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    Barton Fink

    • 19911991
    • RR
    • 1h 56min
    IMDb RATING
    7.7/10
    115K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    3,854
    144
    • Cast & crew
    • User reviews
    • Trivia
    • IMDbPro
    John Turturro in Barton Fink (1991)
    Home Video Trailer from 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
    Trailer2:14
    2 Videos
    99+ Photos
    ComedyDramaThriller

    A renowned New York playwright is enticed to California to write for the movies and discovers the hellish truth of Hollywood.A renowned New York playwright is enticed to California to write for the movies and discovers the hellish truth of Hollywood.A renowned New York playwright is enticed to California to write for the movies and discovers the hellish truth of Hollywood.A renowned New York playwright is enticed to California to write for the movies and discovers the hellish truth of Hollywood.A renowned New York playwright is enticed to California to write for the movies and discovers the hellish truth of Hollywood.

    • Directors
      • Joel Coen
      • Ethan Coen(uncredited)
    • Writers
      • Joel Coen
      • Ethan Coen
    • Stars
      • John Turturro
      • John Goodman
      • Judy Davis
    Top credits
    • Directors
      • Joel Coen
      • Ethan Coen(uncredited)
    • Writers
      • Joel Coen
      • Ethan Coen
    • Stars
      • John Turturro
      • John Goodman
      • Judy Davis
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 272User reviews
    • 151Critic reviews
    • 69Metascore
  • See production, box office & company info
    • Nominated for 3 Oscars
      • 19 wins & 30 nominations total

    Videos2

    Barton Fink
    Trailer 2:14
    Barton Fink
    A Guide to the Films of The Coen Brothers
    Clip 1:56
    A Guide to the Films of The Coen Brothers

    Photos128

    John Turturro in Barton Fink (1991)
    Judy Davis and John Mahoney in Barton Fink (1991)
    John Goodman in Barton Fink (1991)
    John Turturro in Barton Fink (1991)
    John Goodman and John Turturro in Barton Fink (1991)
    Judy Davis and John Mahoney in Barton Fink (1991)
    John Turturro in Barton Fink (1991)
    John Goodman in Barton Fink (1991)
    Judy Davis and John Turturro in Barton Fink (1991)
    Judy Davis in Barton Fink (1991)
    John Goodman in Barton Fink (1991)
    John Goodman and John Turturro in Barton Fink (1991)

    Top cast

    Edit
    John Turturro
    John Turturro
    • Barton Finkas Barton Fink
    John Goodman
    John Goodman
    • Charlie Meadowsas Charlie Meadows
    Judy Davis
    Judy Davis
    • Audrey Tayloras Audrey Taylor
    Michael Lerner
    Michael Lerner
    • Jack Lipnickas Jack Lipnick
    John Mahoney
    John Mahoney
    • W.P. Mayhewas W.P. Mayhew
    Tony Shalhoub
    Tony Shalhoub
    • Ben Geisleras Ben Geisler
    Jon Polito
    Jon Polito
    • Lou Breezeas Lou Breeze
    Steve Buscemi
    Steve Buscemi
    • Chetas Chet
    David Warrilow
    • Garland Stanfordas Garland Stanford
    Richard Portnow
    Richard Portnow
    • Detective Mastrionottias Detective Mastrionotti
    Christopher Murney
    Christopher Murney
    • Detective Deutschas Detective Deutsch
    I.M. Hobson
    • Derekas Derek
    Meagen Fay
    Meagen Fay
    • Poppy Carnahanas Poppy Carnahan
    • (as Megan Faye)
    Lance Davis
    Lance Davis
    • Richard St. Claireas Richard St. Claire
    Harry Bugin
    • Peteas Pete
    Anthony Gordon
    • Maitre D'as Maitre D'
    Jack Denbo
    • Stagehandas Stagehand
    Max Grodénchik
    Max Grodénchik
    • Clapper Boyas Clapper Boy
    • Directors
      • Joel Coen
      • Ethan Coen(uncredited)
    • Writers
      • Joel Coen
      • Ethan Coen
    • All cast & crew
    See production, box office, & company info

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    Storyline

    Edit
    In the wake of his early but undeniable theatrical success in Broadway, the idealistic author of the proletariat and self-pitying 1940s New York playwright, Barton Fink, finds himself lured to dazzling Hollywood to write scripts for eccentric Jack Lipnick's Capitol Pictures. But, instead of writing a story pivoting around the common man, Fink's first screenplay turns out to be a Wallace Beery wrestling movie, and, before he knows it, he develops a severe case of writer's block. Now, holed up in the seedy, run-down Hotel Earle, before his silent Underwood typewriter, Barton comes to realise that his only hope to meet the deadline is to take inspiration from the burly insurance salesman living next door, Charlie Meadows, and the unassuming secretary, Audrey Taylor. In the meantime, the suffocating stranglehold of artistic bankruptcy tightens. Does self-destructive Barton Fink have the stomach for confronting Hollywood's bitter reality? —Nick Riganas
    writer's blockmagical realismfilm industrykafka esquesurrealism111 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • What's in his head
    • Genres
      • Comedy
      • Drama
      • Thriller
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated R for language and some scenes of violence
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The first film to win all three major awards (Palme D'or, Best Director, and Best Actor) at the Cannes Film Festival. Also, it was unanimously chosen for the Palme D'or.
    • Goofs
      Tony Shalhoub's name is spelt Tony Shaloub in the opening credits.
    • Quotes

      Charlie Meadows: Look upon me! I'll show you the life of the mind!

    • Crazy credits
      The 20th Century Fox logo appears over silence; the "fanfare" is not played.
    • Connections
      Edited into The Clock (2010)
    • Soundtracks
      FOR SENTIMENTAL REASONS
      by Edward Heyman, Al Sherman and Abner Silver

      Licenced with Permission the Successors of Marlo Music Corporation/ASCAP

    User reviews272

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    Another Coen Brothers Classic!!!
    I recently purchased "Barton Fink" along with "Miller's Crossinhg", another Coen Brothers gem.

    Barton Fink quite simply is a writer who cannot see the forest for the trees. He is so taken with the fact that he is a writer that he can't write. He is so idealistic that he misses fantastic opportunities to become a writer for the ages because he wastes precious time proselytizing. John Goodman perfectly sums up everyone's frustration with Barton Fink when after a series of unfortunate occurrences, Barton asks him "Why me?" to which John's character answers "Because you don't LISTEN!" Set in 1930s Hollywood we follow the exploits of a one-hit wonder, Barton Fink, who has written a successful Broadway play and is summoned by the powers that be to Hollywood. After much cajoling to take the job from his agent, Barton arrives in Los Angeles determined to become the writer for the common man where he insists true stories live. The trouble with Barton, however, is he does not have time for the common man because he has so romanticized their lot as well as his particular quest in speaking for them.

    Excellent performances from John Turturo, John Goodman, Judy Davis, John Polito (often overlooked, but his scenes ALWAYS become his!!) and the inimitable Tony Shaloub.

    I have decided after a slew of Coen Brothers films I currently have in my collection, that any project these guys are involved with deserve more than passing scrutiny.
    helpful•101
    18
    • RaiderJack
    • May 21, 2007

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 21, 1991 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Бартон Фінк
    • Filming locations
      • The Wiltern - 3790 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Circle Films
      • Working Title Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $9,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $6,153,939
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $268,561
      • Aug 25, 1991
    • Gross worldwide
      • $6,153,939
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 56min
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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