Blood Simple. (1984)

4.5 / 5 Jan '10
Tagline: Breaking up is hard.
Directed by: Joel Cohen, Ethan Cohen
Written by: Joel Cohen, Ethan Cohen
Actors include: Frances McDormand, John Getz, Dan Hedaya
Genre: Crime, Thriller, Drama
Length: 99 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
This is one impressively bleak down-trodden first effort from the Cohen brothers, but it's also very impactful and interesting. I did stay away from this one for a while because of the words "film noir" which attach themselves to this picture. I was rather foolish in that as this was easy to understand and captivating pretty much from the moment it beings until the moment it ends. Frances McDormand was wonderful as Abby a cheating wife who's new feller Ray would do just about anything for her. The problem is Abby's rich ex-husband has hired a hitman to kill Abby & Ray but he gets a little more than he has bargained for. It's got tons of twists and turns and surprises around every corner but the sinking feeling it creates won't go away until the film is over. This has some nice blood, a great story and it's extremely memorable, a very cool film from team Cohen.

Availability:  On DVD

Fargo (1996)

4.5 / 5
Tagline: A homespun murder story.
Directed by: Joel Coen
Written by: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
Actors include: Frances McDormand, William H. Macy, Steve Buscemi
Genre: Black Comedy, Thriller, Crime
Length: 98 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
My first Cohen brothers picture, but definitely not my last. I remember being rather surprised at the strange style here...definitely appealing but unusual. The plot is about a fellow named Jerry (William H. Macy) who is pretty desperate for money, so he hatches a wacky scheme to have his wife kidnapped for ransom (she has a wealthy father). Things of course go terribly wrong when the kidnapping isn't done properly and all it turns into a bloody mess. Then Police Chief Marge (Frances McDormand) is on the trail (and pregnant) and things seem to get even worse for Jerry what with the angry kidnappers and everything. It's one of those everything that can go wrong basically does things plus it's gross enough and yet it still has a sense of humor...it's very balanced. It's no wonder so many went crazy for this film, I thought it was pretty darned impressive and extremely memorable, definitely one that you simply must see.

Availability:  On DVD & Blu-Ray