Joel Coen

American filmmaker Joel David Coen is known for writing, directing and producing films jointly with his brother Ethan Coen; professionally they are known as the Coen brothers. In 1984, the brothers wrote and directed Blood Simple, their first film together. The film was well received and won awards for Joel's direction at both the Sundance and Independent Spirit awards. The brothers were recognized for their talents having been nominated for a number of awards and achievements. No Country for Old Men (2007) won them the Oscar for Best Achievement in Directing, and Best Motion Picture of the Year, as well as the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Film Award for best director. They were also awarded the Oscar for Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen for Fargo (1996).  Joel has been married to actress Frances McDormand since 1984. They adopted a son from Paraguay, named Pedro McDormand Coen.

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Raising Arizona (1987)

FunnyWeirdGrippingSmart

When a childless couple of an ex-con and an ex-cop decide to help themselves to one of another family's quintuplets, their lives become more complicated than they anticipated.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Joel Coen  •  Ethan Coen
CAST:  Nicolas Cage  •  Holly Hunter  •  Trey Wilson  •  John Goodman

When a childless couple of an ex-con and an ex-cop decide to help themselves to one of another family's quintuplets, their lives become more complicated than they anticipated.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Joel Coen  •  Ethan Coen
CAST:  Nicolas Cage  •  Holly Hunter  •  Trey Wilson  •  John Goodman

Barton Fink (1991)

DarkClassicCleverIntense

A renowned New York playwright is enticed to California to write for the movies and discovers the hellish truth of Hollywood.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Joel Coen  •  Ethan Coen
CAST:  John Turturro  •  John Goodman  •  Judy Davis  •  Michael Lerner

A renowned New York playwright is enticed to California to write for the movies and discovers the hellish truth of Hollywood.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Joel Coen  •  Ethan Coen
CAST:  John Turturro  •  John Goodman  •  Judy Davis  •  Michael Lerner

The Big Lebowski (1998)

FunnyClassicOriginalBoring

Jeffrey 'The Dude' Lebowski, a Los Angeles slacker who only wants to bowl and drink White Russians, is mistaken for another Jeffrey Lebowski, a wheelchair-bound millionaire, and finds himself dragged into a strange series of events involving nihilists, adult film ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Joel Coen  •  Ethan Coen
CAST:  Jeff Bridges  •  John Goodman  •  Steve Buscemi  •  Julianne Moore

Jeffrey 'The Dude' Lebowski, a Los Angeles slacker who only wants to bowl and drink White Russians, is mistaken for another Jeffrey Lebowski, a wheelchair-bound millionaire, and finds himself dragged into a strange series of events involving nihilists, adult film ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Joel Coen  •  Ethan Coen
CAST:  Jeff Bridges  •  John Goodman  •  Steve Buscemi  •  Julianne Moore

No Country for Old Men (2007)

SuspensefulViolentThought provokingDark

Llewelyn Moss stumbles upon dead bodies, $2 million and a hoard of heroin in a Texas desert, but methodical killer Anton Chigurh comes looking for it, with local sheriff Ed Tom Bell hot on his trail. The roles of prey and predator blur as the violent pursuit of ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Joel Coen  •  Ethan Coen
CAST:  Tommy Lee Jones  •  Javier Bardem  •  Josh Brolin  •  Woody Harrelson

Llewelyn Moss stumbles upon dead bodies, $2 million and a hoard of heroin in a Texas desert, but methodical killer Anton Chigurh comes looking for it, with local sheriff Ed Tom Bell hot on his trail. The roles of prey and predator blur as the violent pursuit of ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Joel Coen  •  Ethan Coen
CAST:  Tommy Lee Jones  •  Javier Bardem  •  Josh Brolin  •  Woody Harrelson

O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000)

FunGoofyFantasticalWhimsical

In the deep south during the 1930s, three escaped convicts search for hidden treasure while a relentless lawman pursues them. On their journey they come across many comical characters and incredible situations. Based upon Homer's 'Odyssey'.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Joel Coen  •  Ethan Coen
CAST:  George Clooney  •  John Turturro  •  Tim Blake Nelson  •  John Goodman

In the deep south during the 1930s, three escaped convicts search for hidden treasure while a relentless lawman pursues them. On their journey they come across many comical characters and incredible situations. Based upon Homer's 'Odyssey'.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Joel Coen  •  Ethan Coen
CAST:  George Clooney  •  John Turturro  •  Tim Blake Nelson  •  John Goodman

Blood Simple (1984)

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The owner of a seedy small-town Texas bar discovers that one of his employees is having an affair with his wife. A chaotic chain of misunderstandings, lies and mischief ensues after he devises a plot to have them murdered.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Joel Coen  •  Ethan Coen
CAST:  John Getz  •  Frances McDormand  •  Dan Hedaya  •  M. Emmet Walsh

The owner of a seedy small-town Texas bar discovers that one of his employees is having an affair with his wife. A chaotic chain of misunderstandings, lies and mischief ensues after he devises a plot to have them murdered.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Joel Coen  •  Ethan Coen
CAST:  John Getz  •  Frances McDormand  •  Dan Hedaya  •  M. Emmet Walsh

Down from the Mountain (2001)

On May 24, 2000, the historic Ryman Auditorium was booked to offer Nashvillians an evening of sublime beauty. Label executives and soundtrack producers so loved the music of O Brother, Where Art Thou? that they brought it to life as a benefit concert for the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Chris Hegedus  •  D. A. Pennebaker  •  Nick Doob
CAST:  Alison Krauss  •  Emmylou Harris  •  Gillian Welch  •  Ralph Stanley

On May 24, 2000, the historic Ryman Auditorium was booked to offer Nashvillians an evening of sublime beauty. Label executives and soundtrack producers so loved the music of O Brother, Where Art Thou? that they brought it to life as a benefit concert for the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Chris Hegedus  •  D. A. Pennebaker  •  Nick Doob
CAST:  Alison Krauss  •  Emmylou Harris  •  Gillian Welch  •  Ralph Stanley

Fargo (1996)

FunnySuspensefulDarkGripping

Jerry, a small-town Minnesota car salesman is bursting at the seams with debt... but he's got a plan. He's going to hire two thugs to kidnap his wife in a scheme to collect a hefty ransom from his wealthy father-in-law. It's going to be a snap and nobody's going to ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Joel Coen
CAST:  Frances McDormand  •  William H. Macy  •  Steve Buscemi  •  Peter Stormare

Jerry, a small-town Minnesota car salesman is bursting at the seams with debt... but he's got a plan. He's going to hire two thugs to kidnap his wife in a scheme to collect a hefty ransom from his wealthy father-in-law. It's going to be a snap and nobody's going to ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Joel Coen
CAST:  Frances McDormand  •  William H. Macy  •  Steve Buscemi  •  Peter Stormare

Miller's Crossing (1990)

Set in 1929, a political boss and his advisor have a parting of the ways when they both fall for the same woman.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Joel Coen  •  Ethan Coen
CAST:  Gabriel Byrne  •  Marcia Gay Harden  •  John Turturro  •  Jon Polito

Set in 1929, a political boss and his advisor have a parting of the ways when they both fall for the same woman.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Joel Coen  •  Ethan Coen
CAST:  Gabriel Byrne  •  Marcia Gay Harden  •  John Turturro  •  Jon Polito

Paris Je T'aime (2006)

EnjoyableFunnyOriginalBeautiful

Olivier Assayas, Gus Van Sant, Wes Craven and Alfonso Cuaron are among the 20 distinguished directors who contribute to this collection of 18 stories, each exploring a different aspect of Parisian life. The colourful characters in this drama include a pair of mimes ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Gérard Depardieu  •  Joel Coen  •  Ethan Coen  •  Wes Craven  •  Alfonso Cuarón  •  Alexander Payne  •  Tom Tykwer  •  Sylvain Chomet  •  Gus Van Sant  •  Vincenzo Natali  •  Richard LaGravenese  •  Isabel Coixet  •  Olivier Assayas  •  Walter Salles  •  Bruno Podalydès  •  Oliver Schmitz  •  Gurinder Chadha  •  Nobuhiro Suwa  •  Daniela Thomas  •  Frédéric Auburtin  •  Christopher Doyle
CAST:  Steve Buscemi  •  Axel Kiener  •  Julie Bataille  •  Bruno Podalydès

Olivier Assayas, Gus Van Sant, Wes Craven and Alfonso Cuaron are among the 20 distinguished directors who contribute to this collection of 18 stories, each exploring a different aspect of Parisian life. The colourful characters in this drama include a pair of mimes ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Gérard Depardieu  •  Joel Coen  •  Ethan Coen  •  Wes Craven  •  Alfonso Cuarón  •  Alexander Payne  •  Tom Tykwer  •  Sylvain Chomet  •  Gus Van Sant  •  Vincenzo Natali  •  Richard LaGravenese  •  Isabel Coixet  •  Olivier Assayas  •  Walter Salles  •  Bruno Podalydès  •  Oliver Schmitz  •  Gurinder Chadha  •  Nobuhiro Suwa  •  Daniela Thomas  •  Frédéric Auburtin  •  Christopher Doyle
CAST:  Steve Buscemi  •  Axel Kiener  •  Julie Bataille  •  Bruno Podalydès

Spies Like Us (1985)

Two bumbling government employees think they are U.S. spies, only to discover that they are actually decoys for nuclear war.  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Landis
CAST:  Chevy Chase  •  Dan Aykroyd  •  Steve Forrest  •  Donna Dixon

Two bumbling government employees think they are U.S. spies, only to discover that they are actually decoys for nuclear war.  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Landis
CAST:  Chevy Chase  •  Dan Aykroyd  •  Steve Forrest  •  Donna Dixon

The Hudsucker Proxy (1994)

Christmas

A naive business graduate is installed as president of a manufacturing company as part of a stock scam.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Joel Coen  •  Ethan Coen
CAST:  Tim Robbins  •  Jennifer Jason Leigh  •  Paul Newman  •  Charles Durning

A naive business graduate is installed as president of a manufacturing company as part of a stock scam.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Joel Coen  •  Ethan Coen
CAST:  Tim Robbins  •  Jennifer Jason Leigh  •  Paul Newman  •  Charles Durning

The Ladykillers (2004)

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An eccentric, if not charming Southern professor and his crew pose as a band in order to rob a casino, all under the nose of his unsuspecting landlord – a sharp old woman.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Joel Coen  •  Ethan Coen
CAST:  Tom Hanks  •  Irma P. Hall  •  Marlon Wayans  •  J.K. Simmons

An eccentric, if not charming Southern professor and his crew pose as a band in order to rob a casino, all under the nose of his unsuspecting landlord – a sharp old woman.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Joel Coen  •  Ethan Coen
CAST:  Tom Hanks  •  Irma P. Hall  •  Marlon Wayans  •  J.K. Simmons

The Man Who Wasn't There (2001)

Depressing

A tale of murder, crime and punishment set in the summer of 1949. Ed Crane, a barber in a small California town, is dissatisfied with his life, but his wife Doris' infidelity and a mysterious opportunity presents him with a chance to change it.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Joel Coen  •  Ethan Coen
CAST:  Billy Bob Thornton  •  Frances McDormand  •  Michael Badalucco  •  James Gandolfini

A tale of murder, crime and punishment set in the summer of 1949. Ed Crane, a barber in a small California town, is dissatisfied with his life, but his wife Doris' infidelity and a mysterious opportunity presents him with a chance to change it.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Joel Coen  •  Ethan Coen
CAST:  Billy Bob Thornton  •  Frances McDormand  •  Michael Badalucco  •  James Gandolfini

Intolerable Cruelty (2003)

Lighthearted

A revenge-seeking gold digger marries a womanizing Beverly Hills lawyer with the intention of making a killing in the divorce.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Joel Coen  •  Ethan Coen
CAST:  George Clooney  •  Catherine Zeta-Jones  •  Edward Herrmann  •  Geoffrey Rush

A revenge-seeking gold digger marries a womanizing Beverly Hills lawyer with the intention of making a killing in the divorce.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Joel Coen  •  Ethan Coen
CAST:  George Clooney  •  Catherine Zeta-Jones  •  Edward Herrmann  •  Geoffrey Rush

Crimewave (1985)

Fed up of his business partner, Ernest Trend hires the services of two exterminators. When things go drastically wrong and they murder the wrong man, the race is on to frame an innocent video surveillance man.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Sam Raimi
CAST:  Louise Lasser  •  Brion James  •  Paul L. Smith  •  Sheree J. Wilson

Fed up of his business partner, Ernest Trend hires the services of two exterminators. When things go drastically wrong and they murder the wrong man, the race is on to frame an innocent video surveillance man.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Sam Raimi
CAST:  Louise Lasser  •  Brion James  •  Paul L. Smith  •  Sheree J. Wilson

True Grit (2010)

GrippingDramaticEnjoyableReal

Following the murder of her father by a hired hand, a 14-year-old farm girl sets out to capture the killer. To aid her, she hires the toughest U.S. Marshal she can find—a man with 'true grit'—Reuben J. 'Rooster' Cogburn.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Joel Coen  •  Ethan Coen
CAST:  Jeff Bridges  •  Hailee Steinfeld  •  Matt Damon  •  Josh Brolin

Following the murder of her father by a hired hand, a 14-year-old farm girl sets out to capture the killer. To aid her, she hires the toughest U.S. Marshal she can find—a man with 'true grit'—Reuben J. 'Rooster' Cogburn.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Joel Coen  •  Ethan Coen
CAST:  Jeff Bridges  •  Hailee Steinfeld  •  Matt Damon  •  Josh Brolin

Hail, Caesar! (2016)

When a Hollywood star mysteriously disappears in the middle of filming, the studio sends their fixer to get him back.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Joel Coen  •  Ethan Coen
CAST:  Josh Brolin  •  George Clooney  •  Alden Ehrenreich  •  Ralph Fiennes

When a Hollywood star mysteriously disappears in the middle of filming, the studio sends their fixer to get him back.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Joel Coen  •  Ethan Coen
CAST:  Josh Brolin  •  George Clooney  •  Alden Ehrenreich  •  Ralph Fiennes

A Special Day (2012)

At the 60th anniversary of Cannes Film Festival, 34 famous directors are followed by camera.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Samuel Faure  •  Gilles Jacob
CAST:  Theo Angelopoulos  •  Olivier Assayas  •  Jane Campion  •  Chen Kaige

At the 60th anniversary of Cannes Film Festival, 34 famous directors are followed by camera.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Samuel Faure  •  Gilles Jacob
CAST:  Theo Angelopoulos  •  Olivier Assayas  •  Jane Campion  •  Chen Kaige

Inside Llewyn Davis (2013)

MusicalGrippingTragicBeautiful

In Greenwich Village in the early 1960s, gifted but volatile folk musician Llewyn Davis struggles with money, relationships, and his uncertain future.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Joel Coen  •  Ethan Coen
CAST:  Oscar Isaac  •  Carey Mulligan  •  Justin Timberlake  •  Jerry Grayson

In Greenwich Village in the early 1960s, gifted but volatile folk musician Llewyn Davis struggles with money, relationships, and his uncertain future.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Joel Coen  •  Ethan Coen
CAST:  Oscar Isaac  •  Carey Mulligan  •  Justin Timberlake  •  Jerry Grayson
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