Joel Coen Reviews and Articles | Little White Lies

Talent Joel Coen

Monochrome portrait of a mature man with a long beard in a pensive gaze, set against a dark background.
Review

The Tragedy of Macbeth

by Charles Bramesco

Den­zel Wash­ing­ton and Frances McDor­mand take on the most infa­mous pow­er cou­ple in lit­er­ary his­to­ry, care of Joel Coen.

5
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
A man in a wide-brimmed hat playing an acoustic guitar whilst sitting on a horse in a desert landscape.
Review

The Ballad of Buster Scruggs

by Adam Woodward

Joel and Ethan Coen’s six-part anthol­o­gy west­ern might just be the crown­ing achieve­ment of their illus­tri­ous career.

3
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
5
In Retrospect
A woman with curly red hair and a pensive expression, set against a vibrant blue background.
Review

Blood Simple. (1984)

by David Jenkins

The Coen broth­ers hero­ical­ly bleak debut fea­ture still shines over thir­ty years since its inception.

4
Anticipation
5
Enjoyment
5
In Retrospect
Man in grey suit and red tie sitting at a desk in an office setting.
Review

Hail, Caesar!

by David Jenkins

The Coen broth­ers return in scin­til­lat­ing and provoca­tive form with this com­plex satire of 1950s Hollywood.

5
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
5
In Retrospect
Man with curly hair playing an acoustic guitar on stage with a microphone.
Review

Inside Llewyn Davis

by Adam Woodward

Cold exte­ri­ors and warm inte­ri­ors com­bine in the Coen broth­ers’ rhap­sod­ic por­trait of a ​’60s folk singer.

4
Anticipation
5
Enjoyment
5
In Retrospect
Older man with long grey beard, wearing cowboy hat and grey coat, aiming revolver in outdoor setting.
Review

True Grit

by Adam Woodward

New­com­er Hailee Ste­in­feld steals the show from right under Jeff Bridges’ nose in the Coens’ deli­cious­ly salty western.

4
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
Two men in office, one on telephone in thought.
Review

A Serious Man

by James King

A low-key yarn from the Coen broth­ers that breaks its con­fines to deliv­er big.

4
Anticipation
5
Enjoyment
5
In Retrospect
A man in a suit holding a microphone, standing next to a car.
Review

Burn After Reading

by Kevin Maher

The Coen broth­ers strike com­e­dy gold with this thrilling­ly barmy ensem­ble farce.

5
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
5
In Retrospect
A man with long hair and a dark coat holds a gun, pointing it towards the camera in a dark, dilapidated room.
Review

No Country for Old Men

by Kevin Maher

If the Coen broth­ers’ lat­est is not a rev­o­lu­tion in cin­e­ma, it’ll do until the rev­o­lu­tion gets here.

2
Anticipation
5
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect