Banana Scoop

It’s no surprise that the Coen Brothers make some of the most memorable characters in movie history.  Each of their movies seem to have a perfect balance between quirky hilarious and downright terrifying.  Even their one movie I never seemed to comprehend, A Serious Man, had some decent memorable characters.  Here’s the list of my five favorite characters from their very long and impressive resume.  Feel free to chime in when you feel as though I’ve forgotten somebody.

Rooster Cogburn – True Grit

I had never seen the original, nor do if I know this Rooster Cogburn is similar to John Wayne’s.  So I essentially went into No Country for Old Men thinking it would be a badass western like 3:10 to Yuma.  I was pleasantly surprised when it was laced with some delicate racial humor, a blabbering Matt Damon and best of all, a western marshall Jeff Lebowski.  Jeff Bridges’s performance in True Grit was rightfully nominated for an Oscar for him delivering both a bad-ass and heartful cowboy as seen in this awesome movie.

I tried to find a decent clip on Youtube of some funny scenes from True Grit…but Youtube was surprisingly a lack of it. [copyright reasons].  So here’s a fan made video making fun of sometimes Jeff Bridges inaudible dialogue.

Chad Feldheimer – Burn After Reading

Burn After Reading is an amazing black comedy.  Which is very trademark of Coen Brother comedies.  The inclusion of Brad Pitt playing a clueless muscle head gym trainer trying to engage in blackmail is hands down of the funniest things I’ve ever seen.  If you’ve seen the movie, watch the clip below and I dare you to not try and smile.

Anton Chigurh – No Country for Old Men

Javier Bardem received and Oscar for this portrayal.  And it was very well deserved.  The man is cryptic, methodically insane, and a stone cold killer.  He will stop at nothing to get his man and he does not bend to the will of anyone, man, woman, or child.  And that haircut…Below is the coin toss scene.  Very likely one of the most powerful scenes in the movie that completely characterizes who he is and just how insane he is.  Friendo.

Walter Sobchack – The Big Lebowski

I honestly wish I could choose all characters from the Big Lebowski.  The entire cast is an absolute riot.  Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Steve Buscemi, Jeff Bridges, Julianne Moore.  But if I only had to choose one…it of course has to be John Goodman’s Walter Sobchack.  The Dude is just trying to get by and it seems Walter is always mucking things up in the most hilarious ways.

It would appear The Coens or their producers don’t like Youtube posting their clips.  Here’s another remix of a famous clip because I couldn’t find the original.

Everett – O Brother Where Art Thou

O Brother Where Art Thou is a homage to the Odyssey.   The movie’s lead title is meant to be Odysseus, as portrayed through Everett.  The Dapper Dan Man himself yelling ‘Damn we’re in a tight spot’ all over the place is an absolute riot.

I really wanted to add Maude or another female character.  And George Clooney in Burn After Reading as well…but only one credit per movie and one actor per list.