Barton Fink (idea)

The Coen brothers' metaphorical film of Hollywood as Hell. Chaosmind gives an adequate description of the film, but there are specific instances of imagery in this movie that cannot be ignored if one must understand the pure chewing satisfaction that is Barton Fink.

While watching Barton Fink, keep in mind the following:

• The Hotel Earle is Hell. In the Hotel, there are two major elements at play: fire, respresenting sin and anger, and water, representing rebirth, release or redemption.
• When we first see Chet (Steve Buscemi's character), he as ascending from the pit of the underworld.
• The number six is repeated three times in the elevator.
• The stationary reads "A day or a lifetime."
• Barton's typewriter is an "Underwood" (Underworld)
• Charlie is a figure of sacrifice. This is a key to the anger which manifests itself later in the film.

The ultimate question at the end of the film isn't really concerning what is in the box (as for as symbolism goes, the best explanation I've heard is 'sin'). It's about whether or not Barton has escaped the clutches of hell, or has the comfortable illusion of ignorance become so complete that he can never leave?

You know, for a movie that was written during a bout of writer's block, I'm really impressed.