"So did you bring your dick along too?"

Rating: 8/10 (22 May 2015)

A second viewing of 'Inside Llewyn Davis' did not leave me as impressed as the first time. The squabbles between Llewyn and Jean felt rather inane; "It takes two to tango" must be the appropriate bottom line there especially when in the end, Jean seems to have no problem sleeping with Pappi just for a gig. Then there's the casting of Oscar Isaac, who does not resemble a New Yorker with Welsh roots at all, as far as I can tell. The'incredible journey', as a movie poster in the film suggests at some point, was not all thát incredible.
But, with all that being said, 'Inside...' is still a pretty good, somber and moody piece of slow cinema, taking place in an interesting era in America. The songs are all well done, the supporting roles are just fine (John Goodman's is near perfect even), and Oscar Isaac carries the lead with verve - even if it is hard at times to feel compassion for this wayward wanderer. I read that both his character, based on the actual Dave Van Ronk, and the portrayal of The Village in New York at that time, were very much subject to the artistic interpretation of the Coens. So be it, it is still an atmospheric trip through time.
A solid 8 out of 10, with which I have come to the end of my trip through the Coens oeuvre from 1984 to 2013. I'm not much looking forward to their upcoming effort 'Hail Caesar!' - due to a mostly unpromising cast - but I will at least try the trailer when it's out, and take it from there.