[MikeRS]

Based on Cormack McCarthy's novel, it's in competition at Cannes and the buzz is building (Could they win the Palm d'Or again? First time since Barton Fink in 1991).

I skimmed Variety's review and was taken by this quote:

Quote:

For their part, Joel and Ethan Coen, with both credited equally for writing and directing, are back on top of their game after some less than stellar outings. While brandishing the brothers' customary wit and impeccable craftsmanship, pic possess the vitality and invention of top-drawer 1970s American filmmaking, quite an accomplishment these days. It's also got one of cinema's most original and memorable villains in recent memory, never a bad thing in attracting an audience, especially as so audaciously played by Javier Bardem

http://www.variety.com/index.asp?lay...117933677&cs=1

First time they are taking a co-directing credit!

Javier Bardem's performance said to be amazing (Oscar buzz)



Josh Brolin and Tommy Lee Jones also said to be excellent.


Up until their last two flicks, I had never missed a Coen bros film in the theater. Methinks the time is ripe for the next great phase in their careers.

My favorite Coen Bros (in order)

1. Miller's Crossing

2. Barton Fink

3. The Big Lebowski

4. Fargo

5. Raising Arizona

6. Blood Simple

7. The Man Who Wasn't There

8. O Brother Where Art Thou?

9. The Hudsucker Proxy

10.Intolerable Cruelty

11. The Ladykillers

[Bill GrandPre]

Quote:

First time they are taking a co-directing credit!

Nope, they were credited this way on "The Ladykillers".

It's all a matter of semantics anyways, they've always co-written, co-directed and co-produced (and often co-edited).

In any case, I'm very, very excited about this movie. I'm a huge fan of the Coens and I read "No Country For Old Men" about a year ago when I heard they were doing it as their next movie and became a Cormac McCarthy fan in the process.

I'm sorta hesitant to call it a "return to form" when it's an adaptation of McCarthy's novel as opposed to an original Coen story and script that brings them back to their roots but I'm definitely looking forward to this movie regardless.

[MikeRS]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill GrandPre

Nope, they were credited this way on "The Ladykillers".

Oops...well, like I said, I didn't even see it in the theaters. That's my excuse. Perhaps it's their credit for adaptations/remakes.

Quote:

It's all a matter of semantics anyways, they've always co-written, co-directed and co-produced (and often co-edited).

I know.

I've always thought that because Joel is technically the film student, he took the credit as director. Ethan's just a Philosophy major (Ha Ha). But of course they're the two-headed director on the set.

It's just one of those technical things that fans (like me!) will fixate on - like how they alternate "Joel & Ethan" and "Ethan & Joel" for the screenwriting credit.

Quote:

(and often co-edited).

Of course, the wonderful Roderek Jaynes (their Acadmey award nominated editor!).

For those who don't know...

http://www.allmovie.com/cg/avg.dll?p=avg&sql=B95930

Quote:

I'm sorta hesitant to call it a "return to form" when it's an adaptation of McCarthy's novel as opposed to an original Coen story and script that brings them back to their roots but I'm definitely looking forward to this movie regardless.

I'd consider it a "return to form", if it's the classic/masterpiece the buzz at Cannes is indicating.

BTW, I've read the script for their next film (Burn After Reading). It's hillarious and yes, 'original' material. Great ensemble (Fargo-level). Could also be a hit for them (in Coen terms) with Clooney and Pitt in those roles. Frances McDormand and John Malkovitch have also been cast.

[Nicholas Vargo]

The funny thing is...

I was asked to attend a test screening of this movie this past Wednesday and I had to decline mainly because I had to work. At the time, I didn't know it was a Coen Brothers flick. The moment I found out, I wanted to shoot myself. I should've agreed to go and called off work that day.

Now with the critical acclaim it has received at Cannes, I feel even worse for saying no.

The only good thing that comes out of this is that at least I can see it in November.

[JonZ]

I had no idea this was done.

I read the other day we can expect 3 films from them in the next 3 years.

[JonZ]

Some clips available here....

http://www.commeaucinema.com/bandes-annonces=76586.html

Definitely looks more like Millers Crossing and Blood Simple type film compared to the stuff theyve been doing since Fargo.

[Bill GrandPre]

Quote:

Definitely looks more like Millers Crossing and Blood Simple type film compared to the stuff theyve been doing since Fargo.

Having read the book twice and having seen the 5 clips it really shouldn't be like "Miller's Crossing" in any way.

When I think of "Miller's Crossing" I think of fast-paced dialogue and a very stylized (borderline-romanticized) sense of visuals and actions and "No Country" is the antithesis of that.

I think it'll be most like "Blood Simple" and "Fargo" but like I said earlier when I said I hesitate to look at this as a "return to form" because this isn't an original Coen story nor does it appear as though it's a "Coenization" of something previously established like "O Brother" or "The Ladykillers".

They really seem to be doing a great deal of justice to Cormac McCarthy's book and as such there's really no precedent for a film like this in their filmography. At best you're gonna find hints of it in stuff like "Blood Simple" or "Fargo".

[Bryan^H]

JonZ,
Thanks so much for those clips. The "coin toss" clip was amazing. Looks like a return to what the Coen brothers do to perfection: crime/thrillers, with very interesting characters. Fargo, and Blood Simple were awesome, but from watching the clips of this film, I believe Joel, and Ethan will win an Oscar for best picture. Just a hunch.
I can't wait until November

[Adam_S]

Quote:

It's all a matter of semantics anyways, they've always co-written, co-directed and co-produced (and often co-edited).

Actually putting up the 'co' credit is more of a matter of the Director's Guild of America being a complete pain in the ass about a co-directing credit, there's literally mountains of paperwork and 'proof' that has to filed as well as some sort of on set inspection/oversight, iirc, to make sure the movie is actually being co-directed. A complete nightmare to deal with, from all I've heard. So while they've always codirected coeverythinged their films, they haven't always split the credit because of those issues, rather than pure semantics, and likewise the reason they can't/haven't been credited for for editing, or Soderbergh for DPing/editing is because credit is the most valueable commodity in the industry and noone wants a precedent created of allowing directors to easily horde all the 'treasure' for themselves.