When they got bogged down in the intricate plotting of Miller's Crossing, Joel and Ethan Coen took a break and wrote Barton Fink. On the surface, it's the story of a playwright who comes to Hollywood and struggles to write the B-movie script assigned to him. But lurking just below that premise is the Coens' signature stylized madness. Layered with symbolism and filled with verbal gymnastics, Barton Fink is dark (even for the Coen Brothers) and wickedly funny. As usual, the brothers bring out extraordinary performances from their actors.

Tony Peltier