Barton Fink

I remember seeing this back when it was first released in theaters. I honestly didn't know what to think of this movie when I saw it. However, after watching it a couple of times, I developed an appreciation for this unique film. After it became scarce on streaming, I decided get the Blu-Ray and am glad I did.The story follows Barton Fink who is a successful Broadway playwright in 1941. His recent play has received such stellar reviews that he was offered to come to Hollywood and write for a major studio. Barton has his misgivings but accepts. Things aren't off to a great start as the hotel he is staying at turns out to be rather dismal. Next, when he meets the enthusiastic studio head, he's assigned to write a screenplay for a wrestling picture, a topic of which Barton knows nothing about. Next, he meets a neighbor in the hotel (played masterfully by John Goodman) who may be a friend he needs. Barton's life goes into a downward spiral as he suffers from writer's block and friends and support fall away or turn on him. Things get really bad when Barton is informed that his neighbor and friend may actually be a killer and things come to a fiery climax (literally).There is really a lot to be said for this film. As said, this is one of the earlier films by the Coen Brothers (although only one of them gets on-screen directing credit). Their reputation for fine films is well known and Barton Fink is no exception. The film is wonderfully shot, and everything is planned out so well. You really get the feeling that Barton is in Writer's Hell within the decrepit hotel. The real standout, however, is the fantastic performances by John Turturro in the title role and John Goodman as the affable but ultimately sinister neighbor. They both really give it their all and the end product is really something. This film is a little strange on first viewing and you're not really sure where the film is taking you, but it turns out to be a really great satire on Old Hollywood and the film making process.The Kino Lorber Blu-Ray is great. Fine picture and sound. Special features include several interviews with cast and crew (particularly with John Turturro and the late Michael Lerner) as well as deleted scenes and trailers. The features are a nice deep dive into this unique film.Highly recommended for fans of pictures by the Coen Brothers. Another recommendation would be to watch another Coen Brothers film, "Hail, Ceasar!". It can be seen as an unofficial companion film to Barton Fink as both films are entertaining satires on Old Hollywood and would make a good double feature for home viewing.

A classic, watch it.

While it’s a bit intense, dark, and weird, it is funny! Don’t recommend for children at all, but it’s a good watch. My husband and I now will fake-yell at each other: “I’ll show you the life of the mind!” Lol

Great stories have a "magic moment" when everything comes together - like the "Aha!" realization at the end of every good Twilight Zone episode; the moment when the themes and ideas snap into place like pieces of a puzzle and the whole reveals itself. Barton Fink has such a moment, near the end, and if you are of the temperament to enjoy somewhat obscure, surrealist symbolism, this one will take your breath away.It is 1941 in New York, and the well-meaning but insufferably pretentious playwright Barton Fink is pretending not to enjoy the success of his first major work. Hollywood comes calling through his agent and, with a brilliant cut to a Pacific Ocean wave crashing on a boulder, we suddenly find him (and ourselves) on the West Coast. Barton Fink checks in to the hot, decaying Art Deco hell of the Hotel Earle ("A day or a lifetime" reads the stationery), and begins a descent into the nightmare world of Joel and Ethan Coen.Writer's block. Bombastic studio heads. Type-A movie producers. Alcoholic novelists (and their muses). Serial killers. All of these elements converge in a tightly woven plot by turns hilarious and unnerving. Is it a horror film with laughs? Or a comedy with scenes of real terror? In the Coens' typically understated style, Barton Fink balances on the knife's edge.A clue to where it's going comes when Barton (John Turturro) becomes a suspect in the murder of Audrey (Judy Davis), assistant and lover to alcoholic novelist W.P. Mayhew (John Mahoney). The two L.A. police detectives who question him are named Deutsch and Mastrionotti - German and Italian. Deadpan send-ups of stock film noir characters, the cops don't even try to disguise their anti-Semitism ("Fink. That's a Jewish name, isn't it?...I didn't think this dump was restricted!"). Coincidence, given that the story is set on the eve of America's involvement in World War II? I think not.John Goodman is outstanding as Charlie Meadows/Madman Mundt, the real serial killer. He's Barton's WASPish, working-man doppleganger, and is both endearing and malevolent. He may represent America itself - the oafish do-gooder with a dark side, who both rescues and oppresses Barton Fink. By the time Meadows' true nature is revealed in the stunning climax, the film's allegory seems to crystallize.Or...maybe not. The central question - did Meadows/Mundt really kill Audrey - is never fully addressed. Neither is the other disturbing loose end - just what is in that box Barton carries around at the end? Audrey's head? I think so. But Barton Fink's ultimate meaning, despite the seeming clarity of its symbolism, remains just out of reach. You can brush it with your fingertips, almost grasp it. Then it slips away, demanding another viewing, another visit to the Hotel Earle.For people who enjoy this sort of thing - and you know who you are - it's a no-brainer. Buy it.

There's a lot going on, as there always is with Coen brother's films. Like the others I've seen, I thought about it a lot and tried to figure it out for some time afterwards.

This disk does not play on Region B players

Good transfer, not perfect, but the movie wasn't shot in perfect conditions. One of my favorite movies of all time. If you love the movie, upgrading to this blu-ray is worthwhile.

diese Rezension bezieht sich lediglich auf den Film, ich gehe hier weder auf den Versand noch auf Bonusmaterial, Tonspuren etc. ein.Barton Fink zählt für mich neben "The Big Lebowski" und "No Country for old Men" zu den großen Meisterwerken der Coen Brüder. Einen wirklich schlechten Film findet man in Ihrer Historie ohnehin nicht, selbst "Ein (un)möglicher Härtefall" und "Ladykillers" liegen im eher unteren Durchschnitt, was aber der hohen Erwartungshaltung geschuldet ist, die Coen Brüder legen die Messlatte immer wieder aufs neue enorm hoch. Ähnlich wie Tarantino polarisieren die Coen's und spalten zwei Lager! Die einen vergöttern Ihre Filme und die anderen können mit diesen rein gar nichts anfangen. Muss jeder für sich entscheiden, ich persönlich stehe total auf Ihre abgedrehten Geschichten und vor allem auf die total skurrilen Charaktere.Die Handlung bei Barton Fink ist relativ leicht erzählt, ein erfolgreicher Theaterregisseur bekommt ein Angebot aus Hollywood einen Film über Wrestler zu drehen. Er fürchtet jedoch, dass seine kreative Ader hierunter leidet und Hollywood in ihm nur eine Geldmaschine sieht. Lieber würde er den einfachen Mann von der Straße agitieren und hierüber einen Film drehen.Untypisch für die Coen's, dass dieser Film mit Versatzstücken des Teufes und der Hölle spielt, viele Fragen bleiben am Ende offen und ehrlich gesagt fragt man sich ob man den Film überhaupt wirklich verstanden hat. Barton Fink ist noch am ehesten mit den Werken von David Lynch zu vergleichen. Die Coen's inszenieren diesen Film aber so brilliant das man sich manchmal wie in Trance vorkommt. John Turturro spiel Barton Fink überragend gut und ist die absolute Idealbesetzung, genau wie John Goodman, der für mich in "The Big Lebowski" Geschichte geschrieben hat. Auf seine Rolle in Barton Fink will ich hier nicht näher eingehen, ich habe eine Vermutung wer bzw. was er ist aber dies wird ohnehin am Ende nicht aufgeklärt. Die dritte große Hauptrolle hat das Hotel!!! Genau wie in Shining, ist dies das Herzstück des Films und man wird das Gefühl nicht los, dass dieses wirklich lebt.Fazit: Der vierte Film der Coen Brüder ist für mich ein absolutes Meisterwerk, dass den Zuschauer verstört zurücklässt. Was die Coen's hier auf jeden Fall geschafft haben, ist das man auch tagelang nach erster Sichtung noch viel und intensiv über diesen Film nachdenkt und damit schaffen sie mehr als andere Regisseure von sich behaupten können. Ganz nebenbei ist der Film noch ein netter Seitenhieb auf die kreativlose Geldmaschine und "Traumfabrik" Hollywood. Sollte jeder gesehen haben!

Confirmo!!!! Esta película en su edición alemana, Barton Finx [DE], viene completamente en castellano (audio y textos) con audio 2.0

Questo film è eccezionale,forse il migliore dei Cohen.Regia stupenda ed attori in stato di grazia,un vero capolavoro.