The MoFo Top 100 of the 2000s Countdown

It's both.

Ok, I just edited the entry to reflect that. Most websites list only Joel, but that's probably because of the reasons I mentioned. I think it's a DGA thing?

I really just want you all angry and confused the whole time.

Man Who Wasn’t There is an excellent film and often overlooked when discussing the Coens. From what I understand they both direct and produce but their earlier films they’d alternate credits, one taking Director and one taking Producer then switch the next movie. Though in the last five years or so I’ve seen duos share directing credits, including them so idk what changed with the DGA but I appreciate it.

The Coen Brothers had three titles make the previous list, but none of them was The Man Who Wasn't There. The original Iron Man that really kicked the MCU into the strosphere did make that list. Barely. It was #99 on the MoFo Top 100 of the Millennium List.

Nope. Up until The Ladykillers, of all projects, Joel was always credited as the director, Ethan was always credited as the producer, and they always shared screenwriting credit. However from the very beginning both brothers always did all three jobs interchangably. There were no DGA rules against both receiving directorial credit, it was just the way they decided to do things. Until 2004. Joel and Ethan also serve as their own editor on fifteen of their eighteen features to date, under the pseudonym Roderick Jaynes.

The Man Who Wasn't There (2001)

In this distinctly Coen brothers movie nothing goes as it was planned or desired by anybody and for anybody. But there is no absurd, futility or despair, because we experience the events from the point of view of the man who wasn't there Ed (by Billy Bob Thornton). Where others lose everything and their senses, Ed conveys strange indifference, acceptance and almost contentment, even though he fares no better. The only other person that somewhat shares his attitude is Birdy played by young Scarlett Johansson. Tony Shalhoub as lawyer Freddy provides farcical hope to doomed clients, well at least until his own charade ends abruptly. Coen brothers demonstrate why they are among the best screen writers and directors with this unusual flick.

Iron Man (2008)

Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) goes from weapons manufacturer to prisoner of war to Iron Man we know. The edge it has over other superhero movies is it's fusion with present day geopolitical environment. Such fusion crates the feeling we aren't in some parallel superhero universe, rather Iron Man is in our universe. Most of the first part of the movie Tony spends in a cave as a prisoner of war making him seem more human. Once Tony escapes his activities are followed by news media and military.

Nope. Up until The Ladykillers, of all projects, Joel was always credited as the director, Ethan was always credited as the producer, and they always shared screenwriting credit. However from the very beginning both brothers always did all three jobs interchangably. There were no DGA rules against both receiving directorial credit, it was just the way they decided to do things. Until 2004. Joel and Ethan also serve as their own editor on fifteen of their eighteen features to date, under the pseudonym Roderick Jaynes.