Monday, June 8, 2009

Rank: The Coen Brothers

Yesterday, I finally watched Blood Simple and have now watched all 13 of the Coen Brother's films. Here's how I'd rank them. Try to tell me I'm wrong:

The Good
1. No Country for Old Men
2. The Big Lebowski
3. Fargo
4. Raising Arizona
5. O Brother, Where Art Thou?
6. Miller's Crossing
7. Blood Simple
8. Barton Fink
9. The Man Who Wasn't There
10. Burn After Reading

The Bad
11. The Ladykillers
12. The Hudsucker Proxy

The Intolerable
13. Intolerable Cruelty

Well, am I right or am I right?

15 comments:

MJenks said...

I've only seen two of those. I liked O Brother more than Raising Arizona. It could have something to do with the whole Odyssey thing.

Red said...

What the what?! You've only seen 2 Coen movies?! That's just a shame!

Jon said...

I'd flip the order of the top 2, otherwise you're right on...

McGone said...

I'm going to ruin the curve here, I think. First of all, "Miller's Crossing" is not only my favorite Coen Brothers movie, but it's also one of my favorites period. I want to take it behind the middle school and get it pregnant.

Second, "Hudsucker Proxy" is not bad. I actually like it quite it bit. It's infinitely quotable ("You know, for kids!" and "Sure sure" are regular staples in my already pop-culture-laden conversations) and the inclusion of the great Bruce "The Chin" Campbell cancels out the regrettable appearance of Anna Nicole Smith. But that scene with the hula hoop rolling down the street alone should move this out of the "bad" category.

Other than that, you're pretty spot on. I was just quite literally telling a coworker an hour before I read this post that "Ladykillers" had exactly one great line (when Irma P. Hall responded to Tom Hanks' character mentioning his Ph. D. with "Like Elmer?") and "Intolerable Cruelty" is sorely lacking. Although I should disclose that I own it, like all the other Coen Brothers movies.

I may be obsessed a bit.

Red said...

Oh, McGone. Would you clone yourself and send the clone to Cali? Please?

The Imaginary Reviewer said...

I'm with McGone: Hudsucker bad? No effing way! I'd put it between Lebowski and Fargo! But maybe that's just me. I wasn't a fan of The Man Who Wasn't There, but I was utterly stoned out of my mind when I saw it.

Malcolm said...

Call me shameful, because I've only seen 2 Coen films in their entirety (Fargo and Blood Simple). Out of those two, I liked "Blood Simple" better. I give it the edge because it co-stars the legendary character actor M. Emmett Walsh as the seedy private detective.

Liz said...

Is Intolerable Cruelty really that bad? I've never seen it.

BeckEye said...

I've only seen 3 of them - your #s 2 - 4. I think I saw part of #12 once but it was boring and I don't remember it.

Of the 3 I've seen, it's kind of a toss-up between Fargo and Raising Arizona for the best one. Personally, after hearing so much hype about it, I thought The Big Lebowski was TOTALLY overrated. It wasn't awful. Just not the great piece of cinema everyone made it out to be.

I've never seen Intolerable Cruelty, but anything with CZJ in it can't be ALL bad.

Red said...

I saw IC in the theater. I almost fell asleep and didn't laugh once.

words...words...words... said...

As you no doubt expected, I'm here to say you're totally wrong! :) I am a slobbering fan, and here's my list. I have not seen The Man Who Wasn't There.

The Truly Great
1. Raising Arizona
2. Fargo
3. Miller's Crossing
4. No Country For Old Men

The Very, Very Good
5. O Brother, Where Art Thou?
6. Blood Simple

The Just Okay For The Coens, But Pretty Great For Anyone Else
7. Intolerable Cruelty
8. The Hudsucker Proxy
9. The Ladykillers
10. Burn After Reading

Proof That They're Human After All
11. The Big Lebowski
12. Barton Fink

MJenks said...

I used to watch a lot more movies, and then I had kids, and now it's difficult to find the time. I have been wanting to see No Country for Old Men, though.

McGone said...

I'll see what I can do. But the last time I tried to clone myself I had all those douchebag protestors outside for weeks. Not to mention the horrible abomination McClones from the first 8 or so failed attempts.

Soda and Candy said...

I haven't seen all of those, but Intolerable Cruelty Is HIGH on the list of those I have seen.

Garney said...

I also have to echo McGone's praise for Miller's Crossing and standing up for Hudsucker Proxy (it shoud be #10).

1. Fargo
2. The Big Lebowski
3. Miller's Crossing
4. No Country for Old Men
5. O Brother, Where Art Thou?