The Coen’s are becoming some of my favorite writers and directors in film. Barton Fink, which has 91% on Rotten Tomatoes, was an interesting ride that left me feeling the need to re-watch it immediately or to go searching the net for others interpretations of what happened. The film is funny, thought provoking, and offers some great performances.
Barton Fink (John Turturro) is a New York playwright turned screen writer staying in a crummy hotel in LA. His neighbor, Charlie Meadows (John Goodman), becomes his only friend as he struggles to overcome his writers block. He comes across Audrey Taylor (Judy Davis) and her boss, writer W.P. Mayhew (John Mahoney), and looks to find a mentor ship. Things take a turn and nothing is going well for poor Barton Fink.
This movie spoke to me on multiple levels. The struggling writer, the misunderstood behemoth, the big thinker, and the socially awkward writer. Ultimately those are two characters, but the levels of depth we get with each is outstanding. Turturro’s performance is amazing. He has these little quirks and mannerisms that make it easily memorable. His character earns sympathy from the audience, and I found myself really wanting him to succeed.
The first conversation Fink has with Meadows is probably my favorite scene. Barton says to Charlie, “…The hopes and dreams of the common man are as noble as those of any king…” and I love this idea. It really tells us that Barton thinks he is a revolutionary. A modern style writer looking to change the perceptions of theater. This conversation says much about who Barton is and is a great introduction to Goodman’s character as well. The friendship, which started as a potential hostile interaction, blossoms right before our eyes over a single glass of whiskey.
Apparently, the Coen films are going to make me discuss spoilers as I’m too intrigued to not. Jump to the last paragraph to read my final thoughts. ***SPOILERS*** Is John Goodman’s character nothing more than a personality of Fink? There are subtle hints early. The laughing and crying that triggers the phone call that sends Meadows to confront Fink seems to echo what Fink is going through internally as he stares at his empty paper. The swapped shoes that look identical, but one appears larger in size. Then the murder, the cover up, the burning hotel, and the dead police officers occur. Did Fink do it and used his persona to cover it up and the burning of the hotel was the merging of the two minds? Or Was Meadows literal, but then explain the fire at the hotel. Was it real? Fink left far too calm for it to have been.
Yeah, much like No Country for Old Men I’ll be re-visiting this one and trying to make sense of some of the things I’m currently unsure of. I really enjoyed the film and the Coen’s have continued to earn my respect and fandom. I give Barton Fink 9 out 10 troubled writers.
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