# Your favorite Coen brothers movie **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 14, 2011, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-coen-brothers-movie/567646 "2011-01-14T21:35:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Pearson\_Flyer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pearson_flyer/32/7241_2.png) [@Pearson\_Flyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pearson_Flyer)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2011, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-coen-brothers-movie/567646/21 "2011-01-14T23:53:16Z")
Gotta go with O Brother. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2011, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-coen-brothers-movie/567646/22 "2011-01-14T23:56:37Z")
> [@woodstockbirdybird](#): > > Plus, it’s hard to top Albert Finney letting loose with a machine gun (to the tune of “Danny Boy”, no less). Probably one of my top 10 favorite movie scenes of all time. It’s just…a beautiful scene. Gorgeous. I voted for _Miller’s Crossing_ almost by random, another day it may have been any of a few others. ---
**Author:** ![Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8edcca/32.png) [@Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superfluous_Parentheses)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2011, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-coen-brothers-movie/567646/23 "2011-01-15T00:12:56Z")
Can’t decide between Big Lebowsky and Oh Brother. No country for old men and Fargo tied for 3rd place. ---
**Author:** ![campp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@campp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/campp)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2011, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-coen-brothers-movie/567646/24 "2011-01-15T00:19:26Z")
No love for Blood Simple? Awesome movie and characters, see it! ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2011, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-coen-brothers-movie/567646/25 "2011-01-15T00:24:20Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > I’m not a fan of **The Big Lebowski** , a long shaggy dog story with no real payoff. Well, that is kind of the point. It is actually a satire of _The Big Sleep_ with The Dude standing in for Marlowe, except instead of being two steps ahead of the convoluted plot he is three steps behind and never really catches up. It is great to watch film side by side. Stranger Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2011, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-coen-brothers-movie/567646/26 "2011-01-15T00:31:58Z")
My vote was for _Fargo_. Marge Gunderson is outstanding as the small-town police chief, and there are wonderfully creepy parts when the poor wife gets kidnapped. A great blend of humour and suspense. _Miller’s Crossing_ is up there but I am a big fan of Dashiell Hammett and have read _The Glass Key_ many times, and every time I watch the movie I think of the book and how the plot would have been better if only they had included this section of the book… _O Brother…_ has wonderful music incorporated with the film, but I don’t like the plot as much, it seems too disjointed and haphazard to me. It probably all fits together in ways I don’t understand. _Raising Arizona_ is their best comedy (I haven’t seen _[Burn After Reading_ yet.) ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2011, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-coen-brothers-movie/567646/27 "2011-01-15T01:03:25Z")
> [@campp](#): > > No love for Blood Simple? Awesome movie and characters, see it! An intense movie that shows that the Coens had it all together even in the very beginning of their careers, but also a little crude and somewhat overplotted compared to later efforts. When Sam Raimi basically remade it (thematically) as _A Simple Plan_ (with advice and support by the Coens) I thought it had more depth. I’m floored to see that _Miller’s Crossing_ has such a following for a film that is generally unknown by the viewing public and often forgotten about in reviews of Coen movies. I thought I was the only one who appreciated this film. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2011, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-coen-brothers-movie/567646/28 "2011-01-15T02:36:52Z")
I had to vote for _Raising Arizona_, if for no other reason than I had a tape of it in college and my roommate and I watched and quoted it endlessly. But yeah, it’s tough to pick just one. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2011, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-coen-brothers-movie/567646/29 "2011-01-15T02:41:16Z")
> [@Tamerlane](#): > > Probably one of my top 10 favorite movie scenes of all time. It’s just…a beautiful scene. Gorgeous. Heh, I can think of a crapload of scenes that could plausibly make someone’s ten best list. 1. Blood Simple: near the end when Frances McDormand is hiding in a room and the person chasing her is shooting at her through the wall; the camera focuses on the holes suddenly appearing one by one, gorgeous beams of light shining though them. 2. Raising Arizona: H. I.'s late night convenenience store robbery/Huggies run. 3-7. Miller’s Crossing: Oh, so many. The title sequence, with the hat blowing through the forest. The aforementioned scene with Albert Finney and his trusty Thompson. The scene where Gabriel Byrne smacks the big goon who’s been ordered to rough him up at the warehouse, and what immediately follows. Both scenes in the woods. 8-11. The Big Lebowski: another one where we’re spoiled for choice. The scene at the bowling alley where Walter enforces the rules after Smokey fouls. The movie-within-a-movie where we learn a bit about Jesus’ background. The Dude’s dream sequence, featuring Saddam Hussein. Walter again, demonstrating what happens when you fuck someone in the ass. 12-14. O Brother: The sirens at the river. The encounter with Baby-Face Nelson. The KKK rally. 15-18. Fargo: Jerry Lundegard meeting the thugs he’s hired to kidnap his wife. Marge Gunderson interviewing Jerry (he fled the interview!). Steve Buscemi trying to hide the money after he’s been shot. Marge, Peter Stormare and the wood chipper. 19-21. No Country for Old Men: Llewelyn is discovered by thugs at the scene of the bungled exchange. Anton Chigurh tells the convenience store owner to flip a coin. Llewelyn at the hotel, and his escape from Chigurh. 22-25. True Grit: Mattie’s negotiations with the horse trader. The sequence at the cabin. The wonderful dolly shot where the camera moves between LaBeouf and Mattie to reveal Rooster Cogburn, down in the valley, about to face down Ned Pepper’s crew. My apologies if I’ve overlooked your favorite scene. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2011, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-coen-brothers-movie/567646/30 "2011-01-15T03:11:36Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > I’m floored to see that _Miller’s Crossing_ has such a following for a film that is generally unknown by the viewing public and often forgotten about in reviews of Coen movies. …are you giving _Miller’s Crossing_ the high hat? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2011, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-coen-brothers-movie/567646/31 "2011-01-15T04:24:06Z")
**Dude** Ben Gazara scores another acting _tour de force_. Yeah, some of the other actors were pretty good too. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2011, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-coen-brothers-movie/567646/32 "2011-01-15T04:40:26Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > Dude Or El Duderino if you’re not into the whole brevity thing. I picked TBL as my favorite because it’s the one I’ve gotten the most sheer pleasure from over the years, and it’s climbed up into one of my top 2 or 3 favorite movies of all time. Maybe my favorite. I also love several others on the list, though - _Fargo_, _O, Brother_, _Miller’s Crossing_, _No Country_, _Raising Arizona_. They do have a handful of duds, but over all, I think they’re probably the best film makers of the last 25 years. ---
**Author:** ![Pine\_Fresh\_Scent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/43a26b/32.png) [@Pine\_Fresh\_Scent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pine_Fresh_Scent)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2011, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-coen-brothers-movie/567646/33 "2011-01-15T04:43:21Z")
Favorite for music: Raising Arizona Favorite for lines: Lebowski Favorite for cinematography: A Serious Man (especially the final scene) or Miller’s Crossing (esp. the forest) Sorry, but I just have to leave a few of my favorite quotes here: “Wassa matter? Did somebody hit you?” “He fixes the cable?” “I don’t know, they had Yodas and shit on 'em!” “You’re such a super lady!” ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2011, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-coen-brothers-movie/567646/34 "2011-01-15T05:01:55Z")
Have the Brothers C ever done a DVD commentary? I think they’d have some interesting things to say. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_jeffrey_lebowski/32/215_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Jeffrey_Lebowski)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2011, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-coen-brothers-movie/567646/35 "2011-01-15T05:17:09Z")
Mind if I do a j? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2011, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-coen-brothers-movie/567646/36 "2011-01-15T07:19:57Z")
You gonna share? ---
**Author:** ![fusoya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecccb3/32.png) [@fusoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fusoya)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2011, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-coen-brothers-movie/567646/37 "2011-01-15T07:20:27Z")
Really, I’m the only voter for Burn After Reading, the funniest film ever made? That can’t be right. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2011, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-coen-brothers-movie/567646/38 "2011-01-15T08:09:22Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > Heh, I can think of a crapload of scenes that could plausibly make someone’s ten best list. > > My apologies if I’ve overlooked your favorite scene. Tony Shaloub as a fast-talking lawyer in _The Man Who Wasn’t There_, talking about the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle ;). ---
**Author:** ![6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/6/e19adc/32.png) [@6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2011, 9:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-coen-brothers-movie/567646/39 "2011-01-15T09:36:11Z")
How can you choose? I can’t even start from one I like _least_… I guess NCFOL was the biggest surprise for me though. And am yet to see ‘True Grit’. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2011, 10:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-coen-brothers-movie/567646/40 "2011-01-15T10:11:50Z")
I can’t decide tbh, 4 my favourite films are in the list. I adore the Hudsucker Proxy, Miller’s Crossing, A Serious Man and No Country For Old Men. It would be very hard to pick a favourite. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-coen-brothers-movie/567646.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-coen-brothers-movie/567646.md?page=3)