# Barton Fink (1991)

> An idealistic New York playwright discovers that Hollywood’s machinery can turn writer’s block into a descent through artistic hypocrisy, violence, and surreal dread.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/movie/246

## Facts

- Runtime: 117 min
- Genres: Comedy, Drama, Thriller
- Director: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
- Cast: John Turturro, John Goodman, Judy Davis, Michael Lerner, John Mahoney, Tony Shalhoub, Jon Polito, Steve Buscemi
- TMDB rating: 7.5/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101410/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: measured
- Intensity: strong
- Complexity: dense
- Violence: brutal
- Mood: sardonic, surreal, claustrophobic, late night cinephile viewing, film club discussion

## Synopsis

A playwright's journey into the dark side of Hollywood reveals the absurdity of artistic ambition.

## Movies like Barton Fink

- [The Player (1992)](https://ember.film/movie/5491)
- [The Ninth Gate (1999)](https://ember.film/movie/500)
- [Shadow of the Vampire (2000)](https://ember.film/movie/5921)
- [Fargo (1996)](https://ember.film/movie/233)
- [A Serious Man (2009)](https://ember.film/movie/7210)
- [The Man Who Wasn't There (2001)](https://ember.film/movie/5831)
- [Shadows and Fog (1991)](https://ember.film/movie/11628)
- [Hail, Caesar! (2016)](https://ember.film/movie/158062)
- [In the Mouth of Madness (1995)](https://ember.film/movie/1784)
- [Deconstructing Harry (1997)](https://ember.film/movie/1774)

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