Barton Fink
Stream
Rent & Buy
A renowned New York playwright is enticed to California to write for the movies and discovers the hellish truth of Hollywood.
What critics thought
Most critics embraced Barton Fink as a darkly funny, technically dazzling descent into writer's block and slow-burning dread, with the Coens' command of style and tone drawing widespread admiration. The real fault line runs along the film's deliberately enigmatic second half and unresolved ending — enthusiasts call it provocatively indescribable, while detractors found it smug and hollow beneath its art-house surface. Time has been kinder than some initial reviews: it now ranks among the Coens' most discussed and rewatched work.
“a midnight-movie gross-out in Sunday-afternoon art-house clothing”
Jonathan Rosenbaum·Chicago Reader
“certainly one of the year's best and most intriguing films”
Rita Kempley·The Washington Post
Accolades
Genres
Comedy, Drama, Thriller
Cast & Crew
Joel CoenDirector
John TurturroBarton Fink
John GoodmanCharlie Meadows
Judy DavisAudrey Taylor
Michael LernerJack Lipnick
John MahoneyW.P. Mayhew
Tony ShalhoubBen Geisler
Jon PolitoLou Breeze
Steve BuscemiChet
David WarrilowGarland Stanford
Richard PortnowDetective Mastrionotti
Christopher MurneyDetective Deutsch
I.M. HobsonDerek
Carter BurwellComposer
Ethan CoenWriter
Roger DeakinsCinematographyBarton Fink
A renowned New York playwright is enticed to California to write for the movies and discovers the hellish truth of Hollywood.
What critics thought
Most critics embraced Barton Fink as a darkly funny, technically dazzling descent into writer's block and slow-burning dread, with the Coens' command of style and tone drawing widespread admiration. The real fault line runs along the film's deliberately enigmatic second half and unresolved ending — enthusiasts call it provocatively indescribable, while detractors found it smug and hollow beneath its art-house surface. Time has been kinder than some initial reviews: it now ranks among the Coens' most discussed and rewatched work.
“a midnight-movie gross-out in Sunday-afternoon art-house clothing”
Jonathan Rosenbaum·Chicago Reader
“certainly one of the year's best and most intriguing films”
Rita Kempley·The Washington Post
Accolades
Genres
Comedy, Drama, Thriller
Cast & Crew
Joel CoenDirectorJohn TurturroBarton FinkJohn GoodmanCharlie MeadowsJudy DavisAudrey TaylorMichael LernerJack LipnickJohn MahoneyW.P. MayhewTony ShalhoubBen GeislerJon PolitoLou BreezeSteve BuscemiChetDavid WarrilowGarland StanfordRichard PortnowDetective MastrionottiChristopher MurneyDetective DeutschI.M. HobsonDerekCarter BurwellComposerEthan CoenWriterRoger DeakinsCinematographyStream
Rent & Buy