Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Inside Llewyn Davis Review

Rated R (Language including Some Sexual References)

Running Time: 1 Hour & 44 Minutes

Cast-
Oscar Isaac-Llewyn Davis
Carey Mulligan-Jean Berkey
Justin Timberlake-Jim Berkey
John Goodman-Roland Turner
Garrett Hedlund-Johnny Five
F. Murray Abraham-Bud Grossman
Ethan Phillips-Mitch Gorfein
Robin Bartlett-Lillian Gorfein
Jeanine Serralles-Joy
Adam Driver-Al Cody
Stark Sands-Troy Nelson
Max Casella-Pappi Corsicato
Jerry Grayson-Mel Novikoff
Helen Hong-Janet Fung
Alex Karpovsky-Marty Green
Benjamin Pike-Young Bob Dylan

Directed by Joel and Ethan Coen

Oscar Isaac delivers a career-defining performance in the Coen brothers' "Inside Llewyn Davis."
Note: Screened on Tuesday, December 3, 2013 at Regal Union Square Stadium 14.

'What do you want to be when you grow up?' If you were to go back in time and ask ten-year-old me that question, my answer—delivered without any hesitation—would've been comic book illustrator. I've been an avid comic book reader since I was four-years-old but despite my intense passion for my hobby, to this day it remains just that: a hobby. While my mother doesn't conform to the extreme 'Tiger Mom' stereotype exemplified by the likes of Amy Chua (thank god!), she did want me to pursue a career that at least provided some measure of financial stability. In her mind, 'comic book illustrator' wasn't it so she suggested I become a pharmacist instead. I spent two years in a pre-pharmacy program but as hard as I tried, I just couldn't see myself as a pill pusher for the rest of my life. I ended up switching my major to computer engineering at another school and while I don't have any regrets, I sometimes wonder what would've happened if I had pursued an art career instead. Would I become a wandering vagabond who spends his nights crashing on the couches of friends and acquaintances like Llewyn Davis in the Coen brothers' latest film "Inside Llewyn Davis"? Played by Oscar Isaac, Llewyn (loosely based on real-life singer/songwriter Dave Von Ronk) didn't dream of becoming a comic book illustrator; instead he was a wayward folk singer who eked out a meager existence in New York City's Greenwich Village during the early 1960s. Despite the character being kind of a dick, I still related to his struggle of sticking to your artistic ideals or settling for a more mundane but stable career. Anchored by a soulful performance from Oscar Isaac, "Inside Llewyn Davis" is equal parts funny and melancholy but at the film's heart is a tragic tale of a talented artist being dealt a cruel hand by fate while caught in a tug-of-war between art and commerce. It's a low-key affair from the Coen brothers but for anyone who's ever had their artistic dreams dashed by the harsh realities of 'real life,' this film will hit especially close to home.

Set during a pivotal week in February 1961, Llewyn Davis (Oscar Isaac) once had a promising career as part of a folk duo called 'Timlin & Davis' until his singing partner Mike Timlin (voice of Marcus Mumford) suddenly commits suicide by hurling himself off the George Washington Bridge. Eking out a meager existence in New York City's Greenwich Village, Llewyn struggles to make a name for himself as a solo act, picking up gigs wherever he can but success continues to elude him, with his recent album 'Inside Llewyn Davis' failing to sell. With no money for a place to call his own, the down-on-his-luck folk singer is forced to spend his nights crashing on the couches of friends, relatives, and casual acquaintances. Llewyn's sympathetic Upper West Side friends, Mitch and Lillian Gorfein (Ethan Phillips and Robin Bartlett), allow him to stay at their apartment but the couple's orange tabby cat rushes out the door when Llewyn is leaving the next morning. Locked out, Llewyn decides to take the cat with him for now and leaves the furry feline and his belongings at the West Village apartment of Jim and Jean Berkey (Justin Timberlake and Carey Mulligan), a popular folk singing husband-and-wife duo. Jean is none too pleased to see Llewyn, secretly revealing that she's pregnant and that he might be the father. He agrees to pay for her abortion and then sets out for Chicago with bullying jazz musician Roland Turner (John Goodman) and taciturn beat poet Johnny Five (Garrett Hedlund) in a last ditch attempt to save his crumbling folk career, before finally succumbing to a go-nowhere existence with the Merchant Marines.

During the ending of the Coen brothers' "Inside Llewyn Davis," a young Bob Dylan (Benjamin Pike) prepares to take the stage at Greenwich Village's Gaslight Café just as Llewyn leaves. Dylan would go on to become one of the most influential figures in popular music and culture, but the many folk singers who existed at the time failed to achieve the same level of success despite being just as good as him. Simply put, they were dealt a bad hand by fate. It takes serious talent, as well as skill, to create music; anyone can perfectly play Beethoven's Symphony No. 5 with hours of practice but not everyone is able to produce something uniquely original. Even harder is the ability to produce something original that people actually love. Llewyn Davis is certainly talented but the down-on-his-luck folk singer is seemingly condemned to suffer for his art due to forces outside his control. His prickly personality doesn't help his situation either. Set in New York City amidst a freezing winter in 1961, "Inside Llewyn Davis" opens with the titular character on the Gaslight Café's stage singing the traditional folk ballad Hang Me, Oh Hang Me to a small yet intimate crowd. They respond with polite applause, even though it's clear that Davis just poured his heart out to them with his melancholy vocals. Playing things close to the chest, the Coen brothers slowly reveal that Davis' singing partner Mike Timlin had recently committed suicide. No reason is given as to why Timlin killed himself but many characters, such as the Gorfeins and Jean, voice their fondness of him. Although Davis tries hard to advance his career as a solo act, he continues to be haunted by his partner's death and often angrily dismisses those who only want to help him. He fiercely clings to the past, partially out of elitism but largely because he's unable to move on.

Timlin's suicide isn't the only thing holding Davis back. In spite of his obvious talent and passion, people just don't want to hear covers of the same old folk songs; they want to hear original material. There's always been a clash between art and commerce. Davis wants to at least make it doing what he loves but the truth is that you can't, not without some compromise. Even more important is that people have to want to listen to you sing. There's a moment late in the film where Davis, after a long trip, finally arrives in Chicago to meet with music impresario Bud Grossman (F. Murray Abraham). He beautifully plays The Death of Queen Jane and just when you think that Davis' fortunes are about to turn for the better, Grossman bluntly tells him that he 'doesn't see a lot of money here.' Davis is at a loss for words and can only respond with 'Okay.' For an artist who's at the end of his rope, that has to be the most devastating thing to hear. This serves as a harsh reminder that talent can only get you so far; you also have to have luck on your side. Oftentimes, that's the difference between being a success and being a failure.

For the most part, "Inside Llewyn Davis" is a downbeat affair but it's also quite funny at times. Early in the film, the Gorfeins' adorable orange tabby cat runs out the door while Davis is leaving, forcing the already-harried musician to repeatedly chase after it. The two instantly form an unexpected bond, lending the picture an offbeat dimension while also providing a sad metaphor of Davis chasing his dreams and constantly screwing himself up along the way. Things take on an even weirder note once the folk singer hitches a ride with a nasty, blowhard jazzman named Roland Turner (who may or may not know black magic) and his mumbling beat poet driver Johnny Five. Almost immediately, Davis butts heads with Turner and their ensuing spat leads to several irreverently comic moments thanks to the Coen brothers' sharp, unpredictable dialogue. It's such a random encounter but then again, life is full of random encounters. The plot-less structure of the script reflects life's randomness yet also demonstrates how directionless Davis' life is. Serving in lieu of a traditional three-act story is the music and I have to say, the work that T-Bone Burnett and his team put in deserves the highest of praise. The songs are all modern recordings but not only are they appropriate for the time period in which the film takes place in, they also emphasize the current mindset of its main character. The aforementioned Hang Me, Oh Hang Me and Five Hundred Miles represent the aimless existence Davis is trapped in while the catchy tune Please Mr. Kennedy shows the divide between art and commerce. Folk music is mellow and intimate as opposed to mainstream pop, which is carefree and frivolous. Complementing the music is Jess Gonchor's exquisite production design as he literally turns back time with his depiction of New York City in the early 1960s. The hustle-and-bustle of the streets is accentuated by the chilly grey hues from Bruno Delbonnel's cinematography.  

I briefly mentioned that Llewyn Davis is kind of a dick to those around him. At his worse, he's irresponsible as he comes into people's lives without thinking about the consequences of his actions. In spite of the character's abrasive attitude, Oscar Isaac manages to soften Davis' rough edges with his low-key charisma. For the past eleven years, the actor has appeared in minor or supporting roles but "Inside Llewyn Davis" gives him a chance to prove that he's a force to be reckoned with. Isaac is not the type to chew the scenery; instead he blends into the picture and lets the little details speak for his performance. Llewyn may be outwardly bitter yet when Isaac allows the character to give himself over to his music, then it truly becomes a sight to behold and almost makes his flaws seem acceptable. The actor's soulful vocals capture the full weight of Llewyn's sadness as well as his musical passion. The rest of the supporting cast makes the most of their limited roles, with Carey Mulligan's Jean having a memorable scene where she scolds Llewyn by repeatedly calling him an asshole and how he should always wear double condoms wrapped in electric tape as a favor to all women. Hell, if she weren't so angry, I'd laugh! Despite all that rage, it's clear that Jean still has some affection toward Llewyn. Justin Timberlake is enjoyably clueless as Jean's husband Jim while John Goodman's blustering turn as Roland Turner provides plenty of laughs, lightening the mood in what is a melancholy picture about failure. Finally, there's Garrett Hedlund, who's obviously riffing on his role as Dean Moriarty from 2012's "On the Road."

Premiering at the Cannes Film Festival last May (where it won the prestigious Grand Prix award) and in limited release since December 6, 2013, "Inside Llewyn Davis" has received overwhelmingly positive reviews with 94% on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics hailed the Coen brothers' latest effort as 'smart, funny, and profoundly melancholy.' The film received a minor nationwide expansion on January 10, 2014 but mainstream audiences have failed to connect with it. Honestly, I'm not surprised; people don't want to spend their hard-earned money and watch a depressing film. "Inside Llewyn Davis" is certainly one of the stranger pictures in the Coen brothers' oeuvre and I admit that I didn't know what to make of it initially. Repeated listening of the soundtrack greatly helped in understanding the film as well as allowing me to appreciate its subtler details. Despite its low-key tone, the Coen brothers have crafted one of the best films of 2013, one that stands as a harsh reminder about the sacrifices one must make for the sake of art.

Final Rating: 4.5 out of 5

"I am so f*cking tired. I thought I just needed a night's sleep but it's more than that."