Review: Inside Llewyn Davis (2013)

Inside Llewyn Davis (2013)

The Coen brother's Inside Llewyn Davis may be one of the filmmakers' most underrated gems. The story of Greenwich Village folk singer, Llewyn Davis, never seems overly profound or layered, however, under the surface of the film lies a poetic folk tale about one man's struggle to break out of the cyclical struggle of his life and also about the momentous shifting of the world of folk music in the early 1960's. It would not be surprising for many viewers to be slightly put-off by the film's underhanded nature but this classical tall tale (a common theme throughout Coen brothers filmography) is rife for dissection, enjoyment and multiple viewings and listenings. 

The story of Llewyn Davis (portrayed marvellously by Oscar Isaac) unfolds organically; he is a talented folk singer who had a string of hits with his former singer partner but, at the start of the film, he is down on his luck and trying to restart/maintain his career. The pieces of his career and life are only gleaned through his interactions with others and, it is clear, that the feelings that others hold towards him run across the entire continuum. Davis goes night to night sleeping on others' couches (even ones he has just met), he plays gigs and takes other small jobs to earn a livelihood and he forever tries to catch his friends' tabby cat that he accidentally let escape from the apartment. The film is a long desolate journey, filled with fantastic folk music, and expertly crafted characters and dialogue. The narrative is straightforward but, ultimately, not so. Davis operates like a folk hero himself while he and his compatriots sing their own versions of old folks songs - that is, up until the final scene with its real life singer cameo that cements the thesis and meaning of this dense film.

The cast of Inside Llewyn Davis is one of the best of any Coen brothers, in part, due to the cast's incredible and real singing and music. Isaac is utterly believable as the deeply flawed titular star and as a true-to-form folk star. Along for the ride are Carey Mulligan, Justin Timberlake, John Goodman, Garrett Hedlund, Adam Driver, F. Murray Abraham, Max Casella, and more. Each are memorable in their small but important roles as they orbit around the star that is Llewyn Davis who is forever seemingly ready to implode into supernova. While the music is easy to drift into (a purposeful juxtaposition to the story), the film itself is one that demands contemplation and reflection upon completion. Inside Llewyn Davis is an oft-overlooked masterpiece; it is entertaining, perceptive, haunting and deep, with incredible performances, writing, and cinematography. It is more-than-anything-else one that demands viewership.