To say what Barton Fink is about is to provide an opinion. At the surface level it is a story of an intellectual New York playwright in the early 1940's who has obtained a small level of critical praise. He then uses that celebrity to move to Hollywood to write for "the pictures". He aspires to write for the common man. While in the studio system he is bogged down by the procedural nature of writing in Hollywood. And is all but stymied by writers block. His only friends on the west coast are a door to door insurance salesman who is his next door neighbor at his hotel, a lush / has-been writer and that writers female companion. That is the bare bones description.
This movie has been credited as commenting on Fascism, slavery, homosexuality, salvation, elitism, sadomasochism and the nature of art itself. This movie is littered with symbolism. It remains surreal and mysterious while driving a lucid plot forward. This is the best movie David Lynch never made. Barton Fink either directly or indirectly references Shakespeare, Preston Sturges, Nebuchadnezzar, Steven Foster, Alfred Hitchcock, Franz Kafka and Jack Okie.
Barton Fink is notable for another reason. It is the first collaboration between the Brothers and now long time cinematographer Roger Deakins. What a task this must have been for him. To create such a rich, vivid world set in reality with surreal flourishes at every turn. The sound in Barton is simpily amazing as well. There are long stretches without conversation that hinge on every faint click or ping that is made.
The hotel Barton stays at while in LA is "The Earl". It has been suggested that this hotel is either a physical personification of hell, or at least purgatory. One thing that is inarguable, The Earl is it's own character. It lives and breathes. When doors open and close you can hear it inhale and exhale. The wallpaper releases from the walls as if it is trying to communicate. Once it is reapplied, the glue squeezes out from behind the wall as if it is bleeding.
There are more than a few religious overtones and "hidden" messages in the movie. The number 666 can be heard or observed if one is paying attention. In Barton's most desperate hours he (a Jew) turns to the bible in his desk drawer for help. This film has received criticized as being both anti-Semitic and anti-Christian. Mostly in the way that people think that Don Mclean's song "American Pie" is sacrilege.
Another component of the hotel room is the picture of a woman sitting on the beach. This hangs over Barton's desk. It seems to fascinate him. There really is no view of the city to speak of from his hotel room. Then in the final scene Barton visits the beach and there is the woman of the picture, or a very close representation.
The final talking point in the picture can be shared by Brad Pitt's character in Se7en. "What's in the box"? At one point Charlie (Barton's neighbor) has to leave town after helping Barton out in a very serious and private matter. But before he skips town, he leaves a box wrapped in brown paper with a twine string around it with Barton. The contents are never explained. Much like the mysterious briefcase in Pulp Fiction.
I think that the Coen Brothers are having a great time in both writing and shooting this picture. They have remained totally ambiguous about the story for almost 20 years now. It is left completely open for viewers to insert whatever bais or meaning they want to. You can read whatever you want into the symbolism and all the meta-ness going on in this movie. I say don't waste your time. Grab a bag of popcorn, maybe a tasty beverage, sit back and enjoy some of the best film makers of our generation at there most creative. I give this movie a 5/5 stars (my first perfect rating). For more information check out the link below for the trailer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WK0WjWlVO9w
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