10 Coen Bros. Moments You’ll Always Remember

By Jameson Brown · August 29, 2014

The Coen Bros., also known as “The Two-Headed Directors,” continue to be storytelling craftsmen in a time of blockbuster, product placement smut. They create projects that are true to what they know and love, but are never afraid to venture into new creative grounds. Since the early 80’s, Joel and Ethan have faulted only a few times in their productions, with even those missteps being minor. As they continue to uphold cinematic excellence, this list is a tribute to their love of storytelling.

10. When Jerry Absolutely Lost It

Jerry Lundegaard is one of the most memorable and subtle characters the Coens have ever written. He was a dormant volcano of rage and immorality cloaked in niceties. And boy where his outbursts fun to watch.

9. When They Succesfully Made a Woodchipper an Oscar Nominated Character

Nothing else to say here other than this woodchipper deserved more love during the awards season. It did a great job.

8. That Damn Hat

Remember this thing? Blowing around the frame like Geppetto was up top pulling the strings. Joel and Ethan (and Men in Black director Barry Sonnenfeld) showed off some serious camera love for this hat – a representation of Tom’s overall situation that he is always chasing down and trying to resolve.

7. When This Body Was Creepily Blown to Smithereens

Another Miller’s Crossing nod, but one that needs love. This quick shot always made me cringe for some reason, but well shot nonetheless.

6. Their Love for Feet

If you go back and watch entries like Blood Simple and Burn After Reading, you will notice some serious love for feet in motion. I trust that the two-headed directors know what they are doing, even when it comes to feet.

5. Their Freakish Love for John Goodman

We all know there is some serious bromance here, but hey, it’s cool. Goodman and the Coen Bros. team up quite a bit and the end product almost never disappoints.

4. When They Blessed Us All with a First Look at Nic Cage

One of the Coen Bros. best films, Raising Arizona was quickly paced, wonky in every way and introduced us to the clown man himself. This film was also a first look into the Coen Bros. zany screenwriting, where babies are considered gold and we got to witness the presence of Gale and Evelle Snoats.

3. When They Made One of the Best Casting Decisions of Their Career

Not much to say here other than this was a damn good remake of the original due to solid homage to the original – the best being the juxtaposition of Bridges and Wayne.

2. When They Struck Black Comedy Gold

The Big Lebowski defines the term cult classic with its genuine storytelling, out of left field characters and a story that stems from someone peeing on a carpet. Dear screenwriters, this is when you know you are a storyteller: your story ends up with porn gangbangers (get your head out of the gutter) hunting down a dried out old hippie who stumbles through multiples dazes for his carpet, oh and maybe a missing girl.

1. When They Scared Us Into Loving A Man Who Should Have Knocked Off His Barber

Remember this hombre? No one will ever forget Anton Chigurh, and that damn quarter. He had pure black eyes to match his pure black soul and let chance take him like the wind. Now this was a villain.