I think I follow what yr getting at, but I don't see why you are so insistent on that interpretation. It's unnecessarily complicated and doesn't really add anything to the film that you can't still get to with the obvious reading.

I dunno.

I liked the movie. I felt a little cheated at the end because there was way too much unresolved. So many characters that you don't know what happened to them. I get that it's a story about his struggle, and that he doesn't know what happens to the people along the way. But at the end I wanted something to happen besides the finish of the opening scene. Maybe he hears that silly song he made with Timberlake on the radio. Realizes it's a huge hit, but he won't get anything out of it because he took upfront money, with no royalties. Or maybe Mulligan decides to have the baby, or he resolves to go to Akron. Something.

By the way, Mulligan is FANTASTIC in her limited role here. I love the music in the movie. Oscar Isaac is great in the lead.

If only it had an ending I liked better, I would have loved this movie.

B+

Though it is never made completely overt (with, say, Justin's character shown on the cover of Billboard), I definitely presume "Please Mr. Kennedy" becomes a hit. Within the internal logic of the film, the moment he decides to forgo royalties for a small, instant payday seals the deal. Also, doesn't the older couple he stays with mention hearing it? So it has already entered their privileged, but largely bourgeois or mainstream sphere.

I do not imagine he will ever resolve to find his child in Ohio.

I do not remember exactly what is mentioned by whom, but I remember that the film makes it quite clear that the song became a hit (which, as you said, was obvious from the moment Llewyn takes the payday).

Maybe it is F. Murray Abraham's character who says he loves the song and how it has crossover-hit potential.

I cannot remember 100 percent clearly because I have not seen the film since December, but "Please Mr. Kennedy" is definitely mentioned again and in a positive light.

Maybe it was mentioned, I don't remember it though. I was just mentioning it as one alternative way to finish the movie. Obviously if it was previously mentioned it wouldn't work.

I believe the Gorfeins mention they heard it and thought it was great/tell him he's lucky to get the royalties



I probably wouldn't be as insistent if not for the specific moment he peekaboos in the hallway, says hello and the cat runs ahead of him, it plays out exactly the same both times. Yes they film the scene twice, as they do him getting beat up at the end. (if watching the scenes back to back, the only difference other than lighting, is that the cat runs ahead a split second faster) But if the Coens were intending these to be mornings a week apart, I don't see them putting in a scene so close to being identical

the other couple at the second gorfein dinner party (not the gorfeins themselves) mention that the song was gonna be a hit

I am happy that the Coens resisted the urge to have a scene of Llewyn listening to a radio just as a Dj says "and now, that new big hit racing up the charts, 'Please Mr. Kennedy'!" as he seethes with repressed rage. But no, we don't get any official confirmation that it's actually a hit (it's easily possible that the record doesn't take off and the couple at the dinner party was just being friendly to Llewyn about it).

The first half is aces. Second half not so much storywise, but its still great on a technical level. Visually this is the best Coen's movie I've seen. And that isn't an easy list to top! i liked the New York characters alot more than the Chicago ones though and would have liked to see more of them. Llewyn Davis isnt the type of guy who gives people what they want, so it makes sense that the film would 't either. Here's a guy who learne he has a son, but decides not to meet him and runs over his cat instead. The logline said the week would have a series of highs and lows for Llewyn but I didn't see a lot of highs in here. Maybe he should have gotten a hit off John Goodman's needle.

A-