10 Brilliant Films That Were Intentionally Boring

Lovers of the Coen Brothers, Bob Dylan, and cats will look at the filmmaking duo's take on the early 1960s Greenwich Village folk scene as a masterpiece. It helps that the brother's craft here is as tightly coiled as guitar strings. Like so many great folk songs, Inside Llewyn Davis is dour but affectionate, setting the hardscrabble lyrics of New York's daily grind to a tune that has mythical proportions.

The plot for the film, however, is noticeably thin. Llewyn (played by Oscar Issac) spends much of his time sleeping on people’s couches, arguing with his ex-girlfriend, and occasionally taking a gig; the movie is purposely etched in a state of desolation, which only further serves to generate the feeling of aimlessness that comes hand to hand with a viewing of the film. And the Coens' seem to be savoring every note of tender hope and cynicism.

It's best not to take this film at face value. Instead, take Llewyn's struggles a metaphor. The start and the end of the film are set in the same place with a similar tone of pessimism - like a record. Llewyn simply cannot escape the mediocrity of his music career. And while others succeed he will always be doomed to repeat the same process again and again.