Rating: 
Summary: Two Stars for the Movie, Five for the Commentary
Review: Blood simple is an awful movie with an awfully funny commentary. You do have to sit through the movie to fully appreciate the commentary, but it's well worth it. If you're looking for good neo noir, check out After Dark, My Sweet. If you're looking for a good laugh, get Blood Simple.
Rating:
Summary: Clarify on the soundtrack
Review: Mr. Beach (April 2003 comment)--I believe you are mistaken in regard to "swapping" the "original" Monkee's tune for the Four Tops music. The original Blood Simple shown in movie theaters in 1983 had the Four Tops, NOT the Monkees. When the VHS was later released to rental, the sound track had been changed--the original Four Tops music disappeared for far inferior and less appropriate tracks. I always assumed there must have been a licensing/royalty issue involved and the Coens had to scramble and find something else. To me, the different music ruined the whole feel of the scenes in question. If this director's cut has the "real," original music (Four Tops), then I would endorse it--in fact, I'm buying it right now.
Rating: 
Summary: Director's Cut? I DOUBT IT!
Review: Blood Simple is one of the all-time great independent films. As a devotee of this film it goes without saying that I know nearly every line of dialogue and every cut. Well... if you too are a fan , my advice to you is: PASS ON THIS EDITION! I was absolutely shocked to see that this film had been re-edited! And NOT for the better. In fact, this was not a new edit in the traditional sense (scene shifting; scene re-edits etc.). All they did with this version was to simply lop off lines from the existing original final cut! That's right. They just shortened scenes, most often taking the form of the scene ins and outs (first and last lines in each scene). For instance, M.Emmet Walsh's last line to Marty in the VW when he contracts Walsh. Or how about the humorous placing of Getz's cigarette in the stuffed wild boars mouth at Marty's house? Or the exchange between Samm-Art Williams and the redneck at the juke box. Those lines are now gone completely. And remember that version of The Monkee's "I'm A Beliver" which was used in that scene? Its been dumped for a Four Tops tune. This is just a few in a long list of disturbing changes. As a film editor, I asked myself, what imporovements were made with these new cuts? The answer is a resounding, NONE! My point is this. If you buy this DVD expecting the same old Blood Simple in a new, crisp DVD edition, you will be sorely disappointed. You will be constantly distracted by the jarring edits rather than being able to enjoy the film... Again, worthless.
Rating:
Summary: Blood Simple
Review: Truly outstanding screenplay. One of the greatest ending twists ever. M. Emmmet Walsh in one of his best roles. A must for any Cohen Brothers fan.
Rating:
Summary: Brilliant Debut by the Coen Brothers-ingenious black comedy!
Review: There's nothing quite like BLOOD SIMPLE. It's a deadly serious, and at the same time frequently hilarious (in a nervous and ironic way) account of a couple of lovers, a cuckolded husband, and a sleazy private investigator who become inextricably involved with each other. The wonderful things about this movie include the raw brilliance of the Coen Brothers' feature debut, the crystal clear idiosyncracy of every performance, and the absolutely wonderful, suspenseful, surprising, and beautifully satisfying screenplay. This thing builds to a climax that will have you wide-eyed laughing and shaking your head in amazement. You must see this movie if you enjoy brainy, only slightly skewed movies with real originality and freshness in both the plot and the characters. A grand, riveting, fascinating, disturbing, surprising, funny movie about, of all things, sneaks, cheats, adulterers, and murder in a 'hick' town. You can almost feel the heat and swat the flies. A sure thing for those seeking something really original, but also jaw-droppingly ingenious and worth every minute of your time!
Rating: 
Summary: I don't get it
Review: I bought this movie because of the excellent later Coen movies, and because of the good reviews here. After having seen it, I don't get why it is so praised. It may be a case of the best qualities of the film having been used many times later in other films, and so seeming old hat now. I don't know. I just know that I simply did not find anything interesting about this film at all. The actors were competent, but not remarkable. The dialogue uninteresting. The plot ditto. The pictures primitive often. For instance the start scene was inside a car that was supposed to be driving in the rain, but it did not look at all like it was moving at all.
Rating:
Summary: no bleeder !
Review: This early film by the Coen brothers is a great example of their unique style. Read the editorial review for the story. What's so great about this movie is not so much the story, but the way in which it is told. The performances, the use of sounds and music (jukebox, windscreen wipers), the attention for details, the overall un-Hollywoodlike ordinariness of living conditions (nothing glossy here), ... A must see for the discerning movie buff. Frances McDormand is great, but M. Emmet Walsh steals the show with his performance.
Rating:
Summary: This movie scared the living daylights out of me...
Review: This is the first Coen brothers movie, and it is definitely among their best. From the opening lines, "The world is full of complainers..." you know that this is a very dark movie. The character who speaks these lines grows increasingly dark and scary throughout the film, and finally the film has an incredibly terrifying climax at the end... just watch the movie, all right?
Rating:
Summary: This is a good one, folks!
Review: This is the best murder mystery I have seen in a long time. The suspense is incredible. There are so many twists and turns, this film will keep you thinking and guessing and surprise you until you fall off the edge of your seat. I highly recommend this movie.
Rating:
Summary: Simply bad
Review: One of the worst movies I've ever seen. Stilted acting, dull characters, lots and lots of blood, really boring scene cleaning up blood for no apparent reason. I can go on: a guy buried alive who returns from the not-so-dead, a climax that is so foul, it'll make you sick (and totally implausable to boot).
As you can tell, I didn't like it. My friends say I should see it again to see if I "see the light the second time." Unlikely, plus, I'm not sure I could stomach another viewing.
|
