San Diego Reader

So the trailer for the Coen Bros. latest, Inside Llewyn Davis, just came out, and it features this wonderful shot of John Goodman:

That magnificent haircut got me thinking fondly of the astonishing and insane range of characters that Goodman has created for the Coens, and I thought it might be worth a look back.

Number 4: Gale Snoats, Raising Arizona

Insane behavior: babynapping, bank-robbing, jail-breaking, violently turning on a friend and associate when there's money to be made.

Killer bellowed catchphrase: "Never leave a man behind!"

Number 3: Walter Sobchak, The Big Lebowski

Insane behavior: threatening to shoot a man for mismarking a score during a league bowling game, assaulting a car with a crowbar, other examples too numerous to mention.

Killer bellowed catchphrase: "Who's the fucking nihilist here?" (I know that "Shut the fuck up, Donny" is the expected selection, but hey, it's my list.)

Number 2: Big Dan Teague, O Brother Where Art Thou?

Insane behavior: assault and robbery upon kind souls who bought him lunch, selling Bibles without faith, leading a KKK rally, crushing your friend who's been loved up and turned into a horny toad by sirens.

Killer bellowed catchphrase: "It's all about the money, boys!"

Number 1: Charlie Meadows, Barton Fink

Insane behavior: killing folks, burning builings, delivering boxes that may contain your mother's head.

Killer bellowed catchphrase: "Look upon me! I'll show you the life of the mind!"