Movies
I like Ethan Coen's recent change of direction. Without his brother around, he seems to be leaning more into the kitsch and camp of his characters and plotlines, which makes for far more entertaining movies. Nothing here is to be taken seriously, and that makes it a lot easier to stomach.
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Qualley and Plaza are an excellent duo, the rest of the cast is clearly in on the joke, the pacing is slick, the characters are dumb and goofy, and the plot is razor-thin. This is a comedy first and foremost, a film that aims to amuse and doesn't want to overstay its welcome. Don't expect too much of it, just enjoy the ride.
Ethan Coen, solo. I generally don't mind the films of the infamous brothers, but I rarely see signs of true mastership in them. They had some more interesting films during the late 90s/early 00s, but few of them got me truly excited. For me at least, Drive-Away Dolls is his best film in almost two decades, but the popular consensus seems to be disagreeing.
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Make no mistake, the comedy is pretty crude and blunt. If you want subtlety, you're not going to find it here. Not like most comedies that are made these days. The performances are good too (very self-aware), the plot is fun, the runtime is nice and short and the pacing is slick. It's nothing too special, just some prime entertainment. A welcome surprise.
A 6-part anthology western helmed by the Coen brothers. It starts off pretty well, with some edgier bits and some trademark Coen weirdness, but the latter stories are a tad more dramatic and fail to be as engaging. The film can't maintain pace and quality, which is a shame because the first half was very promising.
Chacun Son Cinéma
Paris, I Love You
