Barton Fink, written and directed by Joel and Ethan Coen, follows the titular character, a celebrated playwright from New York, as he embarks on a journey to Los Angeles in the 1940s to write for the movies. Fink is offered a contract by Capitol Pictures, a major Hollywood studio, to pen a script for a wrestling movie.
Upon arriving at the Hotel Earle, an eerie and rundown hotel where Capitol Pictures has arranged for his stay, Fink encounters a range of eccentric characters including his neighbor, insurance salesman Charlie Meadows, and the hotel's surly and unhelpful desk clerk, Chet. Fink struggles with writer's block and becomes increasingly frustrated as he tries to produce a meaningful script.
As his time in Hollywood progresses, Fink's life spirals out of control as he becomes embroiled in a series of disturbing events. He is plagued by strange dreams and hallucinations, is troubled by his interactions with studio executives and collaborators, including his boisterous and alcoholic agent, and is visited by the enigmatic W.P. Mayhew, a writer he admires but who is struggling with his own personal demons.
As Fink delves deeper into the chaos of Hollywood, he becomes involved in a grisly murder case and discovers the dark, sinister underbelly of the movie industry. The claustrophobic and oppressive environment of the Hotel Earle becomes a symbol of Fink's descent into madness and his struggle to maintain artistic integrity amidst the commercial pressures of Hollywood.
Barton Fink is a darkly comic, surreal, and provocative exploration of the creative process, the dangers of ambition and the corrupting nature of the entertainment industry. It features brilliant performances by John Turturro as Barton Fink, John Goodman as Charlie Meadows, and Judy Davis as Audrey, Fink's assistant and love interest. The film was met with critical acclaim upon its release and has become a cult classic.
