Not one of the Coen Brothers' best films

Rating: 4/10 (9 November 2013)

I hate to say it, but from all the Coen Brothers-films I've seen, I liked this one the least. It lacks some essential Coen Brothers-features, like bizarre characters, crazy plot twists and visual exuberance. 'Inside Llewyn Davis' is a rather plain film, sometimes even boring. I wouldn't have thought I would ever have to say that about a Coen Brothers-movie, but there you go.
The film shows New York folk singer Llewyn Davis, who is a loser in every possible way. He has no commercial success, he has no money, he sleeps on couches at friends' and friends-of-friends' places, and he constantly quarrels with everyone he meets. This could be entertaining if it would lead to funny situations, interesting insights or dramatic developments, which it does not. There is a sort of running gag with a cat, but these jokes are very predictable and simply not very funny.
The biggest problem with this film is the storyline. There is none to speak of. We see Llewyn riding the subway, walking the streets, sleeping on couches and quarreling with friends and relatives. The only time something actually happens is when he goes on a trip to Chicago, but even that turns out to be aimless. Oh yes, and we see Llewyn Davis singing. There is a lot of music in the film. That's great if you like sixties-style folk singing (men with acoustic guitars in the style of Pete Seeger or pre-electric Bob Dylan), which I don't. Even the actors don't really stand out, with the exception of John Goodman. His performance brings back the real Coen Brothers-feeling, but is rather short.
This film can be appreciated as a reconstruction of the sixties folk scene in New York. The character of Llewyn Davis is inspired by Dave Van Ronk, a long-forgotten singer who was essential to the New York folk scene. I suppose there are lots of references to real-life people and events from that scene, but from the Coen Brothers I expected more than just a film for fans of sixties folk music.