In 2013, Isaac starred in the dramatic comedy film "Inside Llewyn Davis", written and directed by the Coen brothers, where he played a talented yet unsuccessful folk singer in Greenwich Village in 1961. The film won the Grand Prix at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival. For the role of Llewyn, Isaac was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy at the 2014 Golden Globes. He costarred with Jessica Chastain in J. C. Chandor's film "A Most Violent Year" (2014), replacing actor Javier Bardem.