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Inside Llewyn Davis
2013
Comedy
Drama
1h 44m
A singer-songwriter navigates New York's folk music scene during the 1960s. (imdb)
Your probable score
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Inside Llewyn Davis
2013
Comedy
Drama
1h 44m
Your probable score
Avg Percentile 65.18% from 3972 total ratings
Ratings & Reviews
(4004)
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Rated 04 Jan 2014
80
81st
I have a weakness for films about people drifting through life aimlessly. Too recognisable I suppose. Wonderful music, doesn't get lost in nostalgia for a specific period, and I loved the understated tragedy of it all. A strong cast with either settled down folks stuck on repeat or happy with being bland, and the ones trying to grasp for something greater but slowly, quietly failing.
Rated 04 Jan 2014
Rated 24 Dec 2013
100
99th
And the Oscar for "Best Use of a Cat" goes to... I loved the meandering plot. It did a wonderful job showing how cyclical life can be, even for struggling artists who are desperately striving to stay out of the repetitive life of working a 9-5. I related to protagonist more than is probably healthy considering he is often a selfish dick. I loved the music and the acting. Coens never have bad cinematography. Just a real treat, albeit a somewhat depressing one. I like depressing treats though.
Rated 24 Dec 2013
Rated 19 Jan 2014
97
97th
I saw this with a songwriter from Nashville. His critique: "It's far too real". And then we realized, talent is cheap. In Los Angeles, Nashville --- everyone's talented, and everyone works hard. So who should give a shit? When the Coens frame the film like a skipping record, what changes? The last performance? No --- that performance was there at the beginning. He didn't see it and neither did we. All that Orphic self-seeking tragedy doesn't fuel his art, it hides that potential already there.
Rated 19 Jan 2014
Rated 18 Jan 2014
92
98th
The Coens continue to amaze with probably the most mature, yet simple, narrative to date. The love we have for their quirky characters is supplanted by a tragic antihero that is wholly relatable. Gorgeous photography and the best soundtrack of the year round out one the Coens' best works. Oscar Isaac is a force to be reckoned with.
Rated 18 Jan 2014
Rated 26 Jun 2014
94
78th
Pretty good movie. The Coen brothers continue their expertise writing and directing with inside Llewyn Davis, as well acted and well written movie about a poor man traveling place to place with his guitar and talents (and sometimes a cat) A little mean spirited, but the music is excellent and the performances make it worth a watch as well. Beautifully filmed.
Rated 26 Jun 2014
Rated 14 Mar 2022
79
74th
A struggling artist story focusing narrowly on the struggling bit. Oscar Issac is perfectly cast as a musician navigating the scene while generally not giving a folk.
Rated 14 Mar 2022
Rated 26 Feb 2014
85
94th
Delightful and dark. Perfect shots and imperfect, albeit highly memorable, characters. That's the Coens for you. Every frame oozes confidence. And why shouldn't they be confident? I'm pretty sure they can do anything. Except fail, that is. I'm also fairly confident that if anybody else had directed this it would've turned out somewhat mediocre. The brothers' mastery of craft, command of tone, as well as their playfulness - all of it makes up for a plot as meandering as their roaming protagonist.
Rated 26 Feb 2014
Rated 12 Jan 2014
9
90th
Llewyn refuses to accept reality as is, and won't budge, and in doing so gets caught in an elliptical narrative about the kind of self-destructive, ouroboric behavior that can destroy a man's ability to overcome adversity and find fulfillment in life. Shit, that sounds heavy, sort of?? It's funny, though. I loved that damn cat. Best cat in a movie since...?
Rated 12 Jan 2014
Rated 26 May 2014
65
71st
Mood piece, character study, and portrait of a transitionary moment in music and history (see also my review of NO DIRECTION HOME). But it is also hard not to think this is a mutual rumination by the brothers Coen about how one of them might react and feel if confronted by the loss of the other. One wonders if the producers thought to themselves, "I'm not seeing a lot of money here." Subtle and interesting, even affecting, but I still felt, for some reason, that this fell short of greatness.
Rated 26 May 2014
Rated 17 Jan 2014
85
86th
"Au revoir"
Rated 17 Jan 2014
Rated 03 Aug 2017
72
68th
Llewyn is a perfectly envisioned and realized character. And I wish that was enough to make this a great movie, but I don't think it is. I wonder if part of the problem is that I didn't really care much about anybody else, leaving his interactions to feel somewhat lopsided. It's really still a good movie, just for the character (and the songs if you can dig some folksy tunes).
Rated 03 Aug 2017
Rated 12 Jan 2014
95
91st
A love letter to the failures and losers in the music industry who have undeniable talent but don't get a chance to succeed because they don't won't sell out by charming audiences. Oscar Isaac gives his best performance to date as the unfiltered folk singer Llewyn Davis, impressing in both the musical scenes as well as the dramatic moments. Sprinkled throughout the plot are moments of the brilliantly weird humour one associates with a Coen Brothers picture.
Rated 12 Jan 2014
Rated 02 Jan 2019
5
91st
A narrative ouroboros, poor sadsack Llewyn Davis eating his own tail. The Coens have such a deft touch that the tragedy of his circumstances never feels oppressive nor less than heartbreaking: a tragicomic fable set in the perpetual dusk of man's soul in the winter of 1961.
Rated 02 Jan 2019
Rated 03 Apr 2014
85
92nd
The Coens have created a truly immersive pseudo-biography of a short but fascinating part of American music history. Oscar Isaac is fantastic as the titular character, and even if there is little in this struggling artist or the people around him's lives to cheer about, the music they make, makes it all worth it.
Rated 03 Apr 2014
Rated 13 May 2015
89
92nd
It's a movie without a plot. Just a week through the eyes of a real interesting character. And man, does Oscar Isaac fucking nail it? Holy shit. He is quickly becoming one of my favorite actors of all time. Some great performances from Justin Timberlake and Adam Driver, and Mulligan gives me wood every time she's on screen. A real delightful film, proving, again, that the Coen Brothers will go down in history as movie making Gods.
Rated 13 May 2015
Rated 16 Jan 2014
94
98th
A melancholy, darkly humorous and mature piece of work, as if I expected anything different. The plot meanders but never frustratingly so; the Coens have always been concerned with characters trapped in repetitive, existential hells, whether they be of their own making (Llewyn's certainly is to an extent) or a product of an inscrutable cosmos (which is an important aspect of the Coens' worldview). Also beautifully shot, and Isaac is tremendous.
Rated 16 Jan 2014
Rated 16 Mar 2014
76
92nd
The Coens have moved from their bizarre comedy phase to bizarre character dramas. Beautifully shot with good performances and music it entertains in spite of its lack of relatable (or even likable) characters.
Rated 16 Mar 2014
Rated 27 Feb 2014
85
90th
The Coens in a melancholic mood. You can't go wrong. Of course with Coen's trademark understated dark humour, it's a beautiful, tragicomical and (I think) partly self-ironic story of the uncompromising, suffering artist, disappointment and self-deconstruction.
Rated 27 Feb 2014
Rated 23 Jan 2014
7
68th
A bizarre film to write about. It definitely had its moments but then you start thinking what is the point of this and what is the plot and why do I care and why is John Goodman in this (so out of place). All that said, it had my attention throughout but will be remembered as one of the Coen's lesser efforts. Also, the songs get progressively worse throughout and after seeing Carey Mulligan several times I can't decide if she's a cunt or not you feel
Rated 23 Jan 2014
Rated 05 Jan 2014
90
92nd
Is Llewyn Davis the scribe of his own miserable life, or is he merely a victim of traumatic circumstances, a man whose voice sings pure beauty but whose soul just doesn't shine brightly enough? He's stuck trying to figure this out, although he doesn't do himself many favors. The folk songs are wonderfully performed, mostly by Oscar Isaac, and they truly anchor the emotional weight of the film. Like the music Llewyn plays, he's never new and he never gets old; he's a folk song.
Rated 05 Jan 2014
Rated 18 Apr 2014
95
98th
Isaac perfectly epitomizes artistic and personal failure in this impressively crafted immersion into the sights and sounds of the folk music scene in 60's Greenwich village. Shit things happen to the talented but stubborn protagonist, who responds with sardonic weariness and arrogant bluntness to the indifferent and changing world around him. It's a Coen brothers film after all. But this elegiac fable is also profoundly beautiful, darkly humorous and deeply soulful. One of their very best works.
Rated 18 Apr 2014
Rated 02 Dec 2020
90
90th
Rewatch: I was able to look more in depth on the second watch. Llewyn Davis is probably the best character the Coen brothers have in their entire filmography. The movie is a great character study and Oscar Isaac gives a fantastic performance with both his acting and singing.
Rated 02 Dec 2020
Rated 06 Dec 2019
90
92nd
A strong contender for funniest moment in a film this decade is that Mr. Kennedy song.
Rated 06 Dec 2019
Rated 13 Jun 2014
80
90th
I thought this film was brilliant. It's very sad, very melancholy, but still absolutely appealing. The story is somewhat unsatisfying, but I liked that about it - it didn't follow the typical conventions. Oscar Isaac was excellent, and so were Carey Mulligan and John Goodman. I liked Isaac's character a lot. The cinematography was gorgeous, and the music was also really nice. I kinda loved it.
Rated 13 Jun 2014
Rated 06 Feb 2018
5
93rd
It's the winter of 1961 and time has capsulized. Amusement gradually dims into melancholy as it becomes apparent that Llewyn's disappointments aren't arranged in a string so much as he simply exists in a sustained and habitual state of self-defeat. It's never new, and it never gets old.
Rated 06 Feb 2018
Rated 31 Dec 2013
84
77th
Very funny, and a good portrait of a time and place and the personality of a middling folk artist trying to find direction in his life. It has that wonderful elliptical feel that the Coen bros do so well. Still, for a film called Inside Llewyn Davis, we see very little about him beneath the surface. There's a lot we can gather from what we do see, a variety of external expressions in various situations, social and personal, but it lacks the insight of a truly great film.
Rated 31 Dec 2013
Rated 12 Feb 2014
95
98th
Inside Llewyn Davis, while focusing on one week in the life of one musician in the Greenwich Village folk-music scene, taps into a patchwork understanding of story and reminds us multiple times why we care: the songs were just so dang good, even when ignoring their historical significance and focusing only on the very moment they are delivered in a recording studio, basement nightclub, or retirement home.
Rated 12 Feb 2014
Rated 06 Apr 2014
89
80th
The folk revival was filled with generous, expansive personalities--like that of Dave Von Ronk--but if it had been peopled instead by cautious Gen-X types, envious, trapped in their own egos, it might have looked something like this. It is a well made film, expertly shot and edited, enriched by the existential concerns that made "A Serious Man" such a rewarding experience. John Goodman creates his most obnoxious character ever, and Isaac is very good (although not quite as good as the cats).
Rated 06 Apr 2014
Rated 12 Jan 2014
83
61st
One expects a certain level of quality from the Coens, and though this doesn't quite rise to it, it could only be considered a letdown by their standards. There are parts of this chronicle of a downtrodden folk singer (Oscar Isaac) that are as good as anything in their filmography, especially the moments on the road (John Goodman is golden in his all-too-brief role). Something about the material, though, doesn't quite catch fire, and the emphasis on atmosphere over plot may have been a mistake.
Rated 12 Jan 2014
Rated 22 Dec 2013
100
98th
My favorite Coen Brothers movie. Unassuming and utterly devastating; Greenwich Village turned into a glowing, overcast haven of artists, with the struggling Llewyn Davis in the center of it all. Llewyn is an incredible protagonist - a selfish asshole, without a doubt, but an inspiration as well, especially when he picks up his guitar and sings. It's an incredible and beautiful film, mesmerizing from start to finish. I'll be surprised if it's not the best film of the year. (two times)
Rated 22 Dec 2013
Rated 18 Mar 2014
55
53rd
The music is as good as "O Brother Where Art Thou", but personally I don't think the story is. I don't mind the meandering; I think the real issue is I just don't care about lives of struggling artists as much as the Coen brothers.
Rated 18 Mar 2014
Rated 01 Feb 2014
83
78th
The Coens trap Llewyn in a hellish circle that enlightens the viewer but leaves Llewyn in the cold as far as finding his path in life. Aside from the outburst at dinner, the only bad thing he does is become a heckler, which, after all he's been through, is forgivable from our point of view. Is he a victim of circumstance, or is karma biting him back for not keeping his emotions in check? The answer is deeper than I could possibly write.
Rated 01 Feb 2014
Rated 01 Mar 2014
100
90th
The most level-headed and somber Coen film I've seen. I hope to see more like this and A Serious Man from them. A wonderful character study. The script, cinematography, performances and soundtrack - all spot on. The atmosphere of this film is likely to stick with me for days, if not weeks. Inside Llewyn Davis is what Frances Ha tried and failed to be.
Rated 01 Mar 2014
Rated 15 Jan 2018
90
90th
Definitely a win for the Coen brothers. A phenomenal cast is really what spearheads this, with an early Oscar Isaac performance in which he kills it. The background is so interesting, too, that its fun just to see what New York was like in the 60's. Plus I'm a sucker for depressing, music movies. Firing on all cylinders.
Rated 15 Jan 2018
Rated 20 Feb 2017
9
92nd
Lovely tunes and pleasant soft cinematography are just bonus additions to what is a superbly nuanced (and acted) character study: Llewyn is talented but pretentious, caring but bitter, witty but mean. He's hard-luck but hard to like; half the time life hits him hard, half the time he seems to bring it on himself. Fleshed out by a perfect secondary cast of various characters, the film nonchalantly but intentionally presents a neutral take on the settling down vs. pursuing your dreams dichotomy.
Rated 20 Feb 2017
Rated 21 Jan 2014
60
15th
The more I think about it, the more I think I dislike it. The content itself is hard for me to swallow -- the folk songs in this aren't anything special and just eat up time. And the characters are more aggravating than quirky, such as Isaac's, Mulligan's, and Goodman's, who (although it's fun to see them throwing out curse words) come across as artificially written assholes just for a cheap laugh. Combined with the damp cinematography and fatigue-inducing story, this was unpleasant.
Rated 21 Jan 2014
Rated 19 Aug 2022
79
67th
A rainy day movie, languishing in the romantic gloom of an underappreciated artist. Isaac does great with the role. F. Murray Abraham's presence invokes Salieri, the bitter second banana who takes his music too seriously to grok a lighthearted attitude. The dead/alive cat invokes a question...is it a stealth ghost story? Is Llewyn Davis in folk music purgatory? Gotta watch it again, I guess.
Rated 19 Aug 2022
Rated 24 Jul 2014
88
76th
Everything in this film was beautifully shot. Songs're lovely. The story unfolded in an interesting order, as expected from Coen Brothers. There're some boring bits halfway through the film but the overall pace's decent. The key success of this film is the ability to tell a realistic story. You don't always get what you want in life.
Rated 24 Jul 2014
Rated 06 Mar 2016
60
53rd
An okayish 'Star Wars' prequel showing why Ben Solo turned to the dark side. Boy he must be kicking himself over the fact that he used to have one of the best rebel pilots in the galaxy sleeping on his couch.
Rated 06 Mar 2016
Rated 17 Jan 2014
95
91st
Continues the tonal redefining the directors first showed off with A Serious Man: taking the quirky dark comic style of their early work and applying it to more down-to-earth human characterizations, and it works brilliantly in yet another existential story of a man whose personality and actions alone puts them in their situation. Every scene is meticulously crafted and the underlying melancholy gives it a soft, reflective poeticism that got me right where it wanted to.
Rated 17 Jan 2014
Rated 19 May 2014
84
75th
A compelling portrait of a man obsessed with death, the film remains light-hearted through most of its run time. I'm still not sure what to do with the car-trip-to-Chicago interlude, but the scene with Grossman was most affecting. Indeed, the real feeling and humanity in the film comes through the music, shining a light into an artist's world otherwise devoid of hope.
Rated 19 May 2014
Rated 28 May 2014
92
95th
The Coens have refined their meditative style down so far that their films apparently don't even have plots anymore. Not that it matters when they look and sound this good. Has some profound thoughts on creativity vs commerce, moving on after loss, and being honest about your own potential. Captures the cold, lonely feeling of depression perfectly.
Rated 28 May 2014
Rated 01 Mar 2015
85
97th
the people and the places, and the music in between. it's funny that nothing kinda happens, but i wish this "kind of nothing" happened a lot more. coens and their co-director the ginger cat deliver a masterpiece.
Rated 01 Mar 2015
Rated 20 Jan 2014
90
93rd
What can't the Coen brothers do?
Rated 20 Jan 2014
Rated 26 Feb 2014
85
90th
The fact that this movie really has no plot and is depressing in not only the story but in the look of the film. Oscar Isaac was absolutely superb and so was the rest of the cast. The Coen brothers have shown they can do the absurd, but I really hope we get to see more of this from them and this is up there for one of my favourites from 2013.
Rated 26 Feb 2014
Rated 13 Jan 2014
70
31st
A movie while enjoyable to watch, ultimately doesn't amount to much. The movie simply felt way too hollow. Interesting while you watch it but afterwards you just feel cheated of any sort of resolution or meaning. The Coen brothers are clearly talented filmmakers (they certainly have the credits to prove it), but here interesting parts fail to come together in any sort of meaningful way.
Rated 13 Jan 2014
Rated 28 Jan 2015
7
57th
Inside Llewyn Davis is proof yet again that the Coen Brothers can refreshingly & convincingly turn their filmmaking expertise to a vast variety of projects. Oscar Isaac gives an impressive performance and the stellar supporting cast is strong too. In particular Carey Mulligan & Adam Driver. And the great music somewhat feels like a character too. I cant recall many films where the lighting plays such an integral part to the story being told. And it beautifully emphasizes such a sombre tone here.
Rated 28 Jan 2015
Rated 24 Jul 2013
83
96th
The narrative structure is the most elegant the Coens have ever done. Great music, characters and dialogue too.
Rated 24 Jul 2013
Rated 19 Jan 2014
82
86th
The very solid Coen brothers quality. Carey Mulligan stepped out of the interesting cast. A story of a stray cat.
Rated 19 Jan 2014
Rated 22 Apr 2020
92
94th
This might be the Coen Brother's most subtle film and it's also one of their best. Gone are the macabre set pieces and, aside from a brief John Goodman appearance, most of the staple Coen cast. Instead, this is a story of a man being torn apart by his own dream and it's poignantly acted by Isaac, along with some strong supporting appearances by a cast that vanishes into the environs of the NYC songwriting scene. Also, the music is incredible and the extended performance pieces are beautiful.
Rated 22 Apr 2020
Rated 26 Jan 2014
91
89th
A marca de um bom cineasta é saber filmar um gato. Melhor ainda se ele se chama Ulisses e está tentando voltar pra casa.
Rated 26 Jan 2014
Rated 30 Mar 2014
92
88th
I sure wouldn't wanna be this guy
Rated 30 Mar 2014
Rated 13 May 2014
85
94th
Fantastic film full of classic Coenisms. The songs are also very good and the actors deserve plenty of credit for (mostly?) performing their numbers live; I only wish the sound design & performance style were a bit more authentic and naturalistic. These sound more like studio-polished, 21st century "folk revival" pieces than period-correct live performances. It's a minor distraction but it's there. Perhaps "Crazy Heart" has spoiled me, although this is a far better movie.
Rated 13 May 2014
Rated 13 Mar 2014
70
76th
This is a surprisingly serious and gloomy film from the Coen brothers. There are no crazy charaters or convoluted plot. The story is minimalistic, the characters feel real and are beautifully portrayed by the cast. Add in some fun folk songs, and you've got a wonderfully entertaining film. In the end the movie does feel a little bit aimless but, I guess, that's what life is like sometimes.
Rated 13 Mar 2014
Rated 22 Nov 2014
81
83rd
Somewhat rambling narrative but for those interested in 60s New York or folk music it's a world to lose yourself in. Finely crafted retro-nostalgic style and a great performance from Oscar Isaac. The soundtrack is brilliant as well. Doesn't quite have the bite of some Coen films but a nice, quietly contemplative tone that worked pretty well. Also it's a film that slowly grows on you for days after.
Rated 22 Nov 2014
Rated 03 May 2015
80
79th
Brilliant music, solid movie
Rated 03 May 2015
Rated 16 Nov 2020
74
33rd
Not a bad movie itslef. I like the characters, i really do. But i think that the plot is too predictable. You just know that for him, his life will be a mess, no matter what he'll try to do. No spoiler here, but you know how the movie'll end from the first 10 minutes of the story. Meh, it could be better, imho.
Rated 16 Nov 2020
Rated 21 Nov 2013
7
57th
(2nd viewing) As immaculately crafted as anything in their impressive canon -- exquisitely framed and imbued with a wonderful soundtrack. Mulligan leaves a potent impression as Llewyn's permanently enraged ex-lover but Isaac's soulful portrayal as the struggling, self-defeating titular folksinger stands out. My only beef with the film is the plot (or lack thereof), whose meandering nature prevents Llewyn's arc from coming to full fruition.
Rated 21 Nov 2013
Rated 12 Feb 2014
80
70th
They managed to drop Goodman in as a pomp jazz artist, I was wondering when McDormand would stride on screen. Llewyn is a guy who is an inch above destitute but mopes around with a self-importance. He's delusional, stubborn or a purist regarding career choice. There's some classic Coen moments "That's what you're upset about" "Maybe you should rejoin your partner" & Llewyn contrasting Dylan's on stage punch. At least we get left with the slightest hint he is capable of learning from his mistakes
Rated 12 Feb 2014
Rated 16 Feb 2014
80
77th
The film is accessible, engaging, and often ha-ha funny despite the meandering pace and theme of ennui. As usual the Coens' period detail is just perfection. The songs are nothing to write home about (excepting the delightful "Please Mr. Kennedy"), and Mulligan's performance grates.
Rated 16 Feb 2014
Rated 27 Dec 2013
82
82nd
It's sort of remarkable that i liked this as much as i did, considering that i hate folk music and i've never much cared for the Coens either. Most of it can probably be attributed to how painfully closely I can relate to it (for better or for worse). That said, I do have to give the Coens some credit for making their most toned-down movie that i've seen at least, by a pretty wide margin, and one which even verges on humanistic and poignant.
Rated 27 Dec 2013
Rated 01 Feb 2015
65
37th
As a folk fan, Inside Llewyn Davis is a heavy disappointment. I can't buy into it as a portrayal of the early 60s folk scene because the Coen bros's dialogue is too crass, modern, and maybe simply anachronistic. The intense bitterness of every character being either an idiot hick or a smartass cuntbag is overbearing, and there's almost no reasonable interactions between characters. Llewyn's never given a positive quality or interesting personality, and by extension barely does this movie.
Rated 01 Feb 2015
Rated 03 Mar 2016
81
77th
I'm not sure I "got" it, but I enjoyed the ride.
Rated 03 Mar 2016
Rated 20 Oct 2013
60
28th
Great dialogues, a lot of humor, near perfect cinematography,....everything you might expect from veteran filmmakers like these. Unfortunately I couldn't be bothered by the plot and even the Coens can't me me forget about my hatred towards folk music. Also: John Goodman only plays a minor role and I'm disappointed they use his appearance as a marketing tool on the movie posters, I was expecting a much bigger input from him.
Rated 20 Oct 2013
Rated 25 Oct 2013
73
80th
As good as everything is, we know the song, we know the style. "A Serious Man" had an existential framework to hook the irony of life to. But this here, I don't know, I guess nothing works out for this dude.
Rated 25 Oct 2013
Rated 26 Feb 2014
82
85th
Bleak, but peppered with outstanding moments of humour and surrealism, ILD would be heralded as a modern masterpiece if it weren't for the directors' preference for abstruse, metaphorical narrative in place of your standard tearjerker/redemption plot. The look and feel of the film add up to more than the long chain of cameo performances, but the real touch of genius is juxtaposing that coldness with moments of sheer beauty when Oscar Isaac plays his guitar and sings. Sweet music, nice film.
Rated 26 Feb 2014
Rated 08 Jan 2015
48
5th
Did not like this film at all. A lot of it felt formulaic, as you would expect a typical Hollywood biopic to be. The main character becomes really annoying and unlikeable at some point, lacking any character development. Because this film completely revolves around his life it becomes boring and even frustrating to watch. Soundtrack is nothing special and secondary characters were either unmemorable or annoying. There were a few funny moments but only a few. I did not enjoy watching this film.
Rated 08 Jan 2015
Rated 02 Jul 2019
85
90th
It's amazing how letting every song play out in full gives the film so much room to breathe and revel in its beautiful setting. That's how a musician film is done.
Rated 02 Jul 2019
Rated 16 Jan 2014
80
83rd
The exact opposite of "I'm Not There". And almost as good. Like any folk song, you can't fake it; if you try to just play it and trust the song to do the work, you won't get anywhere. Llewyn has something he needs to sing about, but he refuses, and so...
Rated 16 Jan 2014
Rated 07 Jul 2014
79
68th
A well told story about a guy who does a few things before the film prematurely ends
Rated 07 Jul 2014
Rated 14 Dec 2013
75
45th
Beautiful lighting and a carefully measured story that never once managed to pull me in.
Rated 14 Dec 2013
Rated 08 Dec 2013
20
12th
Llewyn longs to be a successful musician--a longing that has consistently and repeatedly been denied. But in that denial, he doesn't seem to be learning much, if anything. There's essentially zero character development in his life as he faces one setback after another. Instead, Llewyn just keeps on using those around him in the narcissistic hope that one day something might change. (pluggedin.com)
Rated 08 Dec 2013
Rated 07 Jul 2014
75
76th
Moody and soulful, if for me not quite as fulfilling as the Coen's at their very best. Isaac is supurb and there's a shed load of great music to enjoy.
Rated 07 Jul 2014
Rated 02 Feb 2014
73
67th
I didn't find anything particularly wrong with it, I just didn't think it was that great either.
Rated 02 Feb 2014
Rated 10 Apr 2014
80
80th
"What's the point?" is the phrase I keep hearing in reviews about Inside Llewyn Davis, but I ask, why does there have to be one? A great story can be the anchor of a film, but so can acting, mood, character and music. Could this film benefit from a more compelling story? Maybe, but I find it rich enough as is to be very enjoyable.
Rated 10 Apr 2014
Rated 10 Nov 2015
95
98th
A familiar tale that was tightly strung together by Coen mastery. Its depressingly cyclical, so you get as much out of this as it takes out of you. That being said... This is my favourite movie of the 2010's.
Rated 10 Nov 2015
Rated 21 Jan 2014
81
79th
Coen Kardeşler filmografisinin içindeki sıradan kaybedenlerden biri Llewyn Davis, orası kesin. Ama tüm zaaflarıyla, hatalarıyla o kadar gerçek ki, hayatına şahit olduğumuz birçok insan gibi ona sempati mi duysak, kızsak mı bilemiyoruz. Kariyerlerinin en iyisi değil belki ama Coenler'in işleri arasında en değerlilerinden biri olarak anılması olası.
Rated 21 Jan 2014
Rated 22 Jan 2017
90
96th
For some reason I've been avoiding this Coen Brothers movie for years.. Oscar Isaac is believable as a folk-singer, and immensely frustrating as the architecture of his own problems, while seemingly unaware of his own deficiencies. Music is great most of the way through. Excellent supporting cast, my favourite vignette was John Goodman and Garret Hedlund's jazz musician / beatnik poet duo. Probably the most depressing Coen Brothers film yet.
Rated 22 Jan 2017
Rated 15 Jul 2017
86
88th
In the same vein as A Serious Man, but with less of an arc, focusing even more on character, punctuated with the Coen's trademark humor. The tone is aggressively melancholy and cyclical, but in the light that this can be seen as a metaphor by the Coen brothers on what one of them would face if the other were to die, it makes more sense, and the events become even more tragic. Isaac inhabits his role perfectly, but he is no match for the acting skills of that cat!
Rated 15 Jul 2017
Rated 25 Mar 2019
85
92nd
Loved the music and Oscar Isaac. Coen Brothers at their prime. Really highlights how difficult things can be for true struggling musicians. No happy endings. Sometimes we're just our own worst enemies, even when we don't realize it right away. I don't understand the cat. Fav scene: first visit and the blow up at the friends' apartment.
Rated 25 Mar 2019
Rated 19 Nov 2014
86
95th
This was a captivating, beautiful purgatory of a film. It's pretty amazing the way everything falls away when Davis is performing. It's got some Iliad in it similarly to O Brother, but it's compelling in different ways.
Rated 19 Nov 2014
Rated 27 Jan 2014
95
93rd
An absolute masterpiece, a film that completely and utterly envelops you in the world of Llewyn Davis and never looks back. The Coens exert an absolute mastery of mood and tone control, and you find yourself drawn into every last frame of this understated, folk-song-worthy meandering personal tragedy. The soundtrack stuns, the cinematography is beautiful, and Oscar Isaac's performance might be last year's best.
Rated 27 Jan 2014
Rated 25 Jan 2014
77
57th
cute little story with beautiful music, dark humor, a poor cat and a hopeless loser
Rated 25 Jan 2014
Rated 14 May 2020
100
93rd
Perfect and heartbreaking.
Rated 14 May 2020
Rated 09 Jan 2014
78
80th
It's a beautiful movie with a touching story of a loser-type guy who I couldn't bring myself to really like nor hate. And even though it tells its small story in a slow and repetitive way, I gladly followed it to the end. Ok, partly because Oscar Isaac has beautiful sad, sad eyes, but mostly because the movie grips you very softly, so you don't even realise, and only lets go of you about 30 seconds before it ends.
Rated 09 Jan 2014
Rated 21 Mar 2014
88
81st
Bust out your dancing shoes because this movie's music is amazing. Inside Llewyn (Lew-N) Davis was written and directed by Joel and Ethan Coen. As most of you know, those two are amazing...
Rated 21 Mar 2014
Rated 28 Feb 2014
3
65th
I just knew I would like this movie when Timberlake entered with a Captain Haddock beard. The story is kind of weak, but the Coens make it happen anyway. The music in itself is worth a listen. - Good.
Rated 28 Feb 2014
Rated 29 Dec 2013
93
95th
My favorite Coen - all of a sudden they found a tender and milde side within them, masterfuly revealed as they always do. This is a blueprint for a movie that makes you feel less lonely by showing sadness and weltschmerz as it is: a law of nature. And in the context of this warm instinctive elementary script is a strike of genius - and one of the greatest happy-ends ever! A pure purification for the main-character.
Rated 29 Dec 2013
Rated 20 Jan 2014
100
97th
Another installment in the American Misfit series perfected by the Coen Brothers. It fits right in there even if Davis, himself, does not fit anywhere.
Rated 20 Jan 2014
Rated 02 Mar 2014
65
61st
A pretty satisfying portrait of a very cinematic time, with its stories of artistic struggle and unknown talents trying to make it, but Llewyn Davis is mostly another Coens' effort to depict flawed characters that are seem damned to fail for the rest of their lives. It's a comic period piece -- John Goodman as the cranky jazz musician who hates folk looks great --, filled with the dry humor the bros are used to deliver, but the film, unfortunately, looks hipster, but not folkster.
Rated 02 Mar 2014
Rated 19 Jan 2020
100
99th
Rambling storyline, a cat, some folk music. Not what I thought would end up being my favorite movie, but feels real and raw. The color scheme, acting, and feel of the movie is spot on. Will never stop loving this.
Rated 19 Jan 2020
Rated 19 Jun 2014
80
80th
This is another interesting and original film by the Coen brothers. Oscar Issac is excellent in the lead role. Issac really carries the film on his shoulders. There are other good small bursts of performances in the film. I would definitely recommend this movie.
Rated 19 Jun 2014
Rated 03 Feb 2014
30
18th
Llewyn Davis is a cat killing, self destructing little asshole.
Rated 03 Feb 2014
Rated 22 Feb 2015
75
71st
It's your standard Coen Bros character study but the Coens can make any obnoxious, dishonest, and pretentious little twit seem incredibly interesting. That's what Llewyn Davis is yet you're drawn into his strange world of down and out scene musicians all trying to grasp onto that faintest sliver of success that might come their way in the fleeting limelight. It's a hard luck period story about talent overshadowed by a detestable personality and a healthy dose of bad luck.
Rated 22 Feb 2015
Rated 07 Mar 2014
67
87th
It's usually hard to categorize Coen films and ILD is not different. Is it a drama, very dark comedy or a musical? All of those I guess. Closest film from their filmography would be "A Serious Man" which also has a protagonist who keeps receiving punches from life. Both are like modern stories of Job. Like their best films, it will take a couple of viewings to fully process but it's safe to say that I thoroughly enjoyed the acting, music, portrait of an era and will definitely re-watch this.
Rated 07 Mar 2014
Rated 05 Jan 2014
86
54th
I would have liked a more sympathetic depiction of these characters and the folk scene in general. It's the Coens, so it's watchable.
Rated 05 Jan 2014
Rated 19 Jun 2014
100
98th
The best Cohen Bros film. A pitch-perfect portrayal of why musicians sticking to the principle of only playing music that they love will rarely lead to success in an industry driven by cash-hungry label bosses. The story of Llewyn Davis tells us why money has transformed so many great movements into mediocre parody - why The Blues became Elvis, Funk became Disco, Rock became Oasis, Hip Hop became Gansta Pop
Rated 19 Jun 2014
Rated 07 Feb 2016
86
86th
Coen Brothers are so competent in pulling the strings of a story that it really feels like a very elaborate reality TV show (in a good sense). Llewyn is one of those people to whom bad things happen. He means well, but wherever he goes he just leaves a mess behind him. The way the music meshes so seamlessly with the story is really impressive. Also the performance of Goodman is amazing; he was around only about 25 minutes in multiple roles; but he put his stamp on the movie. Top tier Coen movie.
Rated 07 Feb 2016
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