Inside Llewyn Davis

Like everyone else this holiday season, Llewyn Davis is a total dick---the chief difference being he’s got a guitar and no fixed address. He’s knocked up Jean (Carey Mulligan, in a delightful, swears-laden appearance), he doesn’t have any money, he’s a burden on all of his friends and he can’t even scrounge up a winter coat. On the plus side? He’s a great songwriter and beautiful singer and he’s bumming around Greenwich Village in the 1960s, when his brand of unadorned, confessional folk music is becoming a whole thing. Inside Llewyn Davis is written and directed by the Coen brothers, and it benefits from their typical distant tone---the east coast winter feels extra cold, Llewyn’s arrogance feels extra unearned. It’s a slice-of-life film featuring wonderful folk compositions---though its best scene is a recording of novelty jam “Please Mr. Kennedy” with Justin Timberlake and national treasure Adam Driver---and Oscar Isaacs, as Llewyn, takes the starring opportunity and runs with it. Will remind you of people you know, and not in a good way. —Tara Thorne