Barton Fink (1991)

From NetFlix:

Idealistic playwright Barton Fink (John Turturro) believes writing should reveal the hopes, dreams and tragedies of the common man. When Hollywood taps him to write a movie, Fink develops severe writer’s block and soon falls victim to a strange sequence of events. Unable to combine his deep-seated ethics with Tinseltown’s frivolity, the disillusioned and desperate Fink winds up involved in a murder investigation in this Oscar-nominated dramedy.

In the “NY Times Best 1000” the review for this film raves about this exhilarating original by the Coen Brothers. Therefore I dutifully sat through the entire film. I admit that I could not stay bored for any long stretch because something unusual will soon pop up. John Goodman, not John Turturro, carries the show. John Turturro mostly just sits and stares. I was disappointed in Tony Shalhoub whom I almost did not recognize and who overacted terribly. Judy Davis’ appearance has not changed much over the years, but then 1991 today is only about 20 years ago.

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