Play me something from inside Llewyn Davis...
(spoilerific)
The way that one judges this character and this scene and perhaps even the whole movie depends on how you hear this line. Is it 'play me something from, 'Inside Llewyn Davis'' or 'play me something from inside Llewyn Davis'? Having seen the film twice now, I think the latter.
Llewyn is a classic Coen character; a somewhat talented man whose talents are eclipsed by an apathetic world, unsympathetic supporting characters and seemingly nature itself. To be more specific, this film is a clear blend of the Coen masterpiece 'A Serious Man' and 'Barton Fink'. Misfortune piles upon misfortune and all Llewyn, or in the case of ASM Larry Gopnik, can do is ask why him. But, like Barton Fink, he considers himself an artist yet won't take the gifts the world seems to be offering. In BF, he 'JUST WON'T LISTEN' to his neighbour's stories.
In Llewyn's case, Bud Grossman seems to offer him a way out, offering him the chance to join the trio he's putting together. Of course, this does come after the most devastating moment in the movie, where Llewyn does indeed play something from 'inside', and it is deeply moving. But Bud gives him an honest answer 'I don't see a lot of money in this'. Is this why Llewyn turns him down? Or is it the hurt of recalling his last partnership with the unseen Mike, who threw himself off the George Washington Bridge?
In a strange way, I hope it is this. Llewyn does act in very selfish, arrogant and unpleasant ways in the movie, but several times he seems to reveal a deep aching sadness. In the Gorfein's, when Lilian Gorfein hilariously begins to sing with him, he shockingly yells at her to stop. She was singing Mike's harmony. He gets angry with John Goodman's character when he makes fun of Mike's suicide. If he has shut himself off from the world because of this pain, then he seems somewhat redeemed.
However, saying all that, the movie elicits sympathy for him anyway. It is so masterful a film that I didn't realise until long afterwards how odd it was that I felt so sorry for Llewyn, considering his attitude and actions. I suppose we must wonder how long he might have been at this for. He does seem talented ( Oscar Isaacs renditions of these classic folk songs are actually breathtaking ) and late in the movie he simply says 'I'm tired.' After all, how long can a talented individual continue to have their heart broken and their skills unrecognised without being affected in some way?
I felt very deeply for Llewyn. So many of the scenes and sentiments were very familiar to me as a musician. A true stroke of genius was to open the movie with his magnificent version of 'Hang Me Oh Hang Me', we know from the very start how good he is. I love that the Coens allow us to hear full songs in the film, not just clips. We see for ourselves what the other characters do.
I could say so much more about 'Inside Llewyn Davis'. I could mention how the cat reminded me of the hat in 'Miller's Crossing' or how the soft focus and gorgeous camera work and palette reminded me of the difference between CD and vinyl. This is a vinyl movie, a funny movie, a great movie. At the moment 'A Serious Man' or 'Fargo' are probably my favourite Coen movies, but I can easily see this taking the top spot one day.
So go see it. Please do. The Coen brothers are masters of cinema as an art, and this is a prime example of why. I give it full marks: beautiful.
If you like this movie, try these Coen classics:
'Barton Fink'
'A Serious Man'
'O Brother Where Art Thou?'
'The Man Who Wasn't There'
or indeed any movie of theirs, but those are the most similar.
