The Coen Brothers

by Dan Jolin

A series of definitive guides to the most influential film directors of our time.

Charting the rise of these iconic filmmakers from their early years, through their breakout films and their evolution into cinematic greats, these neatly packaged guides are a must-have for any movie fan.

Each title contains perceptive and insightful text about the director’s work, their inspirations, their unique filmmaking style and their favoured collaborations with actors, screenwriters and musicians. With discussion and in-depth analysis of each film in their canon, and packed with images from their films, as well as intriguing behind-the-scenes shots, these books provide an intimate celebration of each director’s work.

Gangster movie, Western, film noir, rom com, screwball, musical, even the Biblical epic… There are few genres left untouched and untwisted by sibling visionaries Joel and Ethan Coen.

Since 1984’s Blood Simple, the inscrutable brothers have effortlessly forged their own cinematic path, avoiding prevailing trends while crafting bold, stylish and witty movies that feel fresh and distinctive despite being deeply rooted in their creators’ filmic passion and knowledge.

This is a definitive guide to that path, bringing the reader through Joel and Ethan’s 20 features (not counting the mezzanine) and exploring the themes, the tropes, the gags, the familiar faces – while also taking in all the Coen curios that litter this quirkily winding byway.

From Texas to Minnesota, from Homer to Shakespeare, from Bluegrass to Busby Berkeley, from wrestling to bowling, from lost hats to severed toes, this book covers everything that one might reasonably consider (to use a word that would likely make Joel and Ethan wince) ‘Coenesque’… And then some.

224 pages, Hardcover

Published December 17, 2024

Reviews

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jolin's 'The Coen Brothers' deep dives into the lives of the filmmaking duo as creatives and their extensive filmography. Each film has a sensory introduction into the textures and language of the new project. There's time period influences delved into and the context of both the industry and their careers at each given point. This approach really drives home the idea of their trajectory being such a slow, evolutionary build. I am a massive Coen Brothers fan and, even as someone who knows an abnormally large amount about their careers, this book impressed me. My favorite sections were, predictably, for my two favorite Coen Brothers films: The Big Lebowski and Inside Llewyn Davis. The one thing about the Coen Brothers that's predictable is that they're always going to be wildly unpredictable, and Jolin does a great job showcasing the through line with all of their projects. I do wish that the book's formatting was a bit more visually enticing, but, other than that, the content itself was consistently a pleasure to read.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

***Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this upcoming book***
This is now the second book about directors that I have had the pleasure to read (Tarantino being the other) and this one is another winner. The author takes you from the brothers' upbringing in Minnesota and gives you detailed accounts on their 18 feature films and all other side projects that they have worked on. The book is well written and has lots of great information that I haven't seen elsewhere. This is a must read for all movie fans, especially those of the Coen Brothers. Give it a read!

[Kay · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not a great movie buff, but I was captivated by the dissection of a number of the Coens' films, some of which I have watched without realising that they are part of the portfolio. The author Dan Jolin is a film journalist and has written intellectually about a selected list of the Coens' films, including where they are connected by actors, characters, or historical references. If you are a fan, you will love this book; if, like me, you're just a movie-goer, there's still much to be taken from these pages.

[Cassia · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who's kept up with the Coens' careers and films nothing really new, but it's a solid overview/intro that I'd be plenty glad to recommend folks wanting to learn a bit more, including their work beyond directing on scripts, books, etc. Nice in that it's a newer publication, so addresses their solo works.
(I had my disagreements on some evaluations in the Llewyn Davis chapter, tho!)

[Daniel McClelland · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed this. But it turns out I’m a massive superfan so learned little. Those who are more casual viewers will get more out of it. Appreciated giving every film roughly equal weighting, giving some of the under-appreciated efforts a chance to shine.

[Greg Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting and educational. I’ve long been a fan of the Coen brothers’ movies, especially O Brother, Raising Arizona and Fargo. It was good to do a little deeper dive on them and their movies.

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Film Scholar Dan Jolin published The Coen Brothers: The Complete Unofficial Guide in 2024. The book covers Joel and Ethan Coen's films. Jolin writes, “Their 18 films together, from Blood Simple (1984) to The Battle of Buster Scruggs (2018), bear up beautifully under re-examination. Even their early Noughties missteps (Intolerable Cruelty (2003) and The Ladykillers (2004)) are quickly watchable, if a little frustrating” (Jolin 8). The book also covers the Joel Coen-directed version of William Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of William Shakespeare (2021). The book also covers The Drive-Away Dolls (2024), which was directed by Ethan Coen and Tricia Cooke (Jolin 201-208). The book also briefly covers the early life and the possible future collaboration of the Coen Brothers. In 2024, Jolin writes, “it was reported that the Coen Brothers’ next film could be The Zebra-Striped Hearse, an adaptation of Ross Macdonald’s 1962 detective novel” (Jolin 212). The book is a well-done introduction to the Coen Brothers' films. I read the book on my Kindle, but I believe I read on Goodreads that it's a coffee-table book, which makes sense. The book has a strong layout and plenty of photos. Ginny Zeal designed the book's interior. Luke Bird designed the cover. The cover is blue with a red bowling ball, since bowling alleys play a significant role in the aesthetic of The Big Lebowski (1998) (Jolin 86). The Big Lebowski (1998) is one of the Coen Brothers' most popular films (Jolin 89-90). The book has a list of resources and an index. Jolin provides a strong introduction to the Coen Brothers' films.