[GOP Poet]

The mark of a truly great filmmaker (or plural in this case.) Here's a thread about a political topic that was addressed by two outstanding filmmakers and writers. They one make an intelligent, (and for Hollywood) courageous, common sense point. But most people in the thread--on this political website--comment mostly on the outstanding work they as filmmakers and writers have given to us. THOSE are the people that deserve the big awards for their craft. As THEY ARE THE OUTSTANDING ARTISTS that deserve them. As they have profoundly impressed us with their work in the field. We can't help but engage in discussion their great work.

It is the average to not so great 'political' artists such as Spike Lee that NEED to be TALKING politics as he rarely if ever says succinctly or successfully with his craft what he begs to communicate to the people. Then he DEMANDS to be noticed and rewarded in his craft DESPITE his lack of brilliance and lasting impact of his work as a filmmaker/writer.

The Cohens focus on their work and let the work speak for itself. And so it does and this is what they are noted for. Notice too how succinctly, honestly, and intelligently they make their political point and move on to what they love to do--make films.

And the Academy Award goes to . . .

[wardaddy]

I like much of the dryness of their movies and the steady nod to noir

But the texture is so cool

In their period pieces like Millers and O Brother and True Grit they move very deliberately and it’s feel accurate and genuine

The tragic or near tragic comedies like Blood and Raising and The Dude

They are really cool and not obnoxiously political

I never saw Fink....I don’t cotton to Turturro

God love em

[ek_hornbeck]

Can you imagine how up in arms the Spike Lees and Chris Rocks would be if they made satirical movies about blacks? In other words, there's nothing any non-black could do that would make these types happy.

In any case, the Coen brother's first film, and in my opinion one of their best (thanks primarily to the underrated M. Emmet Walsh's performance as the psychopathic private detective) was Blood Simple, which was about Texans rather than Minnesotans or Jews.