Inside Llewyn Davis: Movie Review

“Inside Llewyn Davis”, the latest offering from Joel and Ethan Coen takes us through a week in the life of a folk singer during the Greenwich Village folk scene of 1961.   With what is one of the best performances of 2013, Oscar Isaac absolutely nails it as the title character who is struggling with every single aspect of his life. 

Llewyn Davis has had a tough time.  After his singing partner committed suicide, the folk singer has been living each day with less than a few dollars to his name, no coat for winter, and relying on the kindness of friends and strangers for a place to lay his head at night.  This includes Jean (Carey Mulligan) who is unsure if she is pregnant by Llewyn or her actual boyfriend Jim (Justin Timberlake).

Though, I wouldn’t actually call “Inside Llewyn Davis” a comedy, there are a handful of funny scenes, many of which include a cat that keeps popping up through the film.  One of the best things here is that the I kept finding myself surprised by the choices Davis makes throughout.  The further we get into the story, the more we learn about it, yet it still winds up shocking when he makes an important decision. 

“Inside Llewyn Davis” doesn’t really have a plot, it is more of a  week long journey beset by frustrating obstacles for the folk singer, and it is Isaac who pulls the whole thing together.  The Coen Brothers have directed a beautiful looking film and the music is simply fantastic, but without such a flawless performance from the lead, “Inside Llewyn Davis” would have had a much harder time retaining my interest.  Supporting cast which includes John Goodman and Garrett Hedlund are fine, but this is Isaac’s show.  Problems with the screenplay aside, “Inside Llewyn Davis” is a must see, so make sure to check it out this holiday season.

By: Marc Ferman