Review of Barton Fink (1991) by Dan S — 21 Sep 2010

An atmospheric, well-directed noir concerning a shy, socially troubled writer (John Turturro) suffering from writer's block, and how his relationship with his next door neighbor (John Goodman) in a seedy hotel changes his life.

This movie is pure Coen Bros. stuff, with a good sense of humor, an ambiguous ending, and being able to draw out not one, not two, but three terrific performances (Turturro, Goodman, and Michael Lerner) thanks to how they construct their characters.

The ending is all kinds of absurdity, but this actually helps the movie become something more than I originally perceived it to be. Some complain the finale gets too bizarre, but I found it to be bold as well as memorable.

Although the film definitely suffers due to its slow pace and inability to get its audience to really care what happens to the rest of its characters outside of its two leads - this is still a worthwhile film that once again shows the twisted minds of the Coen Bros.