Inside Llewyn Davis Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A folk singer schleps around with a cat, gets punched, and never learns a thing, proving that some weeks are just Mondays strung together.

🍿 Inside Llewyn Davis: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Greenwich Village, 1961: A Week of Hardship

The film opens in the winter of 1961 in Greenwich Village, New York. Llewyn Davis, a struggling folk singer, performs at the Gaslight Cafe. He’s down on his luck, recently losing his singing partner, Mike, to suicide, and finds himself without a permanent home, relying on the generosity of friends for a place to sleep.

Friends and Foes: Navigating Relationships

Llewyn’s relationships are strained. He seeks refuge with Jim and Jean, fellow musicians, but tensions rise when Jean reveals she’s pregnant and suspects Llewyn might be the father. His interactions are often prickly, and he struggles to maintain meaningful connections amidst his personal turmoil.

The Chicago Audition: A Road Trip and a Lost Opportunity

Desperate for a break, Llewyn embarks on a road trip to Chicago with two eccentric musicians, hoping to audition for a renowned music producer, Bud Grossman. The journey is fraught with challenges, including a drug overdose and an arrest. Ultimately, the audition doesn’t yield the success he craves, and he returns to New York, defeated.

Returning to New York: A Cycle of Misfortune

Back in Greenwich Village, Llewyn finds himself trapped in a cycle of misfortune. He discovers he can’t afford to rejoin the Merchant Marines, his former profession, and his personal relationships remain complicated. The film emphasizes his constant struggle to find stability and recognition.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Llewyn Davis (Oscar Isaac): A struggling and often unlikeable folk singer navigating the Greenwich Village music scene in 1961.
• Jean (Carey Mulligan): Llewyn’s sharp-tongued and pregnant friend, who is also a fellow musician.
• Jim (Justin Timberlake): Jean’s husband and a successful, commercially-minded musician.
• Roland Turner (John Goodman): An eccentric and drug-addicted jazz musician who accompanies Llewyn on a road trip.
• Bud Grossman (F. Murray Abraham): A Chicago club owner and music manager who represents a potential career opportunity for Llewyn.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Jean: “You’re like King Midas’ idiot brother. Everything you touch turns to shit.” – Jean angrily confronts Llewyn about his destructive tendencies and his inability to maintain relationships.
• Llewyn Davis: “I’m tired.” – Llewyn expresses his exhaustion with his struggles and lack of progress in his music career.
• Bud Grossman: “I don’t see a lot of money here.” – Music producer Bud Grossman gives Llewyn a brutally honest assessment after a song audition at Chicago.
• Llewyn Davis: “That’s why I don’t like folk music.” – Llewyn makes his cynical remark after having been pressured to be part of Jim’s commercial folk music project.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $11,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $13,235,319
• Worldwide Gross: $32,962,157

💥 Inside Llewyn Davis Reviews

Personal Review

I was completely drawn into Llewyn Davis’s world. The music is incredible, and Oscar Isaac’s performance is heartbreaking. There’s this scene where he sings ‘The Death of Queen Jane’ – it gave me chills. I felt so much for this guy, even though he’s kind of a jerk. The ending left me thinking about the choices we make and whether talent is enough. Definitely one of my all-time favorites.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of the Coen Brothers”
  • “Lovers of folk music and the 1960s Greenwich Village scene”
  • “Viewers who appreciate character-driven dramas”
  • “Those who enjoy films with bittersweet and ambiguous endings”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Strong language”
  • “Drug use”
  • “Brief scenes of violence”
  • “Mature themes including suicide and abortion”

Professional Reviews

• The New Yorker: “The Coen brothers deliver a haunting portrait of artistic struggle. Oscar Isaac’s performance is a revelation, capturing the quiet desperation of a man out of sync with his time. A must-see for cinephiles and music lovers alike.
• Rolling Stone: “A bittersweet ballad of a folk singer’s failures. The Coens perfectly evoke the Greenwich Village scene. The soundtrack is phenomenal, with Isaac’s raw vocals front and center. A film that lingers long after the credits roll.
• Variety: “The Coen Brothers have crafted a movie that’s technically brilliant but also intimate and emotionally resonant. The film’s cinematography and music create a melancholic atmosphere that perfectly suits the story of a struggling artist. A remarkable achievement.

Audience Reactions

Oscar Isaac’s performance is phenomenal; he completely embodies the struggling artist.: The music and atmosphere of the film are mesmerizing and transport you to 1960s Greenwich Village.

The Coen Brothers capture the struggles of an artist who just can’t catch a break.: The film is a bittersweet and realistic look at the music scene of the time.

Overall Consensus: Inside Llewyn Davis is a critically acclaimed film praised for its music, atmosphere, and Oscar Isaac’s performance. It’s a poignant and realistic portrayal of the struggles of a folk singer in 1960s Greenwich Village, though some find it depressing.

Awards

1. Cannes Film Festival (Palme d’Or)- 2013

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The film is loosely based on the life of Dave Van Ronk, a prominent figure in the Greenwich Village folk scene during the 1960s.”
• “T Bone Burnett served as the executive music producer, curating the soundtrack with a mix of traditional folk songs and original compositions.”
• “Oscar Isaac performed all of Llewyn’s songs live on set, capturing the raw and authentic feel of the folk performances.”
• “The Coen brothers have said that the film doesn’t really have a plot, and the inclusion of the cat was a way to add some narrative drive.”

🖥️ How to Watch Inside Llewyn Davis?

Inside Llewyn Davis is available for purchase or rental on various platforms, including Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and Vudu. Check your local listings for streaming availability.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Inside Llewyn Davis, you might like these similar films:

• A Mighty Wind (2003): A satirical mockumentary about folk music, exploring the reunion of folk groups for a memorial concert, offering a lighter, comedic take on the folk scene.
• Almost Famous (2000): Captures the spirit of the early 1970s rock scene through the eyes of a young journalist, exploring themes of ambition, authenticity, and the challenges of pursuing a creative dream.
• Coal Miner’s Daughter (1980): A biographical drama about Loretta Lynn’s rise from poverty to country music stardom, showing the personal and professional struggles of a musician during a specific era.
• Once (2007): A modern musical about two struggling musicians in Dublin who connect through their shared passion for songwriting, offering a more hopeful and romantic portrayal of pursuing music.
• O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000): Also by the Coen Brothers, it features a soundtrack curated by T-Bone Burnett and explores themes of Americana, albeit with a more comedic and adventurous tone.

🛒 Inside Llewyn Davis Related Products

• Inside Llewyn Davis [Blu-ray]: High-definition Blu-ray edition of the film, featuring stunning visuals and crystal-clear audio. Includes behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with the cast and crew, offering an in-depth look at the making of this Coen Brothers masterpiece.
• Inside Llewyn Davis: Original Soundtrack Recording: Digital download of the complete soundtrack, featuring iconic folk songs performed by Oscar Isaac, Justin Timberlake, and other cast members. T Bone Burnett’s masterful production captures the essence of the Greenwich Village folk scene.
• Coen Brothers Collection [Blu-ray]: This Blu-ray collection includes other critically acclaimed movies by the Coen Brothers such as, ‘Fargo’, ‘The Big Lebowski’ and ‘No Country For Old Men’, showcasing their versatile storytelling and unique filmmaking style.
• Folk Music: A Regional Exploration: A book exploring folk music across different regions, including Greenwich Village during the time in which ‘Inside Llewyn Davis’ is set. This book provides an overview of the music, instruments, and people from these regions. Includes information about the historical background.

🎧 Soundtrack

Inside Llewyn Davis features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Hang Me, Oh Hang Me” – performed by Oscar Isaac
• “Fare Thee Well (Dink’s Song)” – performed by Oscar Isaac
• “Please Mr. Kennedy” – performed by Justin Timberlake, Oscar Isaac, Adam Driver
• “The Death of Queen Jane” – performed by Oscar Isaac

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Hang Me, Oh Hang Me – Oscar Isaac

Immerse yourself in the haunting melody of Oscar Isaac’s live performance of ‘Hang Me, Oh Hang Me,’ a highlight from the film’s captivating soundtrack.

The Denouement Explained — Writing a Denouement Like Scorsese, Kubrick, and The Coens

Unravel the intricacies of the film’s ending with this thought-provoking analysis, which sheds light on the significance of ‘denouement’ and its impact on the film’s overall message.

The Directors Who Mastered The Art Of The Minor Character

Step into the creative minds of the Coen Brothers and discover their exceptional ability to craft unforgettable minor characters, enhancing the depth and richness of their cinematic worlds.

This Movie Helped Me Cope With Depression

Embark on a personal journey as the creator shares their emotional connection to the film and how its themes and characters provided solace during a challenging time.

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