Inside Llewyn Davis (2013)

Inside Llewyn Davis follows a week in the life of Llewyn Davis (Oscar Isaac), an idealistic but obstinate folk singer trying to make a name for himself amid the Greenwich Village folk scene of winter 1961. Broke and homeless, Llewyn drifts from couch to couch, carrying his guitar and a growing burden of pride and regret. Frayed relationships with fellow musicians Jean (Carey Mulligan) and Jim (Justin Timberlake), a stalled solo record and an unhelpful manager trap him in a cycle of near-opportunities and self-sabotage. A spur‑of‑the‑moment road trip to Chicago with the mysterious Roland (John Goodman) and his laconic companion Johnny (Garrett Hedlund) offers a possible audition with impresario Bud Grossman (F. Murray Abraham), but Llewyn’s flaws may prove his biggest obstacle. If you watch this film you’ll experience a deeply atmospheric, character-driven portrait by Joel and Ethan Coen: spare, wintry visuals; intimate, often raw live musical performances; and a darkly comic, melancholic tone. The pacing is deliberate and episodic—more mood and character study than plot-driven drama—so expect close-ups on small humiliations and fleeting triumphs, haunting folk songs, sharp dialogue, and a bittersweet, unresolved feel. It’s a quietly affecting, sometimes bleak look at ambition, identity, and the costs of staying true to oneself.

Actors: Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan, John Goodman

Directors: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen

Runtime: 104 min

Genres: Comedy, Drama, Music

6.7 /10 93 /100 7.4 /10 7.8 /10