Barton Fink (Directed by Joel Coen, 1991) Joel and Ethan Coen's (Fargo, Miller's Crossing, Big Lebowski) disturbing, darkly comedic vision of Hell on Earth is a stylistic masterpiece. Barton Fink, played by the chameleon like John Turturro in a tour de force performance, is a pretentious New York playwright who writes for the "common man". After the success of one of his plays, he gets an offer from Capitol pictures in Los Angeles to write a B-movie wrestling picture. After arriving at the ominous Hotel Earle (the stationary reads "Hotel Earle… for a day or a lifetime"), he encounters a severe case of writer's block. John Goodman plays Charlie Meadows, a travelling salesman who represents the "common man". Charlie strikes up a friendship with Barton and things heat up (literally) when he attempt to help Barton with his writing. Barton, who is too self important to listen to the true simple man's stories, seeks help elsewhere from an alcoholic writer played by John Mahoney. Soon after, bizarre and surrealistic occurrences begin including a grisly murder.
To reveal more would be unfair, it is a lot of fun to see how the story unravels. Performances by actors Judy Davis, Michael Lerner and Coen staples Jon Polito and Steve Buscemi are all first-rate. The visual artistry of the Coen's is evidenced throughout the film, most notably in the set design of the hotel and the pyrotechnics of the fiery climax. Like most Coen Brother's films, Barton Fink demands multiple viewings. It is a movie which reveals more each time you experience it.