Like my weaknesses for Van Morrison and Sour-Cream-and-Bacon-Chips, I’m convinced my love for the Coen Brothers’ films is something that I’ve inherited from my dad.  Growing up, it was standard practice on my weekends with him to make the trip to Blockbuster to yield a rental with the siblings’ names scrolled across the side (I think he prolly rented Blood Simple enough times to have purchased five copies of it).  Being wee at the time, with eyes only for Pinky and the Brain, I would rarely watch with him; but when I later discovered the Bros on my own, I had the thrill of realizing that their movies were super cool, giving me more than a few “my dad’s awesome!” A-HA Moments. It felt like discovering the Beatles after having been surrounded by their albums all my life (with the added bonus of the Beatles still being very much around and making music!).

My first intro was Raising Arizona, and I was hooked out of the gate. Not only is RA packed full of weird lols and an A-Game Nicolas Cage, but it also contains potentially the best-delivered line of any movie ever: Holly Hunter shout-sobbing “I love her so muu-uh-uh-uhch,” as she gazes at this super cute baby she’s just kidnapped (and I mean, who hasn’t been there?). Then the screwy Hudsucker Proxy, a kind of My-Girl-Friday’s-Wonder-Emporium; then O Brother Where Art Thou and its killer soundtrack; Fargo and its perfect performances (and bonus Canadian feel!); and of course, the generally-agreed-upon Coolest Movie Ever, The Big Lebowski (ask yourself where we would be as a society without The Dude, and I think you’ll agree the answer is: a lot more uptight!).

So needless to say, I am thrilled about the upcoming Coen Brothers Retrospective at the TIFF Bell Lightbox. Titled Films in Joel and Ethan Coen: Tall Tales, the retro runs from Nov. 28th until Dec. 20th, and heralds the release of their newest film: Inside Llewyn Davis, starring Oscar Isaac and Carey Mulligan, and opening on Christmas (Merry X-Mas to all!).

Out of the Coen’s humungo and diverse catalogue, the Lightbox has chosen 10 iconic flicks- including Raising Arizona, The Big Lebowski, True Grit, and the recent Best Picture winner (and Javier Bardem hair-vehicle), No Country For Old Men.  It’s a wonderful chance to discover a bunch of pretty perfect films, or revisit old faves. Bonus: all come highly recommended by my dad.

More information and full schedule available here.