Over the last decade, movie making brothers, Joel and Ethan Coen, have cemented their places near the apex of the directorial totem pole. Each one of their brilliant films contains a quirky undercurrent of eccentric characters and interesting events. Critics seem to wet themselves over Fargo, but films like The Big Lebowski, Raising Arizona, and O, Brother, Where Art Though are just as funny, memorable, and intriguing. So, it is a joy for me to report the following news.
The Coen brothers have signed on to make two films for Focus Features and Working Title Films. The first one, Burn After Reading is a dark spy comedy featuring Brad Pitt and Coen stalwarts George Clooney and Frances McDormand. There’s a long history of filmmakers poking fun at the world of espionage, but with any luck, this one will be just a little more sophisticated than the Chevy Chase and Dan Akroyd spoof Spies Like Us.
Not much is known about the second feature entitled A Serious Man, but it’s a good assumption that it will contain numerous edgy and smart layers. Look for this one to appear late next year as they’re still in postproduction on No Country For Old Men.
Here’s to the Coen Brothers, rogue indie geniuses, unwilling to produce big-budget routine-fests in favor of hard-to-get-to gems.
