Barton Fink 5 Star Movie Review
		Made: 1991 Cast: John Turturro, John Goodman, Judy Davis, John Mahoney Director: Joel and Ethan Coen         Screenwriter: Joel and Ethan Coen Cinemintographer: Roger Deakins Producer: Joel and Ethan Coen, Jim and Ted Pedas, Ben Barenholtz, Bill Durkin "I believe writing comes from a deep inner pain."
	Barton Fink is an artists movie. It is about artists- creators, people who "create" for a living, so I believe it appeals to this kind of person in turn. Not that it is inaccessible, but you have to "think" in this movie (oh no!). It sets up symbols and allegories that are meant to be funny and serious at the same time. This is also one of my favorite movies, and a lot of that comes from the fact that I agree with a lot of what they are saying.    The acting is great and the lead is played by John Turturro, one of the most underrated actors of our time. Some of his other great performances include Quiz Show, Do the Right Thing, 13 Conversations about One Thing, Miller's Crossing, and The Big Lebowski. He is the main character Barton Fink, who is starting off as a playwright in Hollywood. John Goodman is lovable and hated in his best movie role as a neighbor that is too helpful named Charlie. John Mahoney is excellent supporting as William Mayhew (a satire of William Faulkner) whom Barton talks to for advice but believes he is secretly smarter than. His secretary is the attractive Judy Davis, and Barton also believes he belongs with her in stead of Mayhew. Steve Buscemi has a very small but memorable part as Chet, the hotel helper person, one of his many small character roles before taking on larger roles in movies like Reservoir Dogs and Fargo (later he also became a notable director).    The film is based in the 40's and is very much a satire on mainstream, Hollywood film making. At the same time however, it is pretentious for the sake of being pretentious and includes obvious scenes thrown in just to do so, so it makes fun of itself. The best "arty" movies have to know that what they are doing is a little silly, and the best ones do. Annie Hall, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Apocalypse Now, Pulp Fiction, Sunset Boulevard, Stranger than Paradise, look at these films and you'll realize Barton Fink is the same as them, modern storyline disguising a higher meaning. 2001 for example is only a "space odyssey" because of the way it is spaced out, see what i mean?    Make no mistake though, Barton Fink is about those guys we all hate- huge egos, they think they know everything. They "just don't get it". People like that will never change, they exist in their own world and think they have more to offer than anyone else; basically Fink is selfish. The common man he writes for? He just wants to lord over them. He is hired to write a B-picutre about a cliched wrestler because that is what Hollywood makes, but he writes some pretentious b.s. about "wrestling with your soul". That's pretty funny but it also defines what Barton does through this whole movie. Charlie notices this and also tempts him by saying "I could tell you some stories", and I am sure he could........    The movie asks important questions: what is reality in this movie, or anywhere for that matter? Does this devil really exist? Does Barton get the girl? Does the movie studio kiss artists' feet? Well, you see what you wanna see. It is a very laid back film and it does not force opinions on you. It is also kind of slow paced but not boring at all, especially after the twist ending (the best twist of any movie I have ever seen). It all kind of makes sense in retrospect- the film reaches a good ending where Barton gets trapped in his own personal hell; the girl at the end appears in the world of the picture on the wall (how he escapes reality); Satan is always there, if you can sell out and steep that low...    To say the Coen Bros. are all style and no substance is ridiculous. I'm sorry, but it is, and many people state that. People need to respect the style and courage in which they make films because they are the best we have got these days. Look at these films: dramas like Fargo and No Country for Old Men, genre flicks like Miller's Crossing and Blood Simple , comedies like Raising Arizona and The Big Lebowski. All have their own uniqueness, each of us have our personal favorites (maybe even the ones I didn't list). Joel and Ethan's style draws form the best in the business and they make it their own better than almost anyone I can think of. Style over substance? These are great stories! Barton Fink is the oddest movie they have made to be sure but it serves as they're own personal allegory of misplacement in the world. I recommend this movie to anyone who thinks movies are more than just "entertainment".