I haven’t seen Intolerable Cruelty. I am also a cinematography geek… so my choices are heavily influenced by that.
Hudsucker and O Brother are two of my top 25 of all time. The Man Who Wasn’t There is one of my top five best cinematography films of all time.
For me, Big Lebowski is a clear number 1, with 2-4 being very close, 5 is about right, and then 6-7.
Sorry to be off topic. I’ll cite “Original Poster’s Privilege”.
For folks who think TBL went nowhere or was a hodge-podge, I recommend a reviewing. As those of us who have seen it many times know, the plot makes perfect sense.
The thing is, there are so many characters and twists and flashbacks (both drug-induced and movie-type) that it seems like a jumble at first. It’s actually a pretty well-sctructured movie, with a sensical beginning/middle/end to the saga, with the Stranger giving a very funny intro, catch-up, and wrap-up that “bookend” the whole thing nicely.
The flashbacks are distracting at first, but a nice interlude. It takes a few viewings to really appreciate this movie because there’s a lot going on.
And technically (if you’re into that kind of thing), I think it might be their best movie – check out the alley-light fade when Donny dies, the point of view bowling ball shot, the matador music introducing Jesus as Dude blows smoke out his nose.
We did this a few months back, plus maybe another time before that, but it is always fun to revisit the Coens’. I suspect my answer has changed slightly every time as well. I like them all. Today:
Haven’t seen IC yet. Of those I’ve seen, only TBL and HP didn’t work all that great for me on first viewing. HP grew on me a bit ( but JJL’s voice will always be an impediment for me in that film ), but TBL grew vastly in stature. It just gets funnier and funnier every time I see it.
Yet to see Intolerable Cruelty. Can I count The XYZ Murders instead?
I personally thought O Brother lacked all humour. Having had a similar experience with Eyes Wide Shut - hated it; saw it again by accident and loved it - I’ve re-sat O Brother a couple of times, desperately (maybe too desperately) trying to enjoy it, because even the lame XYZ I like… but no, it’s not happening.
Very VERY hard to put Coen Brother’s movies in order! If you haven’t sat through Barton Fink, I highly recommend the small effort required.
Raising Arizona just gets me rolling. “Get me a baby Hi!” Weeeeee heeeee eeeeee
Oh, and how can you rank their pictures if you haven’t seen em all? Hmph! 
Hmm.
Haven’t seen The Man Who Wasn’t There yet, and have only seen Intolerable Cruelty once. I never get everything out of a Coen brother’s movie on the first viewing, so that one’s position is purely probationary. Right after I first saw it, Big Lebowski was in similarly low in the rankings. Aside from the top two and and the bottom two, I might as well have drawn the rest out of a hat, their so close in quality.
Oh hell yes. That film nearly provoked orgasms when I showed it to art students who hadn’t seen it. I’m just curious, FilmGeek - what are the other four?
They tend to rearrange themselves within their subgroups, but that’s the top to bottom order tonight.
I’ve seen The Big Lebowski, but am not going to be putting it on this list, as that might imply that I found it something other than a complete mess, which would be fine if it were actually funny, but a complete mess and dull make for a lethal combination.
1.** Fargo** I’ve thought long and hard about this, but it’s my favorite movie ever, period. [so, No ‘Citizen Kane’ etc.] It’s breathtaking.
Argh, another list thread. I am drawn like a moth to flame.
The ones I’ve seen:
Man, I have to see some more Coen movies.
Hard for me to rank them, too… and I haven’t seen them all yet. But I like all fo them so far. However… Sol Grundy, I’m definitely with you on the #1 choice. No doubt about it:
The others… order could change from day to day.
I just watched Barton Fink for the first time last week, so I’m still thinking about that one and figuring out what I think about it. John Goodman was quite good in it, though.
I also picked up Blood Simple on video tape – but haven’t watched it yet. That one will probably be next.
Um…
I’ve managed to miss the rest. But I’ll probably watch Fun with Dick and Jane though, since I liked the orginal. On second thought, if Jim Carrey is going to be in it, maybe I won’t.
As much as I love these movies, you’d think I’d have seen the rest by now. I really need to get around to that. But I am seriously amazed at how the Big Lebowski just does not get old for me.
I haven’t seen Intolerable Cruelty yet.
Which ever one I last watched tends to top the list for a while.
Start watching blood simple at like the time you normally go to bed with the lights off. It’s a good, dark, moody movie. You’ll see elements of Fargo in it, or really, vice-versa.
If you don’t like the Big Lebowski, you are out of your element.