I am Zak; 18 years old and keen on literature, creative writing and Jazz. Ill probably end up being ...
I am Zak; 18 years old and keen on literature, creative writing and Jazz. Ill probably end up being a journalist or something, but ultimately I aspire to getting some fiction published... and recognized.
Member since:06.01.2001
Reviews:53
Members who trust:9
I had high expectations of this film; Blood Simple was the only film by the Coen brothers I hadn't until recently seen. Being a great fan of these fine and prolific film makers - having relished the likes of Fargo and Barton Fink - I was quite familiar with their quirky style. Recent productions of theirs have set high standards for themselves, and fortunately Blood Simple lived up to them. This debut film from the Coens (1984) did not once appear amateur, contrived or anything but flawless in its own right.
This post noir film features a man sick with envy of his wife's lover, deeply bitter at the intimacy they share. A few simple lines in a Country & Western bar sum up the man's dark nature, and before long he has hired an eccentric Texan to kill his wife and her lover, who by now are plaguing his mind.
From here the chilling course of events unfolds; slowly and gradually, with numerous crafty plot devices. A creepy soundtrack and eerie ambiences pervade the atmosphere, but calm moments often give way to shocking twists and stunning sequences of violence. As usual for the Coens, the cinematography is refined and creative, and in my opinion the slightly dated quality makes the film seem strangely more plausible.
As well as great photography, the film’s deft script also manages to resonate hauntingly. Characterisation is nuanced and adequately subdued, but the focus is primarily on tension and mood, with minimal but succinct dialogue. Often the long pauses and lulls are more terrifying than the episodes of action or dialogue.
Such unnerving touches are particularly rife in the classic scene where Abbey's lover Ray attempts to bury a body that’s still alive. Recently shot in the chest but still living, this not-quite-mortally-wounded body has left Ray with the dreadful task of disposing of it. Fear and paranoia are presented infectiously. Even within the ominous world of film-noir reality the horror is convincing, and the teeth clenching sequences of suspense are mastered with effective visual techniques, (techniques later developed in films like Fargo.)
Fargo is probably the Coen film most comparable to Blood Simple, but Blood Simple is more basic in concept than the other projects; it falls marginally short of the shrewd dialogue that makes their later work so classy. However, Blood Simple is characterized by its simplicity, so you can expect the focus to be on style more than human interaction.
But regardless of other Coen accomplishments, Blood Simple is a fine first film, marking the start of a legacy of inventive productions.
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Thriller - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Timothy West, Neil Morrissey, Tara Fitzgerald, Annette Crosbie, Pauline Quirke, Rob Brydon, Denise Van Outen, John Thomson, Kevin Whately, David Suchet
Production Year: 2002 - Thriller - Director: Bharat Nalluri, Rob Bailey, Andy Wilson - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Matthew MacFadyen, Keeley Hawes, David Oyelowo, Peter Firth, Jenny Agutter, Lisa Faulkner
Sounds an intersting film. I quite like the Coen brothers style so will look out for this. Maureen
clownfoot 14.07.2004 11:37
A concise well written review! Could do with a little more detail in places, such as who features in the film (Frances McDormand - who appears in many other Coen works, probably because she's married to Joel Coen, Dan Hedeya and M. Emmet Walsh) but other than that I think you capture The Coen's style easily within your opinion. If you haven't seen the Big Lebowski, Raising Arizona or Miller's Crossing yet, then get to it - these are three of the finest Coen brothers movies put to screen! Alboy
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 24 hours...
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]")
Jul 13th, 2004
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