What are your favorite Coen brothers scenes?

I’m preparing to teach my Coen Brothers and the Craft of Storytelling class which begins on Monday, and in reviewing the wealth of material we will be covering next week, I was struck by this thought: There are so many great scenes in their movies. Right now, as I’m sitting here typing this, one great scene after another flits through my mind. For example, this scene from the superb, but generally overlooked movie A Serious Man:

The dialogue, the acting, the choice of camera shots, all just great. How about Fargo which was nominated for 7 Oscars, winning two including Best Original Screenplay? So many memorable scenes, but the one that first sprang to mind is this inane bit of business that drips of the Midwest:

Of course, the Coens are known for their embrace of violence in their storytelling as well as humor and this scene from No Country for Old Men is laced with the threat of death, imbuing the exchange between Chigurh and the gas station owner with incredible tension.

That moment when Chigurh lays down the crinkling bag on the counter… it physicalizes the tension occurring in the scene. A small touch, but a powerful visual.

Let’s face it: The Coens are effing cinematic geniuses. Which is why I created the course I’ll be teaching next week. So much to learn about storytelling from this talented duo. You can learn more about the class here.

Meanwhile I’m interested: What are your favorite Coen brothers scenes? So many notable movies: Blood Simple., Raising Arizona, Miller’s Crossing, Barton Fink, Fargo, The Big Lebowski, O Brother Where Art Thou, No Country for Old Men, True Grit, Inside Llewyn Davis, and on and on.

Please head to comments to let me know Coen brother scenes that have stuck with you over the years.

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