Daily Dialogue — July 25, 2019

Charlie Meadows: And I could tell you some stories…
Barton Fink: Sure you could and yet many writers do everything in their power to insulate themselves from the common man, from where they live, from where they trade, from where they fight and love and converse and… and… So naturally their work suffers and regresses into empty formalism and… well, I’m spouting off again, but to put it in your language, the theatre becomes as phony as a three-dollar bill.
Charlie Meadows: Well, I guess that’s a tragedy right there.

— Barton Fink (1991), written by Joel Coen, Ethan Coen

The Daily Dialogue theme for the week: Screenwriter. Today’s suggestion by @DenisAbuti.

Trivia: Written by Joel Coen and Ethan Coen after a trip to see Baby Boom (1987) while suffering writer’s block writing Miller’s Crossing (1990).

Dialogue On Dialogue: Notice how Barton cuts off Charlie twice when he suggests, “I could tell you some stories.” Barton so wrapped up in himself about being an advocate for the ‘common man’ is blind to the stories of a common man sitting right in front of him. The scene offers a great insight in Barton Fink’s personality.