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| Scene from Inside Llewyn Davis |
Welcome to a weekly column called Theory Thursdays, which will be released every Thursday and discuss my "controversial opinion" related to something relative to the week of release. Sometimes it will be birthdays while others is current events or a new film release. Whatever the case may be, this is a personal defense for why I disagree with the general opinion and hope to convince you of the same. While I don't expect you to be on my side, I do hope for a rational argument. After all, film is a subjective medium and this is merely just a theory that can be proven either way.
Subject: Operation Finale is released in theaters this Wednesday.
Theory: Inside Llewyn Davis is Oscar Isaac's best film.
For modern film audiences, there's one agreed upon truth: Oscar Isaac is one of the most interesting actors currently going. Even with this weekend's Operation Finale, it seems promising solely because Isaac is the lead actor in it. But how exactly then do you dedicate a Theory Thursday column to a man who's best work is pretty much ahead of him, whether it's in the Star Wars franchise, or any various genre movie for A24 or any subsequent studio? He's done it all, and in such a short period. One has to wonder what he'll do next. On the bright side however, there's already one contender for a film that won't just be considered one of the highlights of this period, but it will be among his greatest work when looking back at his career in full.
Inside Llewyn Davis didn't exactly make Isaac a star. He had been acting quite frequently before that, turning in a memorable breakout role in 2011's Drive. However, it maybe was too ingenious to cast Isaac in one of his rare leads as a downtrodden musician. He has the face that looks like it has been worn out, even in still photography. It also helps that the co-directors Joel and Ethan Coen have a knack for great character actor performances, and this was their chance to work with Isaac before he would ever get involved with Star Wars and become more of a household name than he currently was. What's strange is that in all of the indie movies he's starred in the time surrounding his big break, there's only been a handful (i.e. Ex Machina) that were allowed to reflect his talent as something greater. Even then, Inside Llewyn Davis was a film that was unexpected in that a movie about the 60's folk scene wasn't a surefire hit. It also wasn't apparent that Isaac would be as charismatic as he has.
For all of the impressive talents that he brought to the other films, what gives this film an edge over its competitors is that it feels like a totally lived in performance. There's something remorseful that comes with his voice in the opening song "Hang Me Oh Hang Me." There hasn't been any story, but there's already the sense that everything is going to have a dour tone over it. There's something to the voice that sounds convincing, as if he's lived these sorrows before. Most of all, Isaac could play guitar very well, managing to make every strum feel like there was some long story to every chord decision. He wasn't just an actor playing the titular Llewyn Davis. He was a folk musician who was a bit wayward, barely missing out on the high point of folk music and as a result being forced to bum around in a series of absurd scenarios.
It shows in the way that he walks around with his guitar case, pushing through the heavy snow while couch surfing with strange people. He is a man who is convinced that his music means everything, but never gets the results he so desperately seeks. He keeps trying to get there, but sometimes you have to wonder why he doesn't stop. In a sense, it's why Isaac has the perfect face, managing to appear defeated with nothing more than a pair of lowered shoulders. However, he still tries to find meaning and purpose, if just because folk musician doesn't have the most financially stable career out there. His record producer is a bit discouraged with him being a solo act, if just because his deceased partner had more of the draw. There's almost no purpose to Llewyn Davis. He is the supporting character who needs a lead, and nobody wants to be his partner. It's exhausting and kind of pathetic, but never unbearable enough to make the film outright depressing.
It helps that Isaac has a great supporting cast, such as Carey Mulligan, Justin Timberlake, Adam Driver, F. Murray Abraham, John Goodman, and others. They all deliver great performances as the people with a superior air to their lives. They have things more figured out than Llewyn and they're not afraid to hang that over him. As a result, Llewyn has to be pitied without appearing arrogant. It helps that Isaac manages to deliver several powerful music performances within the film, resulting in a story that feels like it has unexplained subtext. We don't know much about Llewyn beyond this story, but there's also the sense that he's had so much of life that has spat on him. His personal life is a mess and his professional career is also lacking anything. He is the quintessential folk singer in that he is the downtrodden, even if the film's true irony is that he misses the big break for folk music as Bob Dylan performs at the same night club that he does as he's being kicked out and bruised on the street.
If nothing else, Inside Llewyn Davis is the most characteristically rich character that Isaac has yet to play. There are layers to his every move, and he manages to embody every element of the character with a passion that makes you root for him. It's great the The Coen Brothers never give him a break, as it helps to create a more perplexing character. While Isaac has several other performances that are great, few require so much out of him that makes it essential to the movie. He is the star of the film, and it would be easy to think that he would be Academy Award-nominated at some point. Unfortunately, that moment has yet to come. It's doubtful that Operation Finale will be that moment. However, he has more than enough material to prove that he's more than a fluke. He acts and sings so well that he makes a depressing story feel funny yet honest. He has a power that appears in his best work, even in the small cameos he makes in films like the uneven Suburbicon, and it's hard not to root for him. That would've been true even if Inside Llewyn Davis was the only film you've seen by him, but it's more true knowing that he has a lot of gems already on his resume.
Inside Llewyn Davis didn't exactly make Isaac a star. He had been acting quite frequently before that, turning in a memorable breakout role in 2011's Drive. However, it maybe was too ingenious to cast Isaac in one of his rare leads as a downtrodden musician. He has the face that looks like it has been worn out, even in still photography. It also helps that the co-directors Joel and Ethan Coen have a knack for great character actor performances, and this was their chance to work with Isaac before he would ever get involved with Star Wars and become more of a household name than he currently was. What's strange is that in all of the indie movies he's starred in the time surrounding his big break, there's only been a handful (i.e. Ex Machina) that were allowed to reflect his talent as something greater. Even then, Inside Llewyn Davis was a film that was unexpected in that a movie about the 60's folk scene wasn't a surefire hit. It also wasn't apparent that Isaac would be as charismatic as he has.
For all of the impressive talents that he brought to the other films, what gives this film an edge over its competitors is that it feels like a totally lived in performance. There's something remorseful that comes with his voice in the opening song "Hang Me Oh Hang Me." There hasn't been any story, but there's already the sense that everything is going to have a dour tone over it. There's something to the voice that sounds convincing, as if he's lived these sorrows before. Most of all, Isaac could play guitar very well, managing to make every strum feel like there was some long story to every chord decision. He wasn't just an actor playing the titular Llewyn Davis. He was a folk musician who was a bit wayward, barely missing out on the high point of folk music and as a result being forced to bum around in a series of absurd scenarios.
It shows in the way that he walks around with his guitar case, pushing through the heavy snow while couch surfing with strange people. He is a man who is convinced that his music means everything, but never gets the results he so desperately seeks. He keeps trying to get there, but sometimes you have to wonder why he doesn't stop. In a sense, it's why Isaac has the perfect face, managing to appear defeated with nothing more than a pair of lowered shoulders. However, he still tries to find meaning and purpose, if just because folk musician doesn't have the most financially stable career out there. His record producer is a bit discouraged with him being a solo act, if just because his deceased partner had more of the draw. There's almost no purpose to Llewyn Davis. He is the supporting character who needs a lead, and nobody wants to be his partner. It's exhausting and kind of pathetic, but never unbearable enough to make the film outright depressing.
It helps that Isaac has a great supporting cast, such as Carey Mulligan, Justin Timberlake, Adam Driver, F. Murray Abraham, John Goodman, and others. They all deliver great performances as the people with a superior air to their lives. They have things more figured out than Llewyn and they're not afraid to hang that over him. As a result, Llewyn has to be pitied without appearing arrogant. It helps that Isaac manages to deliver several powerful music performances within the film, resulting in a story that feels like it has unexplained subtext. We don't know much about Llewyn beyond this story, but there's also the sense that he's had so much of life that has spat on him. His personal life is a mess and his professional career is also lacking anything. He is the quintessential folk singer in that he is the downtrodden, even if the film's true irony is that he misses the big break for folk music as Bob Dylan performs at the same night club that he does as he's being kicked out and bruised on the street.
If nothing else, Inside Llewyn Davis is the most characteristically rich character that Isaac has yet to play. There are layers to his every move, and he manages to embody every element of the character with a passion that makes you root for him. It's great the The Coen Brothers never give him a break, as it helps to create a more perplexing character. While Isaac has several other performances that are great, few require so much out of him that makes it essential to the movie. He is the star of the film, and it would be easy to think that he would be Academy Award-nominated at some point. Unfortunately, that moment has yet to come. It's doubtful that Operation Finale will be that moment. However, he has more than enough material to prove that he's more than a fluke. He acts and sings so well that he makes a depressing story feel funny yet honest. He has a power that appears in his best work, even in the small cameos he makes in films like the uneven Suburbicon, and it's hard not to root for him. That would've been true even if Inside Llewyn Davis was the only film you've seen by him, but it's more true knowing that he has a lot of gems already on his resume.
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