Year: 2013
Director: Coen Brothers
Country: US
Language: English
We follow a week in the life of a young folk singer (Oscar Issac) as he navigates the Greenwich Village folk scene of 1961. Guitar in tow, huddled against the unforgiving New York winter, he is struggling to make it as a musician against seemingly insurmountable obstacles.
Bearded with unkempt hair falling over his eyes, Davis is not necessarily easy on the eyes, he does not have an outstanding personality, he does not ooze charisma and his talent is at question sometimes. He is not the easiest guy to like; his morality is dubious and his intelligence wanes.Davis is reluctant to make any of the commercial compromises that would build anything like a career, which is admirable. but it puts the man in near-absolute poverty.
We sympathize with this tragic character, who is a victim of both circumstance and personal choice. Davis thinks he has something to prove with his music, but the entire film is full of doubt, sorrow and devastation. Unlike most Hollywood productions, Inside Llewyn Davis really makes us discuss a dilemma many creative people come across; when do artists cut their losses and abandon their careers? A lesser film would end on a positive note, but the Coens are ambiguous at best. Davis could stick around and it MIGHT make his life better, but at the same time it could also drive him to ruin.
When Davis' sister suggests he quit music and return to the merchant navy, the musician erupts and tells her that to quit music is to merely "exist". It's troubling that the man doesn't notice his lack of current "existence". Still, it's inspiring to see such a driven artistic soul that remains unchanged despite difficulty. Inside Llewyn Davis is a unique film with remarkable acting and enchanting cinematography. Fully of humanity, the film is quite touching and thought provoking. Praise it! 4.5/5
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