Trailer of the week: Inside Llewyn Davis

The Coen Brothers’ new film, premiered at the Cannes Film Festival this week – far, far ahead of its UK release date of 24 January, 2014.

Inside Llewyn Davis

A January release? Someone clearly wants an Oscar.

They might get one too, judging by the rave reviews from critics in Cannes. The Llewyn Davis of the title is a Bob Dylan-like folk singer in 1961 New York. Played by Oscar Isaac, he’s obviously talented but, it seems, destined for career failure; as unsold copies of his debut album pile up while others – such as a perky duo played by Carey Mulligan and Justin Timberlake – look destined for success.

Sounds funny and tragic in equal measures.

Inside Llewyn Davis

By all accounts – and by the look of the trailer – it’s both. There are plenty of shots of Lewis shivering in the snow, being punched outside a bar, and generally looking exhausted and lost. On the other, there’s John Goodman being obnoxious, which is always entertaining. “Folk songs? Thought you said you were a musician.”