Oscar Isaac
Carey Mulligan
John Goodman
Garrett Hedlund
F. Murray Abraham
Justin Timberlake

Joel Coen
Ethan Coen

104 mins.
Drama, Music
December 6, 2013

Rated R for language including some sexual references. (MPAA)

“Inside Llewyn Davis” is the quintessential filmic expression of folk music, which is at the center of its story. This film is at its best when Llewyn is moving from place to place in Manhattan (Greenwich Village, mostly) trying to find a place to sleep and a way to make money playing music.

It’s also at its best when music’s being played (one humorous highlight in this film is the recording of “Please Mr. Kennedy” at Columbia Records performed by Oscar Isaac, Justin Timberlake, and Adam Driver from HBO’s “Girls”). The music was recorded live with one exception (according to Wikipedia), and it’s really well-done. You may like it, even if you don’t typically like folk music.

In a way, this is the story of a struggling artist trying to simultaneously escape and find a place to belong. (This is echoed with warmth and humor by Ulysses the Cat’s constant need to run away; but don’t worry, he comes back at the end.)

The middle of this film is its weakest part, because it loses its connection to those folk rhythms. Now, I’m not saying that the middle’s bad; it just loses some of the charm and buoyancy (John Goodman and F. Murray Abraham, notwithstanding) that preceded it. But the events in the middle of the film do ground the film a bit and allow for an ending with depth. By the end, we’re eventually brought back to the first few moments of the film – a nice touch.

Like folk music, “Inside Llewyn Davis” handles the struggles of life with a gentle touch. There are serious issues presented as Llewyn tries to figure out what to do next, but this film doesn’t beat you over the head with just how hard his life must be. It’s there, but it’s treated with a gently humorous tone and a matter-of-fact attitude.

Unlike “Her,” this film manages to maintain its narrative momentum (especially during its first half and at its end) while having, again, a mostly gentle tone. When the relatively explosive moments happen, they don’t feel forced at all. Those expert transitions show just how good the Coens are at making films and just how good the cast is. (Isaac is definitely this film’s lead; he earns his check. By the way, he was Standard Gabriel in “Drive,” and his singing voice reminds me of Marc Broussard.)

“Inside Llewyn Davis” charmed me.

Verdict: Very Good

About: (Source: insidellewyndavis)

Inside Llewyn Davis follows a week in the life of a young folk singer as he navigates the Greenwich Village folk scene of 1961. Guitar in tow, huddled against the unforgiving New York winter, he is struggling to make it as a musician against seemingly insurmountable obstacles—some of them of his own making.