You know what the Coen Brothers don't get? Jews!
With the exception of Barton Fink, the brothers have peopled their off-kilter productions with goyim of the windswept American interior, constructing wonderfully absurd, dark and surreal tales with a restraint that makes the madness seem perfectly plausible.But they've never had much time for Jews.
[...]
Their Jewish tin ear has left them clueless as to how Jews really talk and interact and prevents them from understanding the characters they've constructed. As a result, the words they've put in their characters mouths simply don't ring true, which is a problem if truth is the essence of successful humor. They simply lack the insight into and knowledge of the Jewish psyche possessed by Woody Allen, Mel Brooks, Larry David and Billy Crystal, or even writer/director Judd Apatow and Entourage's Doug Ellin.
I told those fucks down at the league office a thousand times that I don't roll on Shabbos!
Aitz chaim he, as the ex used to say.
The vehemence with which idiots continually argue against the Coen Bros. only furthers my love.
this
"You know... for yids!"
(SORRY!!)
No, that was nicely done.
Thanks, sweets!
I'm PISSED. I should have been all over that. Nice job.
I am beyond flattered!
Doug Ellin? BILLY CRYSTAL??
Seriously.
"I like and understand funny things! Like... like Billy Crystal!"
Their 1950s toy company tin ear has left them clueless as to how 1950s toy company executives really talk and interact and prevents them from understanding the characters they've constructed. As a result, the words they've put in their characters mouths simply don't ring true, which is a problem if truth is the essence of successful humor.
Also, Paul Newman is totally clueless about the 1950s in general.
It's embarrassing, like when Dolly Parton tries to do a hillbilly accent.
What? You can't see the forest from the trees!? Putz.
His list of Jewish Coen Bros. characters is missing a big one. What's Bernie Berbaum from "Miller's Crossing," chopped liver? And also Bernie's sister, Verna? These are major jewish characters in a major movie.
Miller's Crossing? Straight-to-video doesn't count.
You want they should have to go rent it or something?
Straight-to-video!?! Chaw! 'Sif!
Don't go givin' Miller's Crossing the high hat, yegg, or you'll get one in the heart and one in the brain (that's what I always tell my boys.)**
Jeez, complaining about the Coen Brother's dialogue and its relationship to reality is a bit pointless. It's arch, stylized dialogue that's there to make a point. Like David Mamet, fergawdsakes!
** and if it isn't clear, I consider MC to be their best work.
'The Dude' from Lebowski is never identified as Jewish in the film?
Oh, oh, are we playing "My Favorite Jew"? I LOVE this game. Okay, Jackie Mason, Jerry Stiller, Rodney Dangerfield, Milton Berle, The Three Stooges and The Marx Brothers. Whew, thems some good Jews. Oh, and Jesus, Mary and Joseph. Can't for get them.
You're going to force me to dig up the "My Favorite Jews" song I posted on Gawker once and repost it here.
Yes, please.
Well, I found the comment URL (http://gawker.com/5043987/#c7526496),
but I can't get it to load. Looks like it got bit by one of those Gawker comment bugs.
All I can remember is:
Comrade Karl Marx and the Marx Brothers too
These are a few of my favorite Jews!
Actually, it's probably a blessing for everyone that the Gawker bugs ate it.
Also, um: Coen.
My thoughts exactly. Are you sure we're not related?
How could they ignore three thousand years of beautiful tradition, from Moses to Sandy Kofax? Also, I sincerely hope the title of the next Coen film is Goyim of the Windswept American Interior.
"True Grit, the Remake: Or, Goyim of the Windswept American Interior"
I dunno, Walter Sobchak as a parody of a Zionist settler always struck me as pretty spot on.
Wow, I had no idea all Jews speak exactly alike. Or that all their psyches look the same.
Miller's Crossing anyone? Bernie "the Schmatta" Bernbaum???