Didn't get it

Rating: 2/10 (15 March 2014)

My problem with the film is that I didn't get the purpose of telling this story. You are supposed to understand without been told, but I didn't. For example, the music played by Llewyn vis a vis the other performers. Was his music good and the others' bad? Sometimes this distinction was for me clear, other times it wasn't, and I don't know if the auteurs knew that either, or left it as a subjective interpretation of the main character. Some of the music is clearly bad, and is presented as such, as for example the Please Mr. Kennedy song. Other music I'm not sure, including the song about Llewyn wanting to have wings to fly away. The hanging song and the one he sings to his father I believe were beautiful, and I believe are presented as such, but others may disagree.
I also didn't get the historic significance of folk music in the 60's, and whether a guy like Dylan was discovered while guys like Llewyn never got off the ground did not resonate with me. And I agree the film fails miserably to capture this world of folk music. If you are a fan of this music, you might find the Coens' viewpoint cynic, sarcastic, condescending, and downright insulting. Then again, these are the Coens we are talking about.
Back to the question, what was the purpose of the film? I've been a huge fan of the Coens since Blood Simple, but have later begin to tame my admiration since even as the master directors, technicians and story-tellers they are, like Kubrick (except maybe his Paths of Glory) and Hitchcock, they seem to lack a loving soul, as others have pointed out long ago. Their style is detached, with a nihilistic viewpoint from up above, with little to no sympathy. You can say most of his films are dead inside. There's no love in his films, and therefore it isn't hard to believe the Coens are two smart-ass juvenile genius pricks who believe themselves superior.
During the trip to Chicago I thought the Coens were going back to their story telling style in Barton Fink, a film I hugely admire. This film however fell way short. One thing may be true, and that is that the Coens believe they have the knowledge of a superior truth just like Barton. Then again, as it has constantly been their theme, they are not oblivious and emphasize the reality that crashes most dreams. But it would be remarkable if for once we get to see them bare pieces of their souls, if any, or I they will always stay in this very personal but at the end adolescent way and style of art and film.