I couldn't help thinking during the fiery hallway scene that this in fact represented Barton Fink's own self imposed exile into the confines of hell, if not willingly, at least metaphorically in keeping with his original mission. You see, Fink (John Turturro) was in Hollywood to capitalize on his hit stage play success, only to fall victim to the 'common man', read that 'lowest common denominator' syndrome. Could there be anything lower than coming up with a wrestling film for Wallace Beery? He actually did one you know, 1932's "Flesh", but that's another story.
I don't know what it was about Turturro's appearance in the film, it reminded me of a cross between Roy Orbison and Elvis Costello. But he has the conflicted writer business down solid, with a writer's block that just won't quit. It would have been easy if only he took Mayhew's (John Mahoney) advice - "Well me, I just enjoy making things up." Intead, holding to his ideals of artistic integrity, Barton is doomed to police investigations, an affair that turns deadly, and a dreaded head in a box. Come on now, you know there's one in there.
You know, sometimes a film has a scene that you can just watch over and over again. I might be the only one on this, but I could do the same with Judy Davis's introduction in the story as Mayhew's secretary/lover Audrey. Just watch her face and mannerisms as she greets Fink at the door, they're priceless. Now Mayhew, every time he went into one of his drunken jags, he sounded to me just like Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson.
Great performances all around here. Turtorro goes without saying, but John Goodman, Tony Shalhoub, Michael Lerner, all brilliant characterizations. Steve Buscemi looked a little like the Gollum character from 'Lord of the Rings', now there would have been a casting coup.
Give the Coen Brothers some credit, they put memorable characters up on the screen with memorable stories. My favorite is still "Miller's Crossing", but this is right up there with the best. And if you think about that dance hall scene with the two military branches going at it, there was just enough grappling going on to give Barton the inspiration he needed for the wrestling flick, if only he could stoop so low.
I don't know what it was about Turturro's appearance in the film, it reminded me of a cross between Roy Orbison and Elvis Costello. But he has the conflicted writer business down solid, with a writer's block that just won't quit. It would have been easy if only he took Mayhew's (John Mahoney) advice - "Well me, I just enjoy making things up." Intead, holding to his ideals of artistic integrity, Barton is doomed to police investigations, an affair that turns deadly, and a dreaded head in a box. Come on now, you know there's one in there.
You know, sometimes a film has a scene that you can just watch over and over again. I might be the only one on this, but I could do the same with Judy Davis's introduction in the story as Mayhew's secretary/lover Audrey. Just watch her face and mannerisms as she greets Fink at the door, they're priceless. Now Mayhew, every time he went into one of his drunken jags, he sounded to me just like Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson.
Great performances all around here. Turtorro goes without saying, but John Goodman, Tony Shalhoub, Michael Lerner, all brilliant characterizations. Steve Buscemi looked a little like the Gollum character from 'Lord of the Rings', now there would have been a casting coup.
Give the Coen Brothers some credit, they put memorable characters up on the screen with memorable stories. My favorite is still "Miller's Crossing", but this is right up there with the best. And if you think about that dance hall scene with the two military branches going at it, there was just enough grappling going on to give Barton the inspiration he needed for the wrestling flick, if only he could stoop so low.