should have won the cinematography Oscar. Blood simple is quite simply brilliant, the best modern Noir I ever seen. Fargo yes as well, good to hear what you think about the Coens work.
Got to say, i would have popped The Big Lebowski in maybe instead of Millers Crossing, or at very least as an extremely honourable mention.
Fargo is just.. Its incredible. I love it.
And the TV show too. First, and second series. Some of the best television i've ever watched. Capturing the character, and the world just perfectly.
Mark you need to watch the Fargo TV series, it's amazing!
Agree completely. The first series especially is utterly brilliant!
Second series takes the cake in my opinion.
Blood Simple and No Country For Old Men I love. Great choices Mark!
"Before I finally understood its genius" He actually said it!!! In relation to The Big Lebowski.
I saw the TV show of "Fargo" first, so for me that's the best version. Plus there's something beautiful about seeing the coen brothers go back to work on something they did so well, and improve on it.
+Flora Gosling They have little or no actual input on the show
Tom M Oh, hadn't realized that. Still, gotta say I prefer it.
You could easily argue for a completely different top 5 given their breadth and quality of work.
Fargo is wonderful.
2016 and still not watching TV's Fargo Mark?
Pretty silly move if you ask me.
We all expected it to be a heartless cash grab but its was in fact absolutely wonderful.
The Coens themselves signed off on it and even mentioned that show runner Noah Hawley did such a good job that to the Coens themselves it felt like something they had written when they first saw the scripts.
Fargo is still my favourite film of theirs but the show really does deserve to be seen. Its been the best show on television for the past 2 years.
O'Brother, Where Art Thou? and The Big Lebowski would be automatic top 5's for me...
So many great films to choose from.
The body of work of the Cone Brothers is so strong and varied that the chances of someone having the exact same top five as you are slim. My top 5 in no particular order is No Country, For Old Men, Miller's Crossing, Inside Llewyn Davis, The Man Who Wasn't There and Fargo although there are many more that are close.
Loved Hail Caesar. The man who wasn't there ,would be in my top five.
Barton Fink and Miller's Crossing are immense. Fargo however, is in it's own league.
I genuinely don’t understand how he just did that. Every Coens movie I’ve ever seen is my favorite, and I’ve only seen like the half.
In no particular order, the correct list is:
O Brother, No Country, Blood Simple, Fargo, Raising Arizona
Mark I guarantee the Fargo tv series is just as good as the film. You'd probably enjoy the subtle nods to other Coen films throughout the episodes.
Fargo TV series is amazing. Love how it incorporates the film within the universe
Mark says it's hard to pick just 5 favourite Coen Brothers' movies - I agree with this. I also think his 5 are pretty good.
Fargo is my favourite too, and it always reminds me how cool my dad was because he loved it so much. It also has Steve Buscemi in it, my ultimate fave living actor.
The Big Lebowski. Loved it the first time around in theatres, have been rewatching and enjoying it ever since.
Rest of my Coens top 5:
Blood Simple
No country for old men
The man who wasn't there
Fargo
The Big Lebowski for sure, but also (criminally overlooked by nearly everybody) The Man Who Wasn't There.
There is so much that I love about A Serious Man, that it became my favourite Coen Brothers movie. The never ending sorrow of Larry Gopnik, the acting of the ALL actors (the fist time I saw Michael Stuhlbarg in a film, this movie put him certainly on the map) is astoundingly great and funny. The running gags ('just a minute!'), the rabbi's (especially Simon Helberg who is awesome). So yes, it's in my top five Coen Brothers.
love how everyone's forgotten about Burn After Reading - what did you guys think about it? not in my top 5 coens by a mile
Burn After Reading, better than Intolerable Cruelty & The Ladykillers but still very low on my list. loved John Malkovich though!
A Serious Man is my favorite.
you did ? you got the big Lebowsky ? I´m so happy for you Mark !
Glad you watched Big Lebowski a few more times. It's genius is so subtle, it's nuanced scenes so meaningful in their meaninglessness that it is truly a master level work. Every viewing, you will enjoy it more. Watch it 5 more times and I bet it would easily take a top spot in this list!
i myself love O' Brother Where Art Thou i do not particularly care for bluegrass music but the soundtrack is amazing plus its a wonderful adaptation of Homer's Odyssey. and i loved their version of True Grit
Inside Llewyn Davis is one of my top 10 favourite movies.
Plus the phone pad sketch in The Big Lebowski is the greatest visual gag in the history of cinema.
I still need to see Blood Simple, A Serious Man and The Man Who Wasn't There, but the rest are probably my favourites of the Coens so far from what Kermode picked.
yeah well mark, thats just like, your opinion man
the Fargo TV series is worth your time... it's only slightly related to the film, it's more of a show that's set in the same place and in no way takes away from the film.
I liked Hali, Caesar! a lot and I think that like Lebowski, it's a film that reveals itself on repeat viewings.
Really missing out on not watching the TV show. Season 1 was great but Season 2 was an absolute masterpiece in storytelling.
i just love a serious man so so much
I can't come up with a personal top 5 Coen bros movies list. I tried but I just can't. Nearly every single film they've made is a masterpiece imo.
My top 5 (tho I haven't seen Miller's Crossing, Barton Fink or Hudsucker Proxy):
1. O Brother, Where Art Thou?
2. Burn After Reading
3. No Country for Old Men
4. Fargo
5. Inside Llewyn Davis
Another one that should have had a place, (maybe it should have been a top10), is the brilliant and beautiful "The Man Who Wasn't There".
1 A Serious Man
2. Inside Llewelyn Davis
3. Blood Simple
4. No Country for Old Men
5. Barton Fink
Of course, Raising Arizona and the Big Lebowski are both incredible films too, and Fargo obviously. He is right about this list being tough to forge. Very prolific duo!
I really enjoyed Burn After Reading actually despite the lack of mentions it seems to get.
I think you've found a great film maker(s) when you can have a completely different top 5 of their films as someone and still completely agree with their list. Any ways here is mine
5. A Serious Man
4. Inside Llewyn Davis
3. No Country For Old Men
2. Fargo
1. The Big Lebowski
1. 'The Big Lebowski'- Nothing to do with Vietnam
2. 'Barton Fink'- You're alright, Charlie
3. 'Inside Llewyn Davis'- A little careerist
4. 'The Hudsucker Proxy'- An antelope... or an ibex
5. 'Fargo'- Are we square?
1. The Big Lebowski (!!!) 2. No Country for old men 3. Inside Llewyn Davis. 4. Fargo 5. Oh brother were art thou. Miller Crossing only just missed a spot there.
There's no way to tell how people will rank their films, which is why I love discussing them
This five is fine, and just rotate a new listing each month.
The coens back catalogue is just superb and all could/should be in a top 5
You really should watch the television programme, it doesn't try to supplant the film at all
I love A Serious Man.
Out in a minute!!
My fave 3 are Fargo, No Country for Old Men, and Inside Llewyn Davis. Granted, I haven't seen Barton Fink or Miller's Crossing yet...
Raising Arizona is not only their best film, it is THE best film ever.
Fargo, Inside Llewyn Davis, A Serious Man, The Big Lebowski and No Country For Old Men. Honourable mention: Miller's Crossing. I think honestly the greatest strength of the Coen bros. films is how different they are, and yet with such quality through their output.
“Are you sure? Because - I mean - how do ya know?” - Marge Gunderson
The real top 5 are: Fargo, Big Lebowski, A Serious Man, Inside Llewyn Davis and True Grit. This is where the Coens go from merely excellent and impressive to hypnotic.
Inside Llewyn Davis is without question my favourite
The sound quality has reached new lows
1. Fargo
2. Barton Fink
3. No Country for Old Men
4. Inside Llewyn Davis
5. Miller's Crossing
Honorable Mentions: The Big Lebowski and A Serious Man
Inside Llwyn Davis is as good an essay on the music industry as Barton Fink is on movies.
RAISING ARIZONA IS A PERFECT COMEDY
Oh and for me 1. Miller's Crossing 2. Fargo 3. Oh Brotha Where Art Thou 4. No Country for Old Men 5. The Big Lebowski
1. Fargo
2. No Country For Old Men
3. Inside Llewyn Davis
4. Burn After Reading
5. O Brother, Where Art Thou?
Haven't seen the following:
Blood Simple
Miller's Crossing
Barton Fink
Raising Arizona
The Hudsucker Proxy
A Serious Man
Hail, Caesar!
1: Fargo
2: O Brother Where Art Thou
3: Hail Caesar !
4: No Country For Old Men
5: Inside Llewyn Davis
A Serious Man.
My top 5:
5. Burn After Reading
4. Inside Llewelyn Davis
3. The Big Lebowski
2. Fargo
1. No Country for old Men