1991, USA
Drama, Fantasy, Film Noir, Thriller
::Flick Quickie::
L.A. is Hell for New York playwright Barton Fink. However, he feels compelled to sell his soul to Hollywood in order to fund his future, more admirable endeavors. During his indefinite stay at the oddly empty Hotel Earle, he meets the ever-accommodating bellboy Chet (Coen brothers' quirky regular Steve Buscemi) and friendly neighbor Charlie Meadows, played with much warmth (yes, a pun) and compassion by John Goodman. John Turturro performs to his frantic best as the nebbish newbie screenwriter Fink. He adds his sole-less shoes to those of the numerous unseen patrons of the Earle, in the hopes that someday he may be able to fill them. Murder and mayhem abound in one of the Coen brothers' darkest tales and criticisms of the Hollywood machine.
Though recently re-released, the DVD is disappointedly sparse with extras, including trailers of other Coen films, deleted scenes, and a stills gallery. However, this is a brilliant film (evident by the fact that it swept the Cannes Film Festival) that should not be omitted from any true movie-lover's library.