An unusual, sometimes slightly absurd plot, an unpredictable denouement, black humor - it is easy to distinguish from others the film that the Cohen brothers made. For more than two decades, the creative tandem has been delighting fans with exciting films. So, what thrillers, dramas and comedies shot by these talented directors can be called the best?
The Cohen Brothers: debut work
The first picture, created by the creative tandem, is low-budget, belongs to the direction of “neo-noir”. She became the thriller “Just Blood”, which saw the light in 1984. In the center of the plot is the story of the owner of the bar, who suspects the spouse of infidelity. To gather evidence, he turns to a private detective, after which the events take an unexpected turn.
The thriller can be called a kind of business card, with the help of which the Cohen brothers told the world about their very unusual sense of humor. Interestingly, in the future, Joel married an actress who got the role of an unfaithful wife.
The following picture was also successful - “Raising Arizona”, released in 1987. This time, the Cohen brothers surprised the audience with a comedy, the plot of which balances on the verge of absurdity. The main characters of the film were lovers, who had difficulties with conceiving a child. The solution to the problem for them was the theft of a baby from a large couple.
The best thrillers and dramas
“Miller's Crossroads” is a drama with elements of a thriller presented to the public in 1990. The Cohen brothers borrowed a plot from Deschiel Hammett’s works, seriously reworking it. The story tells of the confrontation of gangster groups that took place during the triumph of Prohibition in the States. The creators paid special attention to the atmosphere of the picture, achieving maximum transmission of the oppressive tension that reigned on the streets during the era of the Great Depression. Critics emphasized the excellent study of the characters.
The very next year, Ethan and Joel Cohen pleased the fans with the new thriller "Barton Fink", saturating it with the features of a black comedy. The protagonist of the work is the author, suffering from creative stagnation, unable to create a single line of a new script. The writer is forced to seek help from a hotel neighbor who is a very unusual person.
It is impossible not to mention the thriller "The Old Men Do Not Have a Place", which was released in 2007. The story begins with the fact that the average hard worker finds in the desert two million dollars, a car stuffed with drugs, and a mountain of dead bodies. The hero appropriates money, which leads to a wave of terrible crimes, before which law enforcement agencies are powerless. Interestingly, the musical accompaniment is completely absent, the audience will not wait for the music until the final credits.
The funniest comedies
The comedy genre is a direction in which the Cohen brothers have no competitors. Films imbued with their signature black humor invariably become popular. The comedy Fargo, presented to the public in 1996, is recognized by critics as the best work of the creative tandem. The main character in the story becomes a pregnant girl who is a police officer. She is forced to look for the culprit of mysterious crimes that excited a small city.
Big Lebowski is another cult comedy that the Cohen brothers released in 1998. Imitative films trying to recreate the atmosphere of this picture, after its release began to appear one after another. The main character of the comedy tape is an unemployed pacifist, who, by the will of fate, became involved in a crime. Eccentric characters, unpredictable denouement, company jokes - the comedy is worth watching.
You can not ignore another comedy work, which in 2008 was directed by the Coen brothers. We are talking about the picture "After reading burn." The action takes place in a fictional world in which some idiots live. The creators described their brainchild as a kind of parody of modern espionage thrillers. It is interesting that in the film there are no characters who could be considered good heroes.
What else to see
“Inside Lewin Davis” is the latest work of cult directors, which saw the light in 2013. The protagonist of the musical film is a talented singer who cannot achieve popularity in any way. He swims through life, occasionally moonlighting in night clubs, not even having a permanent home, having lost the support of his family. The character lives solely for the sake of music. By the way, at the time of the release of this work, the Cohen brothers already had experience in creating a musical tape, since in 2000 their picture “Oh, where are you, brother” was released.
New film
In 2016, the creative duet will delight its fans with the new film “Long Live Caesar”, acting not only as directors, but also as scriptwriters. The exact release dates of the expected picture are still vague, but the shooting is already underway.