5 Coen Brothers movies to watch while procrastinating

The Coen Brothers. As all great directors do, Joel and Ethan Coen have one of the most unique styles of filmmaking. While often straying away from a traditionally structured plot, their movies entertain whether you like absurdist comedies or complicated dramas. Look for an all-star cast and beautiful cinematography in these five Coen Brothers movies.

The Big Lebowski

If you only watch one Coen Brothers movie in your whole life, make it The Big Lebowski. It follows a pothead bowler and his friends as a plot with “a lotta ends, lotta outs,” a briefcase, and a rug that got peed on. It has a killer soundtrack to go along with possibly unnecessarily fancy camera work that gives the movie another layer of entertainment. To some, The Big Lebowski is a boring sludge-fest, but to others, it’s the greatest movie of all time.

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Burn After Reading

Get ready for a bunch of idiotic characters running around and only thinking about their own benefit at every turn. Burn After Reading is wildly unpredictable, convoluted, and has a funny scene around every corner. It’s a wild ride from start to finish starring Brad Pitt, George Clooney, John Malkovich, and too many others to list. Even if you hate it, you’ll find something to like about Burn After Reading.

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No Country For Old Men

If you judged them only by the last two movies, it would be easy to say that the Coen Brothers only make one type of movie but No Country For Old Men proves that they can think in a different direction. A serial killer escapes the police’s grasp and leaves a trail of bodies wherever he goes. His victims’ only chance to live? A coin toss. It’s a constant bloodbath but a very intriguing and complex bloodbath that I highly recommend.

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O Brother, Where Art Thou?

Don’t get turned away by the title. O Brother, Where Art Thou is a comedy about three escaped convicts set in the 1930s. As they’re trying to run from the police, all kinds of crazy characters come along to help or hurt them. Inspired by “The Odyssey,” George Clooney stars accompanied by Tim Blake Nelson, John Turturro, and John Goodman among others.

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The Ballad of Buster Scruggs

This is a unique movie containing a number of short stories ranging from comedic to heroic to depressing. As always, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs has a decent amount of recognizable faces including James Franco and his infamous “first time?” meme as he stands with a noose around his neck. If you don’t come expecting a normal continuous plot, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs will be a fun watch.

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So next time you’re bored at home, check out a Coen Brothers movie. You might just get hooked.

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– Images Obtained From –

The Big Lebowski – https://mubi.com/films/the-big-lebowski

Burn After Reading – https://examiningtheodd.com/2016/08/19/the-friday-film-burn-after-reading/amp/

No Country For Old Men – https://harshnoisewall.bandcamp.com/track/no-country-for-old-men-hnw-score

O Brother Where Art Thou – https://www.mandatory.com/culture/923131-soundtreks-o-brother-thou?amp

Ballad of Buster Scruggs – https://rogersmovienation.com/2018/10/30/netflixable-the-coens-go-west-again-the-ballad-of-buster-scruggs/amp/