What connects all of their films?
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — Joel Coen
Don_Cheech — 10 years ago(February 20, 2016 01:25 PM)
In r16d0esponse to another thread- I began to ask myself- what are the Coens really trying to say. I decided to make my response its own thread- so hopefully I can get more discussion on the matter. What are they trying to say? What is their "thesis" if you will? The only film I feel is entirely different is True Grit, as it really is a simple western. Alot of people think they are pretentious- but I think its just the Coen way- abstract symbolism. This was the comment:
Its important to remember their films are often about
pointlessness- and in a way-
randomness
. How we are never in control- no matter how much we think we are.
A Serious Man - (its pointless to try to answer every question- especially about God, as we simply cannot explain everything. Accept the mystery. Life is random)
No Country For Old Men - (Greed is pointless- as it often will defeat you and everyone involved. One cannot predict random obstacles in life)
Fargo - (again- Greed is pointless, as in- it can usually catch up to you and cause you more problems than you originally had.)
Inside Llewyn Davis - (sometimes- ambition can be pointless. Not everyone succeeds- no matter how talented they are. Fame and success have an unpredictable path.)
those 4 films stuck out the most for me. I sort of forget how Blood Simple ends- so I scratched that out.
So- the theme of pointlessness might be hard for some people to grasp. Its not a clear/ tangible concept- but its very real. Life is random. The coens know this. Its a part of why theyre films are so interesting IMO
edit: Have not seen Hail Caesar!
- and in a way-