FILM »

Barton Fink is the story of a writer (played by John Turturro) who is hired by Capitol Pictures to write screenplays under contract. After moving from New York City to LA to work for his new production company, Fink checks into The Hotel Earle, a run-down hotel that bears very few guests. Fink meets with his Producer (played by Tony Shalhoub) for guidance,  Tony directs him to create a story about Wrestling. Fink leaves and returns to his hotel room, he attempts to write but suffers from writers block, he is only able to write 0ne line of action. The harder Fink tries to focus the less focused he becomes, suddenly his attention is turned towards the wall when he hears loud sounds coming from the other side. He calls management to complain about the noise. Charlie (played by John Goodman) visits Fink to apologize for the loud sounds. He offers Fink some whiskey, and the two share a nice moment, Fink exclaims “I write for the Common Man.” Charlie tries repeatedly to comment only to be stopped midway through by Fink’s growing excitement towards his philosophy on writing and art. Charlie leaves and Fink resolves back into his writers block.

Famous writer W.P. Mayhew is throwing up in a bathroom stall when Fink walks in and  takes notice. Fink encounters W.P. excitedly and the two arrange a meeting for lunch the next day. When Fink visits Mayhew’s place the following day, Audrey (Mr. Mayhew’s love interest and secretary) answers the door, she tells Fink that Mayhew is ill (we hear him rampaging in a drunken stupor from behind the door) they reschedule. Barton resigns to his room where he again struggles to write anything.

The next day W.P, Audrey, and Fink eat lunch, they discuss writing, art, and even W.P.’s drinking problem, W.P. stumbles off into his usual drunken fit, slapping Audrey before he does. Barton by this time has lost all of his respect for Mayhew and has taken a certain liking to Audrey.

Fink pays a visit to his producer and learns that he has been scheduled to meet with the President of Capital Pictures the following morning, his producer has talked Fink up and Fink knows that mustn’t let him down. He returns to his room in a panic and begins to write, however after what seems to be an eternity, nothing surfaces, his page sits blankly. He calls Audrey and asks her to visit, she does. Audrey visits Fink and reveals that she has been writing most of W.P’s newest works, Fink is astonished, the two kiss and make love.

The next morning when Fink awakes he finds Audrey laying next to him in bed mutilated. He can’t recall any of the events that happened and he enlists the help of Charlie. Charlie tells Fink not to contact the cops and that he’ll take care of it. He disposes of Audrey’s body and leaves a square package with Fink. Charlie leaves for New York, Fink realizes he has nearly missed his meeting with the President of Capital Pictures, he heads to his meeting.

After meeting with the President of CP, Fink returns to the hotel to find two detectives, they interrogate him and reveal that Charlie is a serial killer. Fink is in shock, he tells the detectives that he has limited information and resolves back into his room, he begins to write, this time turning out an entire screenplay in one sitting.

We find our selves gliding through a dance hall with Fink as he twirls a beautiful young lady gracefully in celebration of his new script, a sailor who is departing for the war the next day intervenes and asks Fink if he can “take the lady for a spin” Fink is reluctant and the two engage in an argument that turns the whole dance floor upside down, the scene turns into a slow motion haze and then fades to black.

When Fink returns to his hotel room, he finds the two detectives reading his new screenplay, they blame the murder of Audrey on him and Charlie stating that he was an accomplice, Fink proclaims “The room is hotter, Charlie is here.” The wallpaper peels slowly like paste, the walls catch fire and Charlie enters murdering both of the Detectives and then externalizes his thoughts and motivations to Fink.

Fink exits the building has it burns to nothing.

The next day Fink meets with the president of Capital Pictures, he tells Fink that his new script is “shit” and that he isn’t going to fire him, instead he’s going to keep him under contract, and purposely not produce anything that he creates. Fink exits disturbed.

We follow Fink as he walks down a beach numbly carrying the package Charlie left for him. A young lady approaches Fink, she asks him what he has in the box, Fink replies  ”I don’t know.”

The film fades into credits.