Hi, I work for a large mobile telecomms company. I live in Oxford but was born in Toronto, Canada. ...
Hi, I work for a large mobile telecomms company. I live in Oxford but was born in Toronto, Canada. Engaged to a lovely guy from Birmingham (see Sonatine on Ciao [love you babes xx]). Love playing guitar & midi keyboards when I can afford it. Have 2 ca...
Member since:03.01.2001
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A delicious Coen offering, perhaps one of the best film noirs to come out of an indie studio, Blood Simple has it all in spades.
A spooky barowner (Dan Hedaya) hires a slimy private detective (M.Emmett Walsh) to murder his wandering wife (Frances McDormand) & dumb boyfriend (John Getz), but things get slightly out of hands when the dick has an ulterior motive all of his own.
Yeah, ok, this kind of story has been done to death a million times so what makes this movie so special. Easy..the Coens (Joel & Ethan) don't go for the obvious, instead they lead the viewer into unchartered waters. Rather than letting us think what should happen next, they spike that theory with something a little different, making for a more entertaining film.
The acting is good, although I have to say I wasn't particularly impressed with the dreary boyfriend, Ray (Getz). Throughout the film he had that "out to lunch" sign permanently etched over his face - no emotion, no wit, no charm in his voice just the same dreary monotone throughout, which soon begins to irritate.
On the other side of the coin Frances McDormand's, Abby, was quite good all things considered, especially since this was her debut film. She too carries the same kind of rabbit-in-headlights facial expression but at least she has a slightly wider emotional ability than Getz.
Best actor of all was from M. Emmet Walsh, as the private detective, Visser. I've always liked Walsh even though he doesn't get the credit or enough movies he so much deserves. I particularly liked his Southern Texas accent which just about summed up the atmosphere to a tee.
But its the Coens who steer the film with some very good little twists; while the cinematography is excellent from Barry Sonnenfeld. There's one scene I particularly liked. Back in the bar we have the camera playing the 1st person as it dollies up the bar table and then "hops" over an outstretched drunk before gliding up the bar once more with the faintest of "bumps"!
The music is exceptionally good, lots of simple but haunting piano work that lingers in the memory as a portent of expectation. Another good example is with Getz out in the field where a body has been buried. The camera views Getz from a distance. The music starts along with the engine of his car, only for the music to stop as the engine cuts out. It then returns once more as the he finally gets the car moving. A simple little trick but beautifully executed.
I haven't seen the Director's cut, but if it's any better than the original then I'm in for a treat.
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The debut film of director Joel Coen and his brother-producer Ethan Coen, 1983'sBlood ... more
Simpleis grisly comicnoirthat marries the feverish toughness of pulp thrillers with the ghoulishness of even pulpier horror. (Imagine the novels of Jim Thompson someh...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Deep in the heart of Texas, a jealous bar owner hires a private eye to kill his wife ... more
(Frances McDormand) and her lover. The sleazy hitman (M. Emmet Walsh) double-crosses the husband, killing him instead and pocketing the cash. The perfect crime or so i...
The debut film of director Joel Coen and his brother-producer Ethan Coen, 1983'sBlood ... more
Simpleis grisly comicnoirthat marries the feverish toughness of pulp thrillers with the ghoulishness of even pulpier horror. (Imagine the novels of Jim Thompson someh...
Postage & Packaging: free Super Saver Delivery Availability: Usually dispatched within 10 to 14 days...
Deep in the heart of Texas a jealous bar owner hires a private eye to kill his wife and ... more
her lover. The sleazy hitman double-crosses the husband killing him instead and pocketing the cash. The perfect crime or so it seems but disposing of the corpse...
Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: 3-5 working days
![Blood Simple [DVD] [1983]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/78525452.jpg "Blood Simple [DVD] [1983]")
Jan 31st, 2001
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