Monday, September 21, 2009

The Brothers Coen



If anyone is under-represented in "The Book" it would have to be the Coen Brothers.  Their quirky comedies are laugh out loud hilarious while their more serious films explore crime from many different views.  When they find a way of putting them both together, you are in for a wild ride. 


Raising Arizona (1987)  A repeat offender (Nicolas Cage) falls for the police mugshot photographer (Holly Hunter).  Upon release from his latest incarceration, he proposes going straight and marriage.  When they are diagnosed incapable of conceiving a child of their own, they devise a plan to kidnap the one of the sextuplets born to the Arizona family.
 

Fargo (1995)  A salesman for a Minnesota automobile salesman (William H. Macy) hires a couple of thugs (Steve Buscemi and Peter Stormare) to kidnap his wife, in hopes that his wealthy father-in-law will pay the ransom, that he hopes to use a portion to solve the problems of his embezzlement that is in danger of being discovered. When an investigation is conducted by the pregnant Brainerd Police Chief Marge Gunderson (Frances McDormand) behind the killing of a state trooper, the investigation leads to the kidnapping and beyond ending with a woodchipper.  McDormand's performance justifiable earned her an Oscar.

Notable exceptions: "Blood Simple" Their first film, about an affair that leads to murder and an extortion attempt by a sleazy private eye.

"Miller's Crossing"  A Irish gangland crime drama, with great performances by Gabriel Byrne and Albert Finney.

"O Brother Where Art Thou" The Coens retell Homer's "Odyssey" by placing Ulysses in Depression-era American Dust Bowl.

"The Big Lebowski" Jeff Bridges' portrayal of "The Dude", the ultimate slacker who gets caught up in the life of an over-acheiving Lebowski.

No comments:

Post a Comment