The Coen Brothers' America

Nonfiction, Entertainment, Performing Arts, Film
Cover of the book The Coen Brothers' America by M. Keith Booker, Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: M. Keith Booker ISBN: 9781538120873
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers Publication: May 24, 2019
Imprint: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers Language: English
Author: M. Keith Booker
ISBN: 9781538120873
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
Publication: May 24, 2019
Imprint: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
Language: English

For more than three decades, Joel and Ethan Coen have produced some of the most unique and thought-provoking works in modern cinema. In broad comedies such as Raising Arizona, violent thrillers like No Country for Old Men, and black comedies such as Fargo, the filmmakers have offered brilliant takes on a variety of film genres. One of the most distinctive features of their movies is their skewed view of America itself.

In The Coen Brothers’ America, M. Keith Booker discusses feature films produced by the pair since their 1984 debut Blood Simple. The author focuses on how the Coen brothers’ films engage with American cultural history and are embedded in specific geographical settings. From New York to Los Angeles, from Texas to Minnesota, the Coens capture the essence of real locations from unusual angles, which often make the films appear as if they are taking place in an alternate reality. In addition, many of the brothers’ films are steeped in America’s cultural past, from the deep south of the 1930s in O Brother, Where Art Thou to the Greenwich Village of the 1960s in Inside Llewyn Davis. The Coens make particularly effective use of films from Hollywood’s Golden Age, producing their own updated versions of such genres as film noir (The Man Who Wasn’t There), the Western (True Grit), and screwball comedy (The Hudsucker Proxy)—not to mention their idiosyncratic depictions of Hollywood itself in Barton Fink and Hail Caesar!

This book also explores how the Coens draw upon cultural phenomena outside of film, including literature, music, and television. Approaching each film within the framework of Ethan and Joel’s overall vision. The Coen Brothers’ America provides an entertaining look at the pair’s work that will appeal to scholars and fans alike.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

For more than three decades, Joel and Ethan Coen have produced some of the most unique and thought-provoking works in modern cinema. In broad comedies such as Raising Arizona, violent thrillers like No Country for Old Men, and black comedies such as Fargo, the filmmakers have offered brilliant takes on a variety of film genres. One of the most distinctive features of their movies is their skewed view of America itself.

In The Coen Brothers’ America, M. Keith Booker discusses feature films produced by the pair since their 1984 debut Blood Simple. The author focuses on how the Coen brothers’ films engage with American cultural history and are embedded in specific geographical settings. From New York to Los Angeles, from Texas to Minnesota, the Coens capture the essence of real locations from unusual angles, which often make the films appear as if they are taking place in an alternate reality. In addition, many of the brothers’ films are steeped in America’s cultural past, from the deep south of the 1930s in O Brother, Where Art Thou to the Greenwich Village of the 1960s in Inside Llewyn Davis. The Coens make particularly effective use of films from Hollywood’s Golden Age, producing their own updated versions of such genres as film noir (The Man Who Wasn’t There), the Western (True Grit), and screwball comedy (The Hudsucker Proxy)—not to mention their idiosyncratic depictions of Hollywood itself in Barton Fink and Hail Caesar!

This book also explores how the Coens draw upon cultural phenomena outside of film, including literature, music, and television. Approaching each film within the framework of Ethan and Joel’s overall vision. The Coen Brothers’ America provides an entertaining look at the pair’s work that will appeal to scholars and fans alike.

More books from Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

Cover of the book America's Failing Experiment by M. Keith Booker
Cover of the book Mothers of the Military by M. Keith Booker
Cover of the book The Epic in Film by M. Keith Booker
Cover of the book Historical Dictionary of U.S. Latino Literature by M. Keith Booker
Cover of the book The Practical Guide to Humanitarian Law by M. Keith Booker
Cover of the book Interpreting African American History and Culture at Museums and Historic Sites by M. Keith Booker
Cover of the book Sociality and Responsibility by M. Keith Booker
Cover of the book Contemporary China by M. Keith Booker
Cover of the book The Greatest College Football Rivalries of All Time by M. Keith Booker
Cover of the book The Ethics and Mores of Race by M. Keith Booker
Cover of the book Shared Vision by M. Keith Booker
Cover of the book Personality Type in Congregations by M. Keith Booker
Cover of the book Rage on the Right by M. Keith Booker
Cover of the book China's Political System by M. Keith Booker
Cover of the book Scale-Up in Education by M. Keith Booker
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy