# Favorite Coen brothers movie **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 29, 2009, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-coen-brothers-movie/512035 "2009-09-29T21:38:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2009, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-coen-brothers-movie/512035/41 "2009-10-01T04:02:20Z")
> [@Translucent\_Daydream](#): > > You drink everytime: > > The Dude gets mad > Someone says a cuss word (anything you wouldn’t say to your boss’s boss) > Anytime someone says “Donnie” > > You will have to pause the movie a couple times to catch up, but you can pull it off. Its doable. I have done it. I’m left wondering how it’s doable, since [according to IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118715/trivia), > [@](#): > > The F-word or a variation of the F-word is used 292 times. ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2009, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-coen-brothers-movie/512035/42 "2009-10-01T06:13:02Z")
Had to go with Lebowski. I think on the funny side, Raising Arizona is too classic. “Smalls, Leonard Smalls. I’m a tracker…” Ha! The Cohens have written the best side characters of all time like him. DON’T bother with Burn After Reading. The only Cohens film I have to give a thumbs down to. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2009, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-coen-brothers-movie/512035/43 "2009-10-01T06:48:31Z")
> [@AuntiePam](#): > > I haven’t been able to sit through _The Big Lebowski_, despite the presence of Jimmie Dale Gilmore. I keep waiting for the story to start. What’s going on?!? Obviously, I just don’t get it and need to try harder with that one. I love the others (haven’t seen _Intolerable Cruelty_) and voted for _No Country for Old Men_. _Raising Arizona_ and _Fargo_ are the ones I watch most often. _The Big Lebowski_ is the worst of the Coen brothers films that I’ve seen (which is most of them). Now, it’s not the worst film ever made by a long shot. I mean, if a film is the worst _Coen brothers_ film, then it’s still almost, half-way, sort of, ok. I just never understood why so many people like it so much. It was just… blah. My theory is that, much like another bad film, _The Matrix_, somewhere along the line it became hip among the “leaders” to like _The BL_ (especially here at the SDMB) and humans, being the natural followers and wanna belong-ers that they are just fell into line with one proverbial “+1” after another. Lame. I suppose it could be that that many people actually thought it was a good film. Somehow, that is even lamer. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2009, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-coen-brothers-movie/512035/44 "2009-10-01T07:09:33Z")
Just wanted to add (after all you all get done hatin’ on me) that it was hard for me to choose. I think _Raising Arizona_ might be my “favorite” but that is partially for sentimental reasons. The film is great, but it had some of the same “let’s be wacky and incoherent because we can!” problems that the \*The Big Lebowski \*suffers from. A lot \*less \*of those problems, but it still was not their best film. Their best film would be _Blood Simple_. Pretty much a perfect film in every respect. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2009, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-coen-brothers-movie/512035/45 "2009-10-01T12:21:38Z")
> [@Locrian](#): > > DON’T bother with Burn After Reading. The only Cohens film I have to give a thumbs down to. Your opinion is not univerally held. My wife and I love Burn After Reading. I long ago learned not to advise _ **Coen** _ brothers movie fans about which of the movies they should or shouldn’t like. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2009, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-coen-brothers-movie/512035/46 "2009-10-01T13:38:49Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > You misspelled “J.K. Simmons”. But he brought his _bitch_ to the _Waffle Hut_! ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2009, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-coen-brothers-movie/512035/47 "2009-10-01T14:46:08Z")
> [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](#): > > My theory is that, much like another bad film, _The Matrix_, somewhere along the line it became hip among the “leaders” to like _The BL_ (especially here at the SDMB) and humans, being the natural followers and wanna belong-ers that they are just fell into line with one proverbial “+1” after another. Lame. I suppose it could be that that many people actually thought it was a good film. Somehow, that is even lamer. The most likely answer, of course, is that it is a good film that you just don’t happen to care for. Extrapolating one’s own tastes to a universal standard is lamest. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2009, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-coen-brothers-movie/512035/48 "2009-10-02T07:32:26Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > The most likely answer, of course, is that it is a good film that you just don’t happen to care for. > > Extrapolating one’s own tastes to a universal standard is lamest. Hmmm… I never even considered that! You’re the doctor so I guess I should trust your diagnosis. But–and I’m just playing Devil’s Advocate here–isn’t it _also_ possible; isn’t it possibly even “the most likely answer” that it was a _not_ a very good film that I just don’t happen to care for? I mean, it’s just opinion and all, and some folks do feel fulfilled by echoing whatever is currently the hip thing to do, feel, believe, etc. But, OTOH… “DUDE!!!” “The DUDE!!!” “Don’t question the power of TEH DUUUUDE!!!” “The Dude ROOOOOOLS!” and so on, etc., etc. Fuck that bullshit. That lemming-like thinking brings you death-panels and Vanilla Ice. You want to be a part of that crowd? It’s fun and it’s easy, and we see it all the time. Even here, where Ignorance Is Fought. But awww shucks… maybe that’s just my opinion. DUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUDE!!!111!!!11111111!!!1 ROCKS! My friend told me so, so that lame-ass movie by two brilliant filmmakers MUST be good! But take heart. No matter what, I lose, and you win. Because that’s the way the mindless momentum of the herd works. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2009, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-coen-brothers-movie/512035/49 "2009-10-02T07:46:40Z")
> [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](#): > > _The Big Lebowski_ is the worst of the Coen brothers films that I’ve seen (which is most of them). Now, it’s not the worst film ever made by a long shot. I mean, if a film is the worst _Coen brothers_ film, then it’s still almost, half-way, sort of, ok. I just never understood why so many people like it so much. It was just… blah. > > My theory is that, much like another bad film, _The Matrix_, somewhere along the line it became hip among the “leaders” to like _The BL_ (especially here at the SDMB) and humans, being the natural followers and wanna belong-ers that they are just fell into line with one proverbial “+1” after another. Lame. I suppose it could be that that many people actually thought it was a good film. Somehow, that is even lamer. No, you are wrong. I saw both of those films right after they came out and loved them instantly. (and they are both great films) On the other hand, No Country for Old Men was a steaming pile of shit, and I don’t know why anyone would vote for that. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2009, 8:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-coen-brothers-movie/512035/50 "2009-10-02T08:11:18Z")
Well, I vote Hudsucker Proxy by default…it’s the only Coen Brothers movie I’ve seen all the way through. I could not get into the Big Lebowski. Haven’t seen any of the others. On the other hand, Hudsucker is a brilliant movie, not just a brilliant CB movie. I have to note - while I did not care for Lebowski, I want to avoid being lumped with I Love Me…hey, people can disagree. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2009, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-coen-brothers-movie/512035/51 "2009-10-02T12:27:41Z")
> [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](#): > > maybe that’s just my opinion. You should stick with that. The rest of it sounds pretty angsty. ---
**Author:** ![Translucent\_Daydream](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/translucent_daydream/32/16170_2.png) [@Translucent\_Daydream](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Translucent_Daydream)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2009, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-coen-brothers-movie/512035/52 "2009-10-02T13:23:39Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I’m left wondering how it’s doable, since [according to IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118715/trivia), It takes about four hours, and you have to use little sips of beer. I mean LITTLE. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2009, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-coen-brothers-movie/512035/53 "2009-10-02T14:25:47Z")
> [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](#): > > But–and I’m just playing Devil’s Advocate here–isn’t it _also_ possible; isn’t it possibly even “the most likely answer” that it was a _not_ a very good film that I just don’t happen to care for? I’d vote ‘no,’ but I congratulate you on your use of extra caps to strengthen your argument. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2009, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-coen-brothers-movie/512035/54 "2009-10-02T16:37:32Z")
I voted for _Fargo_, though _O Brother Where Art Thou_ was a very close second. While I liked nearly all their movies, the above two (and _Blood Simple_) are for some reason the only ones I’ve ever really wanted to see again in their entirety. > [@Rigamarole](#): > > …No Country for Old Men was a steaming pile of shit, and I don’t know why anyone would vote for that. I believe you have confused this movie with _Barton Fink_, which is the only Coen brothers film I’ve ever been tempted to walk out on, and was overall an excruciating experience. ---
**Author:** ![JohnM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/848f3c/32.png) [@JohnM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnM)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2009, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-coen-brothers-movie/512035/55 "2009-10-02T18:30:47Z")
> [@JohnM](#): > > We’ll definitely be seeing _A Serious Man_ sometime over the weekend. Well, strike that. It appears to be just NYC and LA this weekend, and won’t be in Philly for another two weeks. And regarding the snark about Lebowski, the obvious rejoinder is the Dude’s own words: “That’s just like your opinion, man.” ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2009, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-coen-brothers-movie/512035/56 "2009-10-02T18:50:06Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > I believe you have confused this movie with _Barton Fink_, which is the only Coen brothers film I’ve ever been tempted to walk out on, and was overall an excruciating experience. Oh no, I was forced to watch No Country For Old Men as part of an English course, and I was gobsmacked that such a terrible film was able to win Best Picture. (though not really, I’ve never put much stock into the Academy’s picks) First: the person I thought was the protagonist dies halfway through the movie. If the Tommy Lee Jones sheriff character was supposed to be the actual protagonist, he was the worst hero ever. He was all mopey and emo and wanted to kill himself, never took part in the action directly at all, and at the end of the film the bad guy wins and his attitude is basically “well, that’s life for you, it sucks”. And then it’s over. What is that shit? ---
**Author:** ![gurujulp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ba9def/32.png) [@gurujulp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gurujulp)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2009, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-coen-brothers-movie/512035/57 "2009-10-02T18:56:30Z")
O Brother was just … delightful! Big Rock Candy Mountain… your folding money’s come unstowed y’all gonna want them chains knocked off, I expect Now, I’m just not convinced that’s Pete. It all works together, and my daughter will put it on to play over and over and over for background if she gets the chance. ---
**Author:** ![Oredigger77](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oredigger77/32/3181_2.png) [@Oredigger77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oredigger77)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2009, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-coen-brothers-movie/512035/58 "2009-10-02T19:28:58Z")
How can there be any debate on this? Four words; wood chipper, Steve Buscemi. Ok, I had a hard time picking but seriously one of the most memorable scenes in any movie was him putting his partner through the wood chipper. I’d put O Brother as a close second though it is a fantastic movie and Lebowski is near the top as well… ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2009, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-coen-brothers-movie/512035/59 "2009-10-02T21:47:25Z")
> [@Tengu](#): > > I have to note - while I did not care for Lebowski, I want to avoid being lumped with I Love Me…hey, people can disagree. Quite right. On all three counts. Man, was I having a bad day/week! People can, and do disagree, and my feelings about BL, and everyone else’s are just opinions. Nothing more, nor less. I’m was just getting waaaaay carried away with my disappointment in two heroes of mine–the Coens, for that movie. I had just hoped for so much more. But it all absolutely just opinion. My apologies to **QtM** and everyone else. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2009, 9:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-coen-brothers-movie/512035/60 "2009-10-03T09:04:07Z")
I went with my first reaction, which was _Fargo_. After seeing how little love _No Country for Old Men_ is getting, i sort of regretted not voting for it, but while i love it just as much as any other Coen Brothers film, to me it doesn’t really seem like a _Coen Brothers film_ in the same way that _Fargo_ does. Not sure if that makes sense. Anyway, _O Brother_ was right up there, too. I really liked _The Hudsucker Proxy_, and think it’s an under-rated movie. The only ones i didn’t really care for were _Intolerable Cruelty_ and _The Ladykillers_. Still haven’t seen _Burn After Reading_. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-coen-brothers-movie/512035.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-coen-brothers-movie/512035.md?page=4)