Review of Barton Fink (1991) by Tom K — 22 Jan 2014

A renowned New York playwright goes to California to write the screenplay for a wrestling movie. There, he experiences a frustrating writer's block and is exposed to a darker side of Hollywood. Barton Fink works on many levels - whether it is taken as a satirical piece on the artist's constant struggle to let taste and originality prevail over industrial demants or whether it is taken at a satirical look on the film industry.

Nevertheless, its creative use of twisted imagery and unnerving atmosphere also makes this film quite possibly the darkest vision the Coens ever came up with. Yet, the screenplay also makes use of some quirky sense of humour that makes it delightful while it is also able to distinguish itself among the numerous other films dealing with the theme of the writer's block.

Great on a visual standpoint too, while the acting - including a very troubled and twitchy Turturro in the leading role - is also superb.