A2 Film Studies: September 2011

Friday, 23 September 2011

Here are some of the initials research sources I had found, but have chosen not to use for my research for varying reasons.

http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9803e1da1f39f93ba35750c0a960958260

This is a review that was published after Fargo's release in 1996. Whilst it is interesting to read the early reactions to the film, it doesn't give much more information on Marge as some of the other websites.

The official site for the Coen Brothers which has an archive of posts for each of their films. However, the section for The Big Lebowski is mainly promotional, as it advertises merchandise relating to the film. It's not relevant to what I'm studying.

A review of True Grit featured in Sight and Sound magazine. It's an interesting and well-written review, but it doesn't say enough about Mattie Ross. However, there is an interesting quote - "“I would not rest easy until that… cur was roasting and screaming in hell!” Is she, then, kin to Fargo’s Marge Gunderson or No Country for Old Men’s Anton Chigurh?"

I remember this site being interesting in relation to the portrayal of feminist characters, however the website isn't loading anymore.

Fargo (character: Marge Gunderson played by Frances McDormand)
http://www.filmsite.org/fargo.html

It contains in depth plot details, helping to better understand the story. Also it picks out many key characters quotes. This website looks at many films in the same way, so the writer seems to be well informed.

Interesting descriptions of Marge - "No matter how gruesome it gets, she refuses to rest until these criminals are brought to justice. She is honest, intelligent and relentless, but in a sweet, unassuming way. She is brilliantly funny and intensely serious. A tough line to walk that she seems to do effortlessly."

This website compares biblical representation to the film, and whilst it's a bit too deep for my project, it raises many interesting ideas about the character that I can look further into. However, it is just someone's opinion and what they have found from the film.

A preview of a book about Fargo, with an interesting chapter called 'The Quiet Triumph of the Maternal in Fargo'. This is probably the most relevant source to my project and I'm going to look into buying this book.

'York Film Notes - Fargo'

A book in the college library that looks into Fargo in context and at deeper meaning of every aspect. There are relevant chapters about characters and stereotypes.

The Big Lebowski (Character: The Dude played by Jeff Bridges)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEVfM3HL-ic

An interview with the Coen Brothers about The Big Lebowski. This looks to be an insightful interview and I'm sure there'll be plenty I can learn about The Dude.

'The Making of Joel & Ethan Coen's The Big Lebowski'

Another book from the college library that gives an insight into what inspired the Coens to write their characters, plus many quotes from them. Also it talks about the Dude's clothes and what they represent.

True Grit (Character: Mattie Ross played by Hailee Steinfeld)
http://www.philmology.com/?p=1075

This article compares the gender representation in the original True Grit (1969, which I have also seen) and the Coen Brothers' version. It looks a lot at Mattie's actions and what kind of girl it makes her. The writer of this article runs his website which he claims looks at the "philosophy of film" so this source must be quite useful, as he is experienced.

An interview with Hailee Steinfeld, who plays Mattie Ross, in which she discusses her character and her portrayal of her. "Aint-it-cool" is quite a renowned site for movie fans and it has been running for many years.

No Country for Old Men (Character: Anton Chigurh played by Javier Bardem)
http://goodreasonblog.blogspot.com/2010/01/no-country-for-old-men-coin-toss-scene.html

The writer has looked into a key scene of Anton's in depth, and it will prove useful when researching his character. It's written by someone who has just watched the film, and while it's clear they're not a film expert, they work as a linguist, so it's good to get a different prospective.

Sight and Sound magazine

The Coen Brothers were the cover feature of this issue of Sight and Sound magazine, upon release of No Country for Old Men. It's useful to see how they adapted the character, as they based the film on a book. This is a reliable source because it is a published magazine that is very popular with film and media students.

Interesting review of the film. The BFI is the British Film Institute, which is very popular for its film archive and learning resources.

An episode of The Film Programme in which The Coen Brothers are interviewed about No Country For Old Men. They discuss the different elements of the film (horror, dark comedy) and the alternate ending. It is interesting to hear their thoughts about their adapted film. Also, it is the BBC so this is a very valuable source for my work.

The Coen Brothers

The Coen Brothers by Ronald Bergan.

A book from the college library that explores their filmography and how their films came to be. The author expresses his own opinions as well as including quotes from the Joel and Ethan themselves, and the people they've worked with. Most notably, it is interesting to read interviews with Frances McDormand because she has played a major part in their success and she is married to Joel, so she can offer information on both their personal life and their career.

How are lead characters represented in the films of the Coen Brothers?

Films: