For more than three decades, Joel and Ethan Coen have produced some of
the most unique and thought-provoking works in modern cinema. In broad
comedies such as Raising Arizona, violent thrillers like No Country
for Old Men, and black comedies such as Fargo, the filmmakers have
offered brilliant takes on a variety of film genres. One of the most
distinctive features of their movies is their skewed view of America
itself. In The Coen Brothersâ America, M. Keith Booker discusses
feature films produced by the pair since their 1984 debut Blood
Simple. The author focuses on how the Coen brothersâ films engage
with American cultural history and are embedded in specific
geographical settings. From New York to Los Angeles, from Texas to
Minnesota, the Coens capture the essence of real locations from
unusual angles, which often make the films appear as if they are
taking place in an alternate reality. In addition, many of the
brothersâ films are steeped in Americaâs cultural past, from the
deep south of the 1930s in O Brother, Where Art Thou to the Greenwich
Village of the 1960s in Inside Llewyn Davis. The Coens make
particularly effective use of films from Hollywoodâs Golden Age,
producing their own updated versions of such genres as film noir (The
Man Who Wasnât There), the Western (True Grit), and screwball comedy
(The Hudsucker Proxy)ânot to mention their idiosyncratic depictions
of Hollywood itself in Barton Fink and Hail Caesar! This book also
explores how the Coens draw upon cultural phenomena outside of film,
including literature, music, and television. Approaching each film
within the framework of Ethan and Joelâs overall vision. The Coen
Brothersâ America provides an entertaining look at the pairâs work
that will appeal to scholars and fans alike.
Les mer
Produktdetaljer
ISBN
9781538120873
Publisert
2019
Utgiver
Bloomsbury USA
SprĂĽk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Digital bok
Forfatter