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The first purely American entry in the 2013 Cannes Film Festival competition (opening nighter The Great Gatsby was Out of Competition) , Joel Coen and Ethan Coen’s terrific Inside Llewyn Davis had its first press screening Saturday night to strong response and big buzz on the very rainy Croisette. This tale of a talented folk singer unable to balance art and commerce, and  who never quite hits the big time in the late 50′s/early 60′s emerging Folk scene, is pure Coen Brothers with a winning mixture of brilliantly observed comedy and darker moments that give it an edge most reminiscent of Coen movies like Barton Fink which won the Palme d’Or  on their first try at Cannes in 1991. Joel Coen also took the Director award that year and again for The Man Who Wasn’t There (2001) among the seven previous times they have been in the Cannes competition. 1994′s The Hudsucker Proxy, 1996′s Fargo,    2000′s  O Brother Where Art Thou, 2004′s The Ladykillers and 2007′s  No Country For Old Men  represent their other numerous chances to reap a second Palme d’Or since Barton Fink  but none of them did the trick.  Judging from initial reaction , at least among the press, Inside Llewyn Davis probably makes them an early front-runner for that second Palme. We say early since the film doesn’t have its official black tie ... Read More »

Paul Butler says when the president delivers the commencement address at Morehouse college, he must make clear his solidarity with young black men and the challenges they face