" Oh it's fare thee well my darlin' true,I'm leavin' in the first hour of the morn."

Rating: 10/10 (19 December 2015)

With Christmas coming up,I started looking for a Bob Dylan related item to pick up as a gift for a family friend. Struggling to find something a bit obscure,I suddenly remembered hearing about an unreleased version of the Dylan song Farewell being included on the soundtrack to a title from auteur film makers the Coen brothers.Being enchanted by the soundtrack,I decided that it was the perfect time to pick up the DVD,and finally meet Llewyn Davis.
The plot-
New York 1961:
After the suicide of his singing partner Mike Timlin,Folk singer/songwriter Llewyn Davis has been struggling to gain a foothold in the business. Bringing his first solo album out,Davis begins to lose all his hopes as his album fails to sell.Keeping an eye on every cent he has,Davis sleeps on the couches of friends and former lovers.
Leaving a friends flat behind,Davis is left having to carry their cat around,when it escapes just before he locks himself out. Dragging the cat and his guitar around the music scene,Davis meets former lover Jean,who asks Davis if he can cover the cost of her having an abortion,due to Jean believing that Davis is the guy who impregnated her. As he goes to pay the doctor for the abortion,Davis begins to seriously think about leaving the Folk music scene behind altogether.
View on the film:
Before I get to the film,I have to mention the extraordinary soundtrack from T Bone Burnett,with prime cut Folk tracks from Dylan and Dave Van Rock being joined by elegantly performed new songs performed by the cast,which fit perfectly within the era of the film.
Sitting in the corner of every run down café and coffee shop,co- writers/co-directors Ethan and Joel Coen & cinematographer Bruno Delbonnel soak the movie in a rich, atmospheric darkness,which creates the striking impression of faded photos being bought to life.Not keeping the title solely confined to the clubs,the Coen's compose Davis fading music dream with a rustic chill,which subtlety goes against the family warmth that Davis and the other musicians present in their songs.
For the screenplay,the Coen's take an excellent Folk song structure,by connecting Davis moments of doubt/loss of direction with deliciously dry,witty detours. Taking inspiration from real life people in the music scene,the Coen's pave Davis path with delightfully off-beat characters who go from a tight-fisted manager to an ex who never forgets.Pressing down on Davis dreams,the Coen's send their singer off on wonderful misadventures,which goes from Davis having to deal with a musician who dies from a heroin overdose,to a cat "changing sex" without him noticing.
Delicately performing each of the songs,the eye-catching Carey Mulligan gives an excellent performance as Jean,who Mulligan stops from appearing brittle by giving Jean a perfect "light touch" in seeing Davis hit a dead end.Being stuck with only a cat for company,Oscar Isaac gives a fantastic performance as Llewyn Davis.Perfectly hitting every dead pan one-liner,Isaac crosses the comedic verses with a rough round the edges folksy charm,as the crowds in the coffee bars and cafes prepare to uncover the inside of Llewyn Davis.