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No Country For Old Men [2008]

starring: Tommy Lee Jones, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, Kelly MacDonald, Stephen Root
directed by: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen

June 02, 2008
Took a while to heat up - my interest grew and the excitement rolled - then a big dissapointment for an ending (perhaps that was the point) but these types of endings may make for good reading - but not very interesting for a film.

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The Big Lebowski [1998]

starring: Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Julianne Moore, Steve Buscemi, David Huddleston
directed by: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen

October 17, 2005
I was going to try to write a fair and balanced review, free from hyperbole and gushing praise for this film. The problem is I love this film. A lot. I'm wearing my Dude t-shirt as I write. So I'll dispense with any attempt to create a critical and objective response.

How to describe The Big Lebowski? Well, it's a comedy mixed with a Marlowe-esque detective story. One seen through a fug of weed smoke and set to a soundtrack of Creedence Clearwater Revival. The main character, an ageing hippy, called Jeff Lebowski who goes by the name of The Dude doesn't want much in life; smoke some weed, listen to some Creedence and bowl some, has his life take an unexpected and complicated turn when a Chinaman pees on his rug.

I ... Read More:

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O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2 Disc Special Edition) [2000]

starring: George Clooney, John Turturro, Tim Blake Nelson, John Goodman, Holly Hunter
directed by: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen

November 05, 2001
I've seen this movie several times now and I'm still fascinated by it - I'm no particular fan of George Clooney or the Coen brothers or Bluegrass music (or even of Homer), but this movie is so cleverly constructed and well acted, with multiple threads that hang and re-cross throughout the story, that each time I watch I see a connection I missed in previous viewings. Reading the other reviews I guess I must be the only ageing Blues fan out here - but Robert Johnson must be up there (sorry, down there) somewhere, smiling if he's seen it.

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No Country For Old Men [Blu-ray] [2007]

starring: Kelly MacDonald, Stephen Root, Woody Harrelson, Tommy Lee Jones, Javier Bardem
directed by: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen

September 08, 2008
This film is absolute perfection, the suspence, the confusion and the thrill of the characters brilliant

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Fargo (Special Edition) [1996]

starring: Frances McDormand, William H. Macy, Steve Buscemi, Peter Stormare, Harve Presnell
directed by: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen

April 21, 2003
To collect money for an investment, Jerry (Macy) sets a fake operation up for the kidnap of his wife, but it doesn't go according to plan.

The Coen brothers have made a name for themselves over the past twenty years and this 1996 film, written and directed by the pair cements them into the highest class of different and brilliant filmmakers.

The unusual plot opens with "This is based on a true story" when in fact it isn't, which will set the tone for a bizarre but highly intriguing viewing, made even more strange as the plot unfolds and the direction and cinematography are established.

This whole ideology of kidnapping gives the Coen brothers a great chance to dive deep into their unknowing way of thinking, and is expressed ... Read More:

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Miller's Crossing [1990]

starring: Gabriel Byrne, Marcia Gay Harden, John Turturro, Jon Polito, J.E. Freeman
directed by: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen

October 13, 2003
This is not a great movie.

I watched Blood Simple for the first time a few weeks ago and really enjoyed watching Francis McDermott. She was fantastic in Fargo. Fargo was a great movie with all the right moves, excellent tone, bizarre characters, and a flatly affected but very strong pregnant cop played by McDermott. The Coen brothers are known for their slightly off-kilter films. Raising Arizona with Nicholas Cage and Holly Hunter was a very successful and entertaining quirky movie. Strange characters and bizarre situations can be very entertaining. The formula just doesn't work in Miller's Crossing.

Gabriel Byrne stars as a dirtball gangster. He's the slimey no. 2 to Albert Finney in Finney's massive gangster world. Finney is the real power in this mystery ... Read More:

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O Brother, Where Art Thou? [2000]

starring: George Clooney, John Turturro, Tim Blake Nelson, John Goodman, Holly Hunter
directed by: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen

April 09, 2001
I've seen this movie several times now and I'm still fascinated by it - I'm no particular fan of George Clooney or the Coen brothers or Bluegrass music (or even of Homer), but this movie is so cleverly constructed and well acted, with multiple threads that hang and re-cross throughout the story, that each time I watch I see a connection I missed in previous viewings. Reading the other reviews I guess I must be the only ageing Blues fan out here - but Robert Johnson must be up there (sorry, down there) somewhere, smiling if he's seen it.

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Raising Arizona [1987]

starring: Nicolas Cage, Holly Hunter, Trey Wilson, John Goodman, William Forsythe
directed by: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen

October 13, 2003
This was a firm favourite of mine as a teenager, due mainly to the plethora of brilliantly quotable lines (teenagers,eh?) But it is still just as original, funny, strange and clever as it ever was, with a great cast of actors, the role of a lifetime for Nicolas Cage, which i'm sure helped him break out and be considered a very versatile actor, and of course the ever fantastic Holly Hunter, plus some wonderful supporting players. The Cohen brothers may of gone on and honed their craft as film makers,but they have never beaten Raising Arizona for laughs.

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Blood Simple [1983]

starring: John Getz, Frances McDormand, Dan Hedaya, M. Emmet Walsh, Samm-Art Williams
directed by: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen

January 01, 2001
Life is too short to inflict such misery apon yourself. If someone suggests that you watch this cover your genitals with polyfilla and go to A&E to have it scraped off, it will be a lot less painful and far more fun.

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Coen Brothers Collection - Fargo/Raising Arizona/Miller's Crossing

starring: Frances McDormand, Marcia Gay Harden, John Turturro, Steve Buscemi, William H. Macy
directed by: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen

July 09, 2007
Life is too short to inflict such misery apon yourself. If someone suggests that you watch this cover your genitals with polyfilla and go to A&E to have it scraped off, it will be a lot less painful and far more fun.