Written by: Joel Coen , Ethan Coen
Directed by: Joel Coen , Ethan Coen (uncredited)
Starring: John Getz, Frances McDormand, Dan Hedaya
Rated: R
Watch the trailer
Plot
A rich man hires a private investigator to kill his cheating wife, but nothing is simple when blood is involved.
Verdict
This is a very good movie, and to think it was the Coen brother's first film. It's twisting tale of deceit that's beautifully shot and unfolds perfectly.
Watch It.
Review
This was the Coen brothers' first film. On advice from Sam Raimi, they went door to door for over a year to raise seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars, showing investors a trailer that included Bruce Campbell as Marty.
Blood Simple. is part film noir and part thriller. It picks a great starting point. Where most movies want to provide a big introduction that provides a why, this ignores the why and provides the triggering event. This movie isn't about the why, it's about what happens after.
The pacing is measured in this tightly wound story of an affair, murder, and double crossing. The mood is deliberate and intense. The wronged husband is brooding while the investigator is pompous. We don't like the husband even though he's the one that's been wronged.
This is a movie where many of the characters are reluctant to kill. This draws out those scenes, giving them maximum impact while also drawing us into the minds of the characters.
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| The Coen's first that showcases their style. |
Shots are framed really well, the Coen brothers style is apparent. They were great filmmakers from the start and just kept honing their craft. The Coens stretch the low budget far. Ideas and good stories can overcome funding. This movie exudes confidence as it deliberately defies typical tropes.
This is an underrated movie. I only found it looking through the Coen brothers catalog. I should have heard of it before then. It's a solid movie. The final song is "It's the Same Old Song" by The Four Tops. We've heard it throughout the movie a few times, but it reaches full impact after the final scene.
This is a rare movie that surprises you. The death scenes are slow and brutal. You're never quite sure who is going to triumph. The final showdown is something else. To say more would spoil it. Find this movie and watch it.
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