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Parents' Guide to

Barton Fink

By Kelly Kessler, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 17+

Bizarre Hollywood dream factory. Teens only.

Movie R 1991 116 minutes
Barton Fink Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

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age 15+

Based on 2 parent reviews

Jim24
Jim24 Adult
January 19, 2019
age 14+
This movie’s content is similar to Christopher Nolan’s Insomnia, where nearly all the violence is alluded to or shown post-attack. There’s a lot less of it in this movie, however. You see a dead body in bed for about a minute, and people are bloodlessly shot. Very intense and surreal movie.
xmasterxofxmyxdomainx39@yahoo.com
[email protected] Parent of 15 and 15-year-old
August 8, 2009
age 15+

Amazing.

Barton Fink is simply amazing, it will leave you breathless, and should be mandatory viewing for any movie buff. It is one of the most thought provoking movies i have ever seen, there are many interpretations of what this movie is saying, and what you thought everything meant symbolically. This movie is for people who want to think, if you want to watch mindless violence and action, look elsewhere, but Barton Fink, nonetheless is a thought provoking and amazing movie. Go out and rent it right now.

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much swearing
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Set in the early 1940s, BARTON FINK traces the bizarre foray of its title character (John Turturro) into the dark underbelly of Hollywood. On the heels of a hit play, the playwright heads to Tinseltown to make the big bucks writing a B-wrestling film. Instead of finding success, he finds himself trapped in a bizarre series of events. While struggling with writer's block at a fleabag hotel, Fink strikes up a friendship with a burly and sweaty insurance salesman (John Goodman) with a dark past, present, and future. This friendship -- and everything else Fink comes in contact with -- goes south as a grizzly turn of events leaves him artistically bankrupt and overall aimless.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2 ):
Kids say (3 ):

In classic Coen brothers style, the film skillfully combines eerily wacky characters with offbeat dark scenarios. Cinematography and design elements coalesce to create a world which welcomes the film's larger-than-life characters, odd situations, and quick-paced dialogue. Barton Fink was the first film to win all three major awards at the Cannes Film Festival -- Palme D'or, Best Director, and Best Actor.

Turturro uses his awkward appearance and nervous demeanor to create an alienated artist trapped in a hellish Hollywood. John Mahoney's alcoholic genius, Judy Davis's prolific secretary, and Michael Lerner's studio exec help to round out the weird scenario. Learner earned an Academy Award for his performance.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the violence in Barton Fink. How does it make you feel?

  • This movie also begs questions about the place of art in Hollywood. What do the viewers think about the film's construction of Hollywood? Is film art or commerce? This film also presents an excellent opportunity to discuss film style.

  • The Coen brothers' style contrasts to that of classical Hollywood cinema in various ways. How does it differ in terms of narrative? Character development? Aesthetics?

Movie Details

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