Llewyn, played by Oscar Isaac, is a folk musician attempting to establish himself in New York’s Greenwich Village during the winter of 1961. He’s familiar territory at local clubs, having worked as part of a musical partnership for years, but now he's struggling to gain recognition on his own. His ambition often gets in the way, and his unpredictable nature puts strain on his connections with fellow musicians Jim (Ju…

I initially found myself relating to Llewyn Davis’ difficulties—it's hard to imagine a musician who wouldn't—but as the movie progressed, I came to see how many of those problems he creates for himself. It seems likely that Llewyn will repeat these patterns again and again before anything improves or reaches a low point. Musically, his style feels raw and full of feeling. He’s exactly who I would want singing those m…