Inside LLewyn Davis
Inside Llewyn Davis is Joel & Ethan Cohen’s latest movie written and directed by the brothers and
starring Guatemalan-American actor and singer Oscar Isaac as Llewyn Davis a struggling New York folk singer / songwriter who is struggling to find himself in the harsh winter of the 1961 Greenwich village folk scene after former friend and musical partner Mike Timlin committed suicide and Llewyn's latest album "Inside Llewyn Davis" isn't selling very well Davis is forced to try and scrape together enough money just to survive. The movie is fictional although it is loosely based on the autobiography of American folk singer Dave Van Ronk in fact the movies poster is loosely based on Van Ronk's album "Inside Dave Von Ronk" Davis is struggling to accept his former partners death and as he harsh winter starts rolling in with little or no money Llewyn is forced to find a bed at various friends or acquaintances as he bounces from the villages many baskethouses to an audition in Chicago for an established music mogul Bud Grossman (F. Murray Abraham) trying to succeed in one of the few things he's actually good becomes increasingly hard but Davis refuses to sell out his musical roots as the people want a more modern style of music or catchy jingles Davis is keeping to his preferred original authentic folk style. |
The movie is a far cry from what you think you know about the American folk scene in the a
Early 1960's in fact if it's movie about big breaks and happy ever afters you’re looking for then this defiantly isn't that film. Isaac is absolutely mesmerising as Davis and all the songs in the movie where played and recorded live for the soundtrack adding to the realty of the film and helping the viewer transport themselves to the 1960's. There is also a strong cast behind Isaac including Carey Mulligan as Jean Berkey a folk singer who Llewelyn has managed to sleep with behind her husband Jim (Justin Timberlake) back and as she doesn't know who the farther is Jean is forced to seek Llewelyn's help is having an abortion. The movie also sees the versatile John Goodman as a Jazz musician by the name of Roland Turner who joins Davis on his trip to the Chicago. There is also some fantastic performances from all the cast. Marcus Mumford form English folk band Mumford & Sons also lends his hand as associate musical producer on the film. The film is beautifully shot capturing the era totally in fact every scene could quite easily be an album cover or insert of various records com that era. Inside Llewyn Davis is deep sad funny look at the 1960's folk scene that went on to yield some of Americas finest musicians of the that era including the likes of Bob Dylan and in fine Cohen brothers from this film will leave the audience still thinking about the film for weeks after they have finished watching it. |