We’re big fans of Cameron Beyl‘s The Directors Series of Video Essays and today we have a new 25 minute essay on The Coen Brothers and their breakout films: Fargo and The Big Lebowski.
From discussing influences in the films to the cultural impact. Fargo (1996) was the film that gave the brothers their first commercial success with numerous awards and many critics believe it was one of the best films of the 1990’s. This was a start of an long successful filmography with The Big Lebowski (1998) next in line. Comparing to Fargo it delivered a disappointing box office, a mixed response critically but like all good things, over time became a cult hit. Both these films moulded the director’s signature blend of genre, drama and comedy ..
THE DIRECTORS SERIES is an educational/editorial non-profit collection of video and text essays by filmmaker Cameron Beyl, dedicated to appreciating and deconstructing the work of contemporary and classic film directors. This ongoing project is made possible in part by our generous supporters on Patreon. Please visit our profile page to learn how you can become a patron: patreon.com/directorsseries. 4.3: THE BREAKOUT CLASSICS is the third installment of THE DIRECTORS SERIES’ examination into the films and careers of directors Joel and Ethan Coen, covering their pair of mainstream breakthrough works in the late 90’s:
-FARGO (1996)
-THE BIG LEBOWSKI (1998)
Source: Raccord
