Set in 1961, Inside LLewyn Davis (2013) covers a few days in the life of an aspiring folk musician. It is another solid entry in the impressive canon of Ethan and Joel Coen. Oscar Isaac, with whose work I was largely unfamiliar, stars as the complex, uncompromising artist who is so broke he sleeps on the couches of acquaintances and friends. The majority of the action is set in Greenwich Village, just before Bob Dylan is about to break big. The music, most of which was under the care of T Bone Burnett, continues the great trend of genuineness now seen and heard in fictional fare, imparting authenticity to the scenario. Despite a number of songs, I hesitate to call ILD a musical. The tone, despite instances of humor typical to the work of the Coens, is downbeat. The protagonist is not easy to like. Just ask one of his lovers, who excoriates him in vile terms. She is played by Carrie Mulligan, a Brit who does Yanks as well as her native born contemporaries. The supporting cast is outstanding, another constant of the films of the Coens, whose dialogue is always intelligent and engaging. John Goodman adds another eccentric to his list of credits. F. Murray Abraham is outstanding in a brief role as the brutally frank owner of a Chicago night club. The film's most amusing segment features Justin Timberlake, whose song, Please, Mr. Kennedy, is recorded in a session that includes LLewyn. The lyrics and background vocal are a howl. The film received only two Oscar nominations, sound mixing and cinematography. I was not taken by the latter, although I suppose its bleakness fit the tone. The film won the grand jury prize at Cannes, which makes sense, as it has more in common with European cinema, although it shares traits with Hollywood fare of the 70's. 49,000+ users at IMDb forge to a consensus of 7.6 of ten on it. I rate it four of five. I suspect I'll like it even better next time I see it. There is so much to the films of the Coens that a lot is missed on first viewing.
RIP Bob Welch, 57, who had a 17-year career as a starting pitcher with the Dodgers and A's. He was a two-time all-star and member of World Series winners in '81 and '89. His best season, 1990, was phenomenal. He went 27-6 with an ERA of 2.95, and won the AL Cy Young award. It was the only time he won 20 or more games. His overall record was an impressive 211-146, despite struggles with alcohol addiction. Kudos, sir.
It was another day when effort was rewarded at the floating book shop. The gloomy weather continues its hold on the northeast, with rain possible at any time. I had to cover up the wares for about 15 minutes, as a light shower passed. It was during this time that a woman who purchased 18 books in Russian passed and asked if I had any more. As she held an umbrella above our heads, I showed her a set of 14 translations of an obscure French author, and she made a call to a friend, who said: "Buy 'em!" She also took a translation of Jonathan Swift's Gulliver's Travels. Spasibo, madam, and also to Mikhail, who bought a book on Tsar Peter, and to the gentleman who donated three books in Russian.
Vic's 4th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/bszwlxh
Vic's 3rd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic's Horror Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
Vic's Rom-Com Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/kny5llp
Vic’s Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx
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