Joel and Ethan Coen make up one of the most original and unconventional movie-making partnerships to come out of America at the end of the 20th century. From their debut tour de force Blood Simple to the hugely acclaimed The Man Who Wasn't There the brothers' films have attracted critical kudos and commercial success in equal measure due to their irreverent individual and technically virtuoso nature. Each of their films defies categorisation yet you're never in any doubt you're watching a Coen brothers movie.

This exploration of the movie career of Hollywood's best-loved outsiders charts their rise from cult favourites to box-office contenders whilst combining indispensable reference material and critical analysis of their films.