# 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:** 12\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![K.S.Masmacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/96bed5/32.png) [@K.S.Masmacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K.S.Masmacho)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2013, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-coen-brothers-movie/567646/102 "2013-02-27T04:21:56Z")
It’s not just the music in\* O Brother Where Art Thou \*that makes it great; it is the message of the film. For me, the humor, great characterizations (which is a consistent quality of all of the Coen brothers’ films), music, and message all combine to make it their best. But I feel I have to mention a few things I haven’t read on this thread yet: In _Raising Arizona,_ when Glen (Sam McMurray) suggests swapping wives, Nate decks him. In the next shot, Nate has to stride several steps just to get over to where Glen has landed.What a great, subtly filmed bit of humor! In an aside that relates to a separate thread about underappreciated supporting acting roles, let’s hear it for Jennifer Jason Leigh in _The Hudsucker Proxy,_ who simply nails the accent and talking patter of 30’s and 40’s films. The symbolism in _Hudsucker_ is great, too; for example, the two completely bald characters, especially in the clock/frozen time scene, and what they represent. Well chosen! ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2013, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-coen-brothers-movie/567646/103 "2013-02-27T16:41:26Z")
I really appreciate filmakers who manage to make films in several genres. The Coens have certainly accomplished that many times over. Another Director who seems to be able to do that is Ang Lee. Quentin Tarantino is kind of the anti-thesis of that. He makes great movies, but they are all of a similar stripe. ---
**Author:** ![FrankJBN](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f0a364/32.png) [@FrankJBN](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FrankJBN)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2013, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-coen-brothers-movie/567646/104 "2013-02-27T17:25:51Z")
For me, four maybe five I wouldn’t want to have to choose between (so I won’t), several more I would watch again anytime. I have not seen Grit, Hudsucker, or a Serious Man. Just to be on the other side, Miller’s Crossing and No Country for Old Men along with Barton Fink and The Man Who wasn’t there were all films with which I was actively disappointed in as I watched. Probably the Ladykillers too by comparison to original. Re Ladykillers, comparing Tom Hanks’ performance to Alec Guiness’ almost seems unfair. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2013, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-coen-brothers-movie/567646/105 "2013-02-27T19:41:20Z")
It’s too close to call between _The Man Who Wasn’t There_, _Fargo_, and _Raising Arizona_ for me, so I voted for _The Man Who Wasn’t There_ because I didn’t want it to have no votes, and was surprised to find I was the 2nd vote for it. My least favorite is easy: _Ladykillers_. ---
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2013, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-coen-brothers-movie/567646/106 "2013-02-27T19:43:44Z")
My avatar says it all - The Big Lebowski ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2013, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-coen-brothers-movie/567646/107 "2013-02-27T21:29:04Z")
Looking over the poll options, I’ve only seen one of those, and I didn’t particularly care for it, so I guess I’m stuck with Michael Bay and his explosions. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2013, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-coen-brothers-movie/567646/108 "2013-02-27T22:45:13Z")
I thought _Barton Fink_ was absolutely brilliant, but I voted for _O Brother_ because it was filled with joyous music, with the sheer joy of making music. ---
**Author:** ![catnoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ab992/32.png) [@catnoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/catnoe)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2013, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-coen-brothers-movie/567646/109 "2013-02-28T00:01:24Z")
Raising Arizona as it was my introduction to the Coens. Loved Fargo and No Country for Old Men was amazing. I’ve seen most of their movies, while all are good, some aren’t on my re-watch list. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2013, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-coen-brothers-movie/567646/110 "2013-02-28T01:00:34Z")
I have a question about [Gambit](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0404978/?ref_=fn_tt_tt_1). I’d never heard of it before this week. It’s just opened in Bangkok. Written by the Coen Brothers but not directed by them. Has anyone seen it, and how is it? ---
**Author:** ![magnusblitz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@magnusblitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magnusblitz)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2013, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-coen-brothers-movie/567646/111 "2013-02-28T02:42:32Z")
The only ones I’ve seen recently enough to remember are _A Serious Man_ and _The Big Lebowski_ and I hated both. So I voted for Michael Bay. (His movies suck too, but they’re entertaining, whereas the Coen brother films just make me feel like I’ve wasted several hours of my life). ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2013, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-coen-brothers-movie/567646/112 "2013-02-28T02:56:19Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > That’s because that’s the Farrelly Brothers, not the Coen Brothers. I know. Lame attempt and all that. :o ---
**Author:** ![movingfinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@movingfinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/movingfinger)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2013, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-coen-brothers-movie/567646/113 "2013-02-28T07:52:19Z")
**Fargo** , as it reminds me of how my Swedish grandmother talked, and it was just a fine movie. Next would be **Blood Simple** , the first Coen Bros film I saw, followed by\*\* Raising Arizona\*\*. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-coen-brothers-movie/567646.md?page=5)