The Cannes Review Report rounds up each day’s notable premieres, along with a sampling of their reviews and tweets from the south of France. Here’s the reaction to “Inside Llewyn Davis,” the latest film from the Coen Brothers.
“Inside Llewyn Davis“
Category: Competition
Directors: Joel and Ethan Coen
Starring: Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan, John Goodman
Synopsis: “‘Inside Llewyn Davis’ follows a week in the life of a young folk singer as he navigates the Greenwich Village folk scene of 1961. Llewyn Davis (Oscar Isaac) is at a crossroads. 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.”
Reviews:
Dave Calhoun, Time Out London:
“The Coens have given us a melancholic, sometimes cruel, often hilarious counterfactual version of music history.”
“A boldly original, highly emotional journey through Greenwich Village nightclubs, a bleak New York winter, and one man’s fraught efforts to reconcile his life and his art.”
“To call ‘Inside Llewyn Davis’ a minor work doesn’t render it any less a pleasure to watch.”
“A very funny and moving look at a folk artist whose sizable talent always lags behind his personal failings and bad luck.”
Kevin Jagernauth, The Playlist:
“It’s another excellent study from the filmmakers of an ordinary man caught in a tailspin.”
Craig Kennedy, Living in Cinema:
“It’s a beautiful, melancholy rumination on the capricious nature of success.”
Todd McCarthy, Hollywood Reporter:
“A gorgeously made character study leavened with surrealistic dimensions both comic and dark.”
Tweets:
“#Cannes2013 Coens’ INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS is a delight: typically quirky, funny, beautifully observed tale of a folk singer who wasn’t Dylan”
Raffi Asdourian, The Film Stage:
“Llewyn Davis is a bittersweet treat for fans of folk music + the best deadpan comedy in years. Still felt like minor Cohen Bros #cannes2013“
Alex Billington, First Showing:
“Inside Llewyn Davis – A breath of fresh air from Coens, a perfect period piece. Fun, tragic, earnest, enjoyed every last second. #cannes2013”
“Oh mon Dieu. The glorious Inside Llewyn Davis (dirs. Joel Coen, Ethan Coen) is the best thing at #Cannes2013! So far anyway”
“The Coen brothers’ Inside Llewyn Davis is a melancholic comic delight. Star-making performance from Oscar Issac, WONDERFUL tunes #Cannes2013“
“Adam Driver’s performance of “Please, Mr. Kennedy” in INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS is the greatest thing in the history of things.”
“INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS: On the knife edge between satire and homage, a primo Coens take on pre-Dylan NYC folk. And a scene-stealing cat. #C …”
“Saw #InsideLlewynDavis at #Cannes2013. Unplugged perfection from Coen bros: droll, dry & tender portrait of the artist & the time. #macleans”
“Calling it: The cat from INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS is this year’s Uggie. #cannes“
“Won’t try to review the Coen’s ’60s NYC movie INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS in 140 chars, except: Yes, terrific. Can’t wait to see it again.”
“As if I need to tell you how lovely The Coens’ Inside Llewyn Davis is! #Cannes2013“
“Loved LOVED Llewyn Davis. #swoon #cannes2013“
Jeffrey Wells, Hollywood Elsewhere:
“‘Inside Llewyn Davis’ is as perfectly & completely realized a Coen Brothers film as I’ve ever seen, but it’s about less being a lot more.”
Steven Zeitchik, Los Angeles Times:
“Inside Llewyn Davis is like A Serious Man, only with an outspoken folk singer instead of a professor. #Cannes2013”
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