While watching this film, I said to myself aloud...

I just watched it. Finishing dinner as it started so I missed the opening credits and thought, later mid-way during the movie, I can't wait to see who directed this mundane effort. Surprised to see the Coen's names pop up. Still think it's one of their misfires.

While the film does end with the exact same scene as the beginning, notice there were more details (Bob Dylan playing, slightly different shots from Llewyn's perspective...and him saying with a bemused smile "Au Revoir" to the man who just beat him up). And prior to this sequence, there was Llewyn having mini-revelations when learning the cat found its owners again, was named Ulysses, and seeing that movie poster about animals traversing thousands of miles with an unfailing purpose to go back home.

So, yes, technically it ends on the same bookend sequence as the beginning, but I think it becomes obvious (with the new information given), Llewyn is just a bit more wiser and accepting of life's random circumstances. He could very well benefit from the folk music boom as hinted at by the Bob Dylan performance, he could very well learn to move on from Jean and find love elsewhere, and he seems to be able to shake off the tragic emotional burden of his partner Mike (notice he finally completes the song he wasn't able to finish at the Gorfeins).

That final "Au Revoir" with a bit of a smile (at least that's what it seemed like to me) almost seems like acceptance. Life has constantly beat him up, and he just literally got beat up. But all throughout this bruising journey, he does seem a tad wiser, broad-minded and able to go with the flow of life. Life is weird, random, sometimes unfair. But if a cat can overcome starvation and homelessness and travel miles and miles to find its way through determination, Llewyn probably thinks he can too.

no story!! LOL..

I love this movie. It's story about a struggling artist who is grieving the death of his best friend. My wife passed away shortly before I saw it, and I could identify strongly with Llewyn in that regard. I also lived in a hotel for several months after I had a fire in my home after her passing. I also struggled being unemployed and underemployed for a number of years afterwards until I had overcome this to rebuild my career. The scene where the club owner Bud Grossman rejects Llewyn after he plays a song for him reminds me of all of the rejections I had received when going for job interviews. My own life felt like it was at a standstill, going nowhere.

The main song, "Fare Thee Well" is quite poignant and it makes me think of the times that I went through those years ago.

The only unlikable character is Jean who has quite a nasty potty mouth. John Goodman is hilariously memorable. The Gorfeins are very kind. The performance of "Please Mr. Kennedy" is hilarious and provides wonderful comic relief.

It's a highly entertaining movie and it's not as dreary and depressing as a lot of people describe it.

This film is a good example of a movie people only really think it’s great because they like the filmmakers and would think nothing of it if the film were made by someone unknown.