Review of Inside Llewyn Davis (2013) by Amit R — 18 Aug 2014

Inside Llewyn Davis is a depressing comedy, a glimpse into a struggling folk singer's life during one week in the 1960's.

The first half of the movie is slow as Llewyn ping pongs around the Village and New York, causing disruption everywhere he goes. Oscar Isaac unflinchingly plays the dislikeable title character a, sincere to a fault because it impedes upon his ability to be successful, freeloading folk singer newly solo due to the suicide of his duo partner Mike. Frustrated, dejected and broke, he leaves on a road trip to Chicago and the story's components converge to a chaotic culmination one expects from an Ethan and Joel Coen film.

Teeming with talent and thoroughly Coen, the movie is full of quirky characters of a beatnik persuasion. Unfortunately, with the rare exception, most portrayals are forgettable - Carey Mulligan, John Goodman, and Garret Hedlund included. Justin Timberlake is ultimately the least successful of the bunch and his casting is a misstep. His acting is an out of place self-aware parody of a folk singer from the 1960?s. With the exception of Oscar Isaac, Adam Driver, whom most know as the love interest of Lena Dunham's character in Girls, is hilariously sincere and scene stealing in the minor role of Al Cody.

Inside Llewyn Davis contains all the successful ingredients typical of a Coen Brothers motion picture but is lacking the charm that typically enamors viewers. It is artificially bleak, reliant upon post-production, and fundamentally contrived.