Does the Coens brothers use of crazed and unconventional characters in their filmography make them a modern day auteur?
Films:
Item 1 - O Brother, Where Art Thou? ( The Coen Brothers, 2000)
I chose this film as my focus film as it is one of the main films produced and directed by the Coen Brothers which portrays a lot of the Coen's auteur themes, most importantly unconventional characters. For example the main characters being prisoners shows how the brothers use flawed male protagonists in their filmography but also make them likeable to the audience.
Item 2 - Fargo ( The Coen Brothers, 1996)
This film shows more depth in the theme of unconventional characters as there are three main characters which portray this. For example the character of Carl shows how a conventionally 'bad' character can become likeable from the Coen's portrayal of them. As well as this the film also shows the early development of the Coen's style of directing/producing, this I believe is important in relation to why they use unconventional characters repeatedly through their filmography.
Item 3 - Raising Arizona ( The Coen Brothers, 1987)
This is my final film as it presents clearly how the Coen brothers incorporate flawed yet likeable characters into their productions,
Websites:
Item 4 - http://www.cinelinx.com/movie-stuff/item/9019-directors-trademarks-the-coen-brothers.html
Item 5 - http://sensesofcinema.com/2003/great-directors/coens/
This article discusses the narratives, characters and themes running throughout the Coen's films, this is important as its content it relevant to the characters behaviours therefore relating to my question.
Item 6 - Ateur theory in film criticism (a2 film blog)- ://h2g2.com/edited_entry/A22928772
This article explains the auteur theory in relation to film criticism, this is relevant i can relate this to my study of the Coen Brothers.
Item 7 - Why the best Nicholas Cage performance is in 'raising Arizona' http://uproxx.com/movies/nicolas-cage-raising-arizona-medium/2/
By explaining cage's performance in raising Arizona, this article helps a lot with information regarding the creation of the characters in item 3.
Item 8 - Auteurism in today's hollywood - http://theconversation.com/o-coens-what-art-thou-auteurism-in-todays-hollywood-26558
This resource explains how the Coen's have incorporated a 'recognisable contemporary style' into their filmography throughout their career. This links to how the Coen's are described as auteurs therefore important to my research.
This article explains how, in multiple ways, the Coen's are considered to be modern day auteurs
in many aspescts such as shooting, directing, producing and also, most important to my study, script writing and character building.
'In many ways, the Coen brothers are true modern day auteurs. From pre-production, through shooting, to post-production they are in total control of their films...Overall, it is fairly easy to spot
their unique fingerprints and ways of doing things on each of their films.'
The story in their films usually starts out with an average Joe who gets involved in a complex scheme that appears to be simple at first, but, in all reality, is totally beyond them. The character of The Dude refers to this in The Big Lebowski.'
Item 11 - http://sensesofcinema.com/2017/cteq/raising-arizona/
This source explains the repetitive aspects in the Coen's filmography such as characters and common themes, therefore I believe this source will be important to my research.
Books:
Item 12 - Joel and Ethan Coen, written by Ellen Cheshire and John Ashbrook
This resource contains information on a variety of the Coens films, in relation to the development of the plot, cast and setting as well as many other things. This will be beneficial to me as, as previously stated, the book contains information on all the Coen Brothers films I am including in my project.
Item 13 - The Cinema Book - Pam Cook, Mieke Bernink 1999 (auteur theory)
This book contains information on the auteur theory and its origin as well as authorship in hollywood, this will be important
Item 14 - The Idiotically Criminal Universe of the Brothers Coen By J.Madison Davis
This resource contains a lot of information useful for my question for example it explains the Coens 'consistency' in their work in regards to characterisation, genres and themes. 'Their main characters are usually lovable idiots who find themselves drawn into various criminal enterprises' - This backs up my question as it highlights the consistent use of these 'lovable' yet criminal characters throughout their filmography. This article I think will help greatly as it discusses a wide range of the Coens Filmography in regards to the auteur theory.
Item 15 - The Coen Brothers "Fargo" - Edited by William Luhr
Item 16 - The Coen Brothers - Ronald Bergan
This book contains relevant information on all major films produced by the Coen Brothers, it also mentions their 'distinctive stamp - a flamboyant visual style' and how this links to their mass success. This source will be important to me as I am researching three major films all mentioned in the book.
Interviews:
Item 17 - The Coen Brothers and Frances McDormand interview on 'Fargo' (1997)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FW0NG-CGGRM
This interview with both Ethan and Joel Coen as well as a leading actor in Fargo shows how the characters were formed as well as the setting and dialects. This is useful as it explores the characters personalities and behaviours in relation to other Coen films as well as the setting of Minnesota.
Item 18- The Coen Brothers and cast interview on O Brother where art thou (2000) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERXsHcCmXek
This interview is with both Ethan and Joel Coen as well as a leading actor in a few of their films, this interview took place in 2000 - the year in which O Brother was released. This interview is important as the creation of the characters in O Brother Where Art Thou are discussed, this will be important as it is relevant to my topic of unconventional characters.
Item 19 - Written interview script with the Coen Brothers - https://issuu.com/lafamiliafilm/docs/192746210-interview-with-joel-and-e
In this interview both Joel and Ethan Coen discuss their planning behind the creation of their distinctive characters, how they did so, and where their inspiration came from. This is important for my studies as I am looking into the specific characters portrayed in their films and how this is passed on throughout their filmography.
Videos:
Item 20 - Fargo - Mortality in the Coen Brother's World - (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NuXXeOw5P7w)
This clip references the characters behaviours in 'Fargo' - such as how they are all perceived as 'Perfect' and happy with the underlying issue of murder. I believe this will be beneficial to my assignment as the interview is in relation to the characters as a main focus.
Item 21- http://www.indiewire.com/2014/11/watch-20-minute-auteur-analysis-of-the-coen-brothers-career-269800/
This source is an auteur analysis on the Coen's career, it focuses on how the characters are made and their part in the films. 'their tendency to create existentially confused protagonists who are out of step with the socially accepted madness that surrounds them' Here this backs up my initial question therefore this source will be important for my research.
Rejected Items:
The big Lebowski (1998)
I was originally going to use the film 'the big Lebowski' however after researching the film I decided that 'O Brother Where art Thou' portrays unconventional characters better. This is in regards to the characters like ability despite being conventionally 'bad' characters.
Does the Coens brothers use of crazed and unconventional characters in their filmography make them a modern day auteur?
Presentation script:
Speaker: All three of my focus films are good examples of how the Coen Brothers repeatedly use crazed and unconventional male protagonists throughout their filmography, however make them relatable to the audience. 'Their main characters are usually lovable idiots who find themselves drawn into various criminal enterprises' (item 14)
