In all three of the films we watched, there was one or more characters that held a certain "magnetic" personality. (dictionary definition for charismatic). The Coen brothers seem to have the amazing ability to conjure up characters with whom the audience feels and connects with.
In "Raising Arizona", H.I. and Ed are both characters who come off as friendly and ordinary people. Even though they do the extraordinary thing of stealing a baby, the Coen brothers still make them seem as loveable characters and almost pass the baby stealing as a a sort of humorous plot but only in search for the "perfect Family" that the Mcdonough's so badly want... another attribute that makes the characters more likable.
Jerry Lundegaard, an auto-insurance salesman, also is depicted as such a loveable character in that all of the audience loves William H. Macy. His accent and friendliness make his character appeal to the average viewer. Again, even though he is doing such a horrible activity like fixing to have his wife kidnapped in "Fargo", the Coen brothers again can make the illegal activity irrelivant to the characters in the film. We still love how Jerry carries himself and how everything just goes to crap for him.
lastly, in "No Country for Old Men", Tommy Lee Jones character is charasmatic in that his persona is so sad and depressing towards the end of the film, that the viewer wants him to be happy and we begin to feel sorry for him. This one being the smallest of the three films, but still being charismatic, the Coen brothers really spark emotions with the two long dialogue sequences involving Tommy at the end of the film. We really start to side with him and his cop profession. its hard to have the movie end on such a sad note
very fun unit and i wish we could do "Big Lebowski" and even more Coen Brothers films. Best unit of the year!!!
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2 comments:
Dan I agree with you that the Coen Brothers create a lot of loveable characters who the audience connects with. But I don't think that Jerry, from Fargo, was at all loveable. Marge was the loveable one. I think they were making fun of Jerry throughout the film
Dan i would agree with you that the Coen bros conjure up characters that the audience feels for even though they are "bad people." They do a very good job in their movies getting you on one side or the other. Like when we watched No Counrty for Old Men I felt bad for Sigure...just kidding
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