Review of The Hudsucker Proxy (1994) by Jose M — 17 May 2009

Another Coen Brother's classic, replete with their trademark quirkiness and satirical knack. While some directors like to explore and broaden the themes of their films, one recurring element in every Coen film is the presence of idiots and imbiciles.

Hudsucker is no exception, as it depicts the rise and subsequent fall of a dimwitted mail room employee who works at a major corporation in need of a new image. Through a stoke of sheer luck he is promoted to the presidency of the corporation and is touted as a financial genius with a seemingly umparalled ability to carry Hudsucker Enterprises out of its economic spiral.

Ultimately, the film satirizes the ability of the corporate sector to market a virtouous, almost perfect image in spite of the fact that the people at the reigns have their flaws, just like any normal person.

Just as easily as the protagonist (played to perfection by Tim Robbins) rises to the top, he must truly fall to rock bottom in order to appreciate what he has, and run his empire with virtue and humility.

All in all, a nice satirical fable, and as such it is over-the-top in terms of the acting and the plot. Regardless of this, it stands in my mind as the most underappreciated film the Coens have ever produced.