The Coen brothers have a unique style that has helped them develop a passionate fan base, but there are some other movies that their fans might also enjoy. Thebest Coen brothers moviesencompass a range of genres, from their thrilling westerns likeTrue Gritto their crime comedies likeThe Big Lebowski.Still, there are some factors which unite their films.
Coen brothers movies are often feted for their snappy dialogue, mysterious, twisty plots and eccentric characters. The directing duo have also shown a keen interest in different American regions and how people from across the country behave. If a film can capture these elements and strike a similarly dark tone, there’s a good chance that fans of the Coen brothers will appreciate it.
In Brugeswas Martin McDonagh’s first feature-length film, and it announced his arrival as a master of dark comedy, just like the Coens.In Brugesstars Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson as two hitmen who travel to the picturesque medieval city of Bruges, only to find out that one has been ordered to kill the other.
The constant bickering between the two assassinsis reminiscent of the dynamic between the two kidnappers inFargo.
The constant bickering between the two assassins inIn Brugesis reminiscent of the fractious dynamic between the two kidnappers inFargo.Farrell and Gleeson are both brilliant, but it’s Ralph Fiennes who steals the show when he turns up as their foul-mouthed and short-tempered boss. He doesn’t factor in the story until relatively late, but he’s still one of thefunniest comedy movie villains.
A few ofMartin McDonagh’s moviesare good fits for fans of the Coen brothers. As well asIn Bruges, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouristands out as a brilliant dark comedy with a splash of chaotic violence. It stars Frances McDormand as a woman who hires some billboards to put pressure on the local police department after her daughter is sexually assaulted and murdered.
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Many of Frances McDormand’s best movies have come from her collaborations with her husband Joel Coen, butshe won her second Academy Award forThree Billboards,and it’s as funny as her performances inFargo, Burn After Readingor any other Coens movie. Woody Harrelson and Sam Rockwell are also perfectly suited to McDonagh’s fiery dialogue.
Fans of the Coens will probably know about the one great misstep in their career. Their 2004 remake ofThe Ladykillersstarring Tom Hanks usually falls to the bottom of rankings of their filmography. Fortunately,the original is still just as funny as ever, and it’s worth watching to find out what the Coens saw in it.
The Ladykillersis a hilarious British crime caper starring Alec Guinness as the leader of a group of bank robbers. Before he was known as Obi-Wan Kenobi, Guinness proved himself to be one of Britain’s funniest actors with movies likeKind Hearts and Coronets, The Lavender Hill MobandThe Ladykillers.These all share the Coen brothers' darkly comedic style.
The Death of Stalintells the story of the frantic succession struggle that Stalin left in his wake, but it doesn’t attempt to appear historically authentic. The actors mostly speak in their natural accents, and their dialogue also sounds decidedly modern, which draws a parallel between the Soviet Union and the political in-fighting in the western world today.
The Death of Stalinis a political satire told on a personal level, similar toBurn After Readingin some ways. It’s also a brilliant ensemble comedy with a cast that rivals any that the Coens have ever assembled. For fans ofBritish dark comedy, it’s an absolute must-watch.
Joel and Ethan Coen supposedly took their cinematographer Barry Sonnenfeld to a screening ofThe Third Manfor inspiration before filming their debut featureBlood Simple.The film’s stark black-and-white photography also seems to be a touchstone forThe Man Who Wasn’t There,andMiller’s Crossingmakes a more overt reference toThe Third Manin its ending.
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The Third Manis a stunning film noir thriller about a writer who travels to Vienna to find a dilapidated, bombed-out city, far from the Bohemian paradise of Freud, Schiele and Mozart. The symbol of the towering ferris wheel sums up the directionless drifting of society. This creates the ideal backdrop for a crime thriller, and it reflects how most Coen brothers movies have a clear sense of place.
Out of Sighthas been overshadowed byOcean’s Eleven, which Steven Soderbergh and George Clooney made three years later, but it deserves a lot more love. Fans of the Coen brothers will appreciate the movie’s twisty crime plot and dry wit, and it’s also good to see frequent Coen collaborator Clooney in a familiar role.
Soderbergh’s infectious style of dialogue works brilliantly inOut of Sight,as he pivots from tense crime thrills to breezy romantic comedy with ease. Clooney and Jennifer Lopez strike up a dazzling chemistry as a thief and a detective, setting up the kind of twisty caper that the Coens love.
The Nice Guysends by teasing a sequel, as the two private investigators decide to go into business together. Unfortunately, the film’s poor box office performance meant that any talk of a follow-up was swiftly curtailed.The Nice Guyshas established a considerable cult following since then, which makes its commercial failure even more frustrating.
The Nice Guysis the kind of complex, intelligent mystery comedy that could easily have come from the Coen brothers. At the heart of the comedy is some surprising chemistry between Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe, who bounce off of each other wonderfully.
Yorgos Lanthimos' moviescan all be recognized immediately, because they share the same unsettling tone. This can be used for psychological horror, like inThe Killing of a Sacred Deer,but it’s also perfect for dark comedy, in which the strangely inhuman characters reflect the most violent and base elements of humanity.
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The Lobsteris probably Lanthimos' funniest movie overall, thanks to a deadpan masterclass from Colin Farrell and a script that constantly squeezes the best out of a unique sci-fi premise.The Lobsteris a cynical meditation on modern romance, showing the ways that love has been warped and clouded out by other concerns.
A Fish Called Wandais a pitch-black comedy about the fallout of a London jewel heist, with a dysfunctional band of criminals scheming against one another to get their hands on the loot. It shares a lot in common with many of the Coen brothers' best crime comedies. It has the frantic energy ofFargo,the goofy charms ofRaising Arizonaand the eccentric ensemble cast ofThe Big Lebowski.
A Fish Called Wandais also a must-watch for fans of Monty Python, since it stars both Michael Palin and John Cleese. It’s more grounded and gritty than any of the Monty Python movies ever were, but the madcap style and clever wordplay is all the same. The British actors are joined by Kevin Kline and Jamie Lee Curtis, which makesA Fish Called Wandaa hilarious clash of cultures.
There have been plenty of differentPhilip Marlowe moviesover the years, and different actors have brought their own unique strengths to Raymond Chandler’s iconic detective. Elliot Gould’s version of Marlowe is much funnier than most. However, the story is just as gripping and mysterious as any by Chandler.
The story touches on some heavy topics, but Gould’s deadpan nonchalance is always a bright spot.
The Long Goodbyeprobably wouldn’t be very funny at all if not for Gould. The story touches on some heavy topics, including suicide, alcoholism and grief, but Gould’s deadpan nonchalance is always a bright spot.His Marlowe seems like a man out of time, and it’s easy to see shades of Lebowski in his clumsy investigation.
