Blood Simple (1984)
Review by Noel
The year was 1984…
We had just made contact with the Martians. We had just found the cure for cancer. Racism and sexism were completely abolished…
And a couple of loc’d out brothers from the swinging state of Minnesota named Joel and Ethan Coen made their film debut with the chiller Blood Simple. I don’t really remember it when it came out because I was 6 at the time and probably bleeding from my nostrils from all the lines I did…but it was the 80’s and frankly it was expected of you.
But as your coke snorting days are mostly over on the weekdays (except on days ending in ‘y’), the power and originality of Blood Simple lives on and now you can rent it on videotape at your local video store, provided you have a properly formatted Beta Machine. And in a couple of months you may buy the new Hi-Tech format known as ‘Laser Disc’…
A little “Star Wars” I know, but the future is now kids.
Now onto the review…
Ray (John Getz) is having an illicit sexual relationship with Abby (up and coming actress Frances McDormand making her film with her future husband directing- I forget which of the Coen’s she’s married to or if she just trades off between the two…).
Abby is married to Marty (Dan Hedaya, unpleasantness pouring out of his…pores).
Ray works for Marty, a local bar owner.
Marty knows about Ray and Abby thanks to a Private Detective. He thoughtfully calls the hotel after Ray and Abby are finished trysting…and promptly hangs up.
That makes for an awkward working relationship for Ray and Marty. In the interests of a more facilitative workplace environment, Marty hires Private Detective (that’s his name in the credits, not kidding), to “downsize” Abby and Ray. For services rendered Private Detective will get the tidy sum of $10,000.
Man, I remember when it only took $10K to kill somebody. Makes me all misty…
Straightforward premise, right? Heck no, kids ‘n’ kaboodles. Nothing is ever this bloody simple in Coen brother territory. You’ve got double-crossing, single crossing, crossing the road, bloody back seats, and even Bruce motherfuckin’ Campbell in this movie.
And it’s one the best movies of the 80’s. Period. But you knew that…
What works with Blood Simple:
1.) Where to begin? How about M. Emmet Walsh as Private Detective. You can practically smell him coming of the screen. One of the sleaziest character’s I’ve ever seen on film. And he’s funny too. (“You give me a call when you want to cut off my head. I can always crawl around without it”).
2.) Abby’s skillful kick to Marty’s groin.
3.) That horrid yellow suit.
4.) You’ll never think of the 4 Tops song “The Same Old Song” the same way again.
5.) A sign being held up by a…cow.
6.) DVD Extra- A hilariously (purposely) pretentious Audio Commentary from ‘Kenneth Loring’ of “Forever Young” films. Classic Coen.
7.) DP (and future director) Barry Sonnenfeld frames two classic shots: The field with the tracks and a wall full of bullet holes.
8.) Bruce Campbell crawling on the road.
9.) Speaking of Bruce Campbell, there’s a very Evil Dead-ish Raimi-like hurtling Push shot in the front yard.
10.) Marty is very hard to kill.
11.) Knife through the hand. Ouch!!!
12.) Those fish must be getting rank by now.
13.) Should have left the lights off.
14.) A great twist that you can’t help but laugh at (“If I see him, I’ll give him the message”).
What doesn’t work:
1.) A rather convenient penchant for unlocked doors (“Lotta nuts out there”).
That’s it. Wow. On any given day, this could be my favorite Coen film…or it could be Fargo…or No Country…or Miller’s Crossing (but not as likely). Or it’s simply a measure of their talent that I can’t decide definitively. As far a film dilemmas go, one could do worse.
Overall: Blood Simple. Watch it again. And throw those damn fish away.
Watch the Blood Simple trailer:
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