The Hudsucker Proxy (1994)
Retro Cool DVD Cover
Sure sure it’s just a movie but it’s a ‘Coen’. The brothers Joel and Ethan Coen are just getting their groove on in 1994. On the back of Barton Fink and Millers Crossing they give us this retro stylised comedic look at ruthless corporate life in the late 50’s that truly is larger than life complete with a demon sign writer and angel maintenance worker… Don’t let that dissuade you from watching this film though since it really isn’t about anything as heavy as angels and demons. I’m doing my best to refrain from full fan boy mode here but I’m warning you if the Coen’s should ever cross my path I will enter shrieking-teen-girl mode and I will get my scream on. Ever since the 90’s they have had hit after hit. They followed Hudsucker with two of the greats in the 90’s being Fargo and the mediocre release but arguably first internet cult classic, The Big Lebowski.
It’s 1958 and Norville Barnes (Tim Robbins) is a good natured but dim-witted graduate from small town America. He comes to overwhelming New York with a big idea in his pocket – you know, for kids – but he struggles to find work until he happens upon an advert from Hudsucker Industries. Paul Newman plays Sidney Mussburger who is so stone cold he puffs on his ex CEO’s cigar moments after he took the short trip to the pavement via the 44th floor window – 45 floors counting the Mezzanine. The Hudsucker board led by Sidney devise a plan to maintain majority control of the company by replacing the CEO with an unsuspecting puppet, a proxy if you will. Their choice grabs the attention of the press and in particular one fast talking Amy Archer played obnoxiously by Jennifer Jason Leigh.
There you have it, a devious old man taking advantage of a trusting fool who gets mixed up with a curious wise cracking know it all journo out for a story and we have a… rather pleasant story. That’s a Coen recipe for a pure satire of the most enjoyable kind. It’s just unabashedly over the top with superbly animated characters and gorgeous sets with lots of detail. From the beautiful opening scene you get the tone of the movie and it’s carried right through to the end. It’s dark and dense but it never appears harsh to look at. It never asks you to believe this world is real but rather to just let go and enjoy the imaginative ride that is Coen magic.
I’m not a fan of the montage in movies. It’s a cheap way to compress lots of time into a neat package on the back of even cheaper music. I do concede it’s necessary for the most part but I still don’t like how little effort directors put in them. Not so here. We are taken for a ride through the process of conception for a Hula Hoop complete with witty stages in accounting, R&D, manufacturing, marketing and finally out in the street where it becomes a huge success. It’s just another indication that everyone on set really tried to make something great.
My favourite scene however has to be the diner scene (see video above) purely for the brilliant use of commentary by two taxi drivers who are sitting opposite our unsuspecting duo. The camera slowly zooms in on Norville and Amy while a lone violin accompanies the sad scene. You quickly forget the taxi drivers as their deep soothing voice becomes your thought process directing the scene unfolding in front of you. And then you think back and realise amongst all this they were also talking about how they had gas.
A friend asked me why I chose this particular movie to review as my very first on this blog. I didn’t really have an answer and I mumbled my way out of a reply. Having the time to think it through I can confidently tell him that this is an example of why I watch movies. The very first time I saw this it was late at night and by chance I caught the beautiful opening scene as the camera floats past dark lit roof tops while snow is gently coming down. I did not leave my seat until the credits broke the spell. What better way is there to start writing about films than with one you adore?