Customer Reviews

The Brothers Grim: The Films of Ethan and Joel Coen

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I didn't used to be a fan of the Coen brothers' films, but I appreciated them, as well as good film in general, a lot more after reading this book.

The amount of insight author Rowell has into the Coens' films is amazing. As I read through each chapter, I was stunned by how much in the films I had "missed." Rowell's analysis reveals the numerous layers of meaning that are embodied in the films. She covers subjects as diverse as politics, religion and philosophy, art and music, and race and class. She illuminates the context of the Coens' works in the history of film, and points out the numerous allusions to and borrowings from previous films, including their own. I was truly impressed by the scope of the analysis and the thoroughness of the research conducted.

All this is written in a lively style and well organized format that can engage anyone ranging from a casual moviegoer to a scholar of film. Rowell's clever word play throughout the text add to the delight.

I recommend viewing a film first, and then reading the relevant chapter in the book to be wowed by all the things you missed. Then watch the film again!

As a long time Coen brothers fan I thought I understood their movies and their motivations. I felt very proud of myself as I sat in the dark, staring up at the screen, smiling at the subtle jokes and references in their films I was certain few others "got." I felt equally certain I understood the full depths of the Coen's writing and filmmaking.

After reading Ms. Rowell's delightful and intensively researched book, I suddenly discover I was only dipping my toe into the shallow end of the pool (and unlike the frozen lakes in Fargo), what a warm inviting pool it is.

Accessible and thoroughly researched, Ms. Rowell uncovers mysteries in the Coen's works that would make Marge Gunderson proud. Her succinct style pulls the reader along in much the same way the Coen's pull us along in their films -- with twists and turns, jabs and feignts, wit and winks. Yet always it is factual and informative.

Her insight is not just limited to each individual film. As we read through the chapters we begin to see how interconnected the Coen's works are to each other. This book, like the Coen's body of work, is more than meets the eye and far more than the sum of it's parts.

If you're a Coen Brothers fan... a film fan... a reading fan... a fan of mysteries examined and solved, take a peak. When you're finished go out to a nice party. I promise someone extremely attractive in that well-read, down-to-earth, likes both football and Faulkner kind of way will be most impressed with your insight... most impressed.

Just remember to (eventually) give credit where it's due.

I LOVE almost all of the Coen Bros' films. I understood that they were "deep" in many ways, but boy was this book a humbling experience. The author goes through each film (from Blood Simple to Lady Killers- being the latest film at the time this book was published) with a fine-toothed comb and dissects every character, plot twist, and production note to get at the what the Coens are really saying in their films. There's a lot going on. The only thing I was disappointed with was that it did not cover No Country for Old Men or Burn After Reading or, now that I'm typing this review, A Serious Man. But this obviously isn't the author's fault. Great book. If your into the Coens, check out this book.