tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post156949489094488851..comments2024-03-15T04:08:16.172-04:00Comments on Only the Cinema: Blood SimpleEd Howardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18014222247676090467noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post-9778451429209390442011-02-07T14:00:04.805-05:002011-02-07T14:00:04.805-05:00You're right, I'll just call him a hack an...You're right, I'll just call him a hack and an execcedinly louche womanizer instead, because I wouldn't want to lower myself anywhere below the standard he sets. Well, I'm sure if I dug around a couple more posts I could find the standards dipping ever lower, but that's just this week.JeanRZEJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04530242176130470336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post-60707318601029548912011-02-07T09:23:15.701-05:002011-02-07T09:23:15.701-05:00I don't think David's likely to change his...I don't think David's likely to change his opinion on the Coens anytime soon, but there's certainly no reason to call him a troll, Jean; let's be civil, please. <br /><br />Anyway, thanks for the comments, Jean, CMrok and Steve.<br /><br />And I agree with J.D. that there's also warmth in the portrayal of friendship in <i>Big Lebowski</i>, and for that matter in <i>O Brother Ed Howardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18014222247676090467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post-51816968458598211992011-02-06T04:36:48.776-05:002011-02-06T04:36:48.776-05:00Still my fave Coen Bros film. Recall seeing the tr...Still my fave Coen Bros film. Recall seeing the trailer before the film hit the cinema and knew I had to see it. Enjoyed your review.Steve Langtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00759586159893673244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post-87545360276765745462011-02-05T15:03:37.595-05:002011-02-05T15:03:37.595-05:00The Coens provide perfect suspense for this film, ...The Coens provide perfect suspense for this film, and although it may not be their best work ever, it still is one of the best directorial debuts. Good Review!CMrok93http://www.dtmmr.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post-62964767494577722172011-02-05T12:24:18.911-05:002011-02-05T12:24:18.911-05:00That's not what I said, dear.That's not what I said, dear.DavidEhrensteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11016905507543736049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post-6895174927828774102011-02-05T10:43:10.435-05:002011-02-05T10:43:10.435-05:00Oh, so now if you think they're good enough th...Oh, so now if you think they're good enough then it doesn't matter whether they 'create stupid characters to put the audience in the position of smug superiority'? There's a hypocritical critic if I've ever seen one. Forgive me if I call a troll a troll.JeanRZEJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04530242176130470336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post-27720243836693647362011-02-05T09:15:44.342-05:002011-02-05T09:15:44.342-05:00When the Coens reach the level of Aristophanes I&#...When the Coens reach the level of Aristophanes I'll be sure to let you know.DavidEhrensteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11016905507543736049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post-42483435935048944842011-02-04T21:28:43.560-05:002011-02-04T21:28:43.560-05:00Creating characters who are idiots for people to l...Creating characters who are idiots for people to laugh at is new circa the time of Aristophanes. Well, probably not, but things get fuzzier before that. I would imagine a distaste for buffoonery would immediately render a majority of the world's comedy unsavory.JeanRZEJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04530242176130470336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post-53183076228323130602011-02-04T16:25:59.014-05:002011-02-04T16:25:59.014-05:00As much as they bicker, I think that there is real...As much as they bicker, I think that there is real empathy between the Dude, Walter and Donny in THE BIG LEBOWSKI. There is real warmth under the antagonism which is part of the film's appeal, I think.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08164105442273577128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post-20850351873711965492011-02-04T16:06:55.925-05:002011-02-04T16:06:55.925-05:00Nope, haven't seen the Yimou film, though I lo...Nope, haven't seen the Yimou film, though I love its JLG-esque US title. You just reminded me of it, too...Ed Howardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18014222247676090467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post-70257773304184129862011-02-04T14:48:05.739-05:002011-02-04T14:48:05.739-05:00A playful, impressive debut film (made even funnie...A playful, impressive debut film (made even funnier by the fake DVD commentary, for anyone who hasn't heard it). Have you seen Yimou's remake, Ed? You just reminded me that I need to check it out.Craighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01450775188328918558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post-79818068467624924432011-02-04T11:36:35.629-05:002011-02-04T11:36:35.629-05:00I knew you were going to bring up Marge. She's...I knew you were going to bring up Marge. She's the exception that proves the rule.<br /><br />Not surprising being Mrs. Coen and all.DavidEhrensteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11016905507543736049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post-84785382258464391312011-02-04T11:33:38.880-05:002011-02-04T11:33:38.880-05:00Real compassion: the tender, moving scenes in Farg...Real compassion: the tender, moving scenes in Fargo between Marge Gunderson and her husband, two genuinely good people trying to carve out a little niche of innocence and love in a cold, nasty world. To me, those scenes, and others like them scattered throughout the brothers' oeuvre, are a very strong argument against the idea that they lack compassion or feeling for their characters. There&#Ed Howardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18014222247676090467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post-63042216004907537072011-02-04T11:26:17.048-05:002011-02-04T11:26:17.048-05:00I don't find any real compassion or real regre...I don't find any real compassion or real regret in their work at all. Just cynicism. <br /><br />"It's for the kids," you see.DavidEhrensteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11016905507543736049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post-87354055712322455242011-02-04T11:06:06.552-05:002011-02-04T11:06:06.552-05:00David, while I certainly understand your criticism...David, while I certainly understand your criticisms of the Coens, I've always thought that, as I say here, they balance their cynicism with real compassion, real regret over the foolish and violent things that people do to one another. Most of their films are inflected with a sense of sadness over the pettiness and brutality of these characters. It's not smug superiority - it's askingEd Howardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18014222247676090467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post-82233342455889669892011-02-04T10:48:42.966-05:002011-02-04T10:48:42.966-05:00I love the Coen bros. and this film certainly an a...I love the Coen bros. and this film certainly an auspicious start for them. But it is true, their films certainly aren't for everyone but BLOOD SIMPLE began a great run of films for them with BARTON FINK arguably being their masterpiece even though THE BIG LEBOWSKI is probably the films of theirs I watch the most.<br /><br />I also like how in BS, the Coens employed some of the camerawork Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08164105442273577128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post-51808418801237961552011-02-04T08:40:57.953-05:002011-02-04T08:40:57.953-05:00"laughing at their characters, holding themse..."laughing at their characters, holding themselves above the stupid actions of these people, looking condescendingly down on their creations as they stumble about."<br /><br />Precisely.<br /><br />My antipaty to the Coens begins with the tracking shot across a bar that rises brifly over the passed-put body of a customer then descends again once that space had been passed over. This was DavidEhrensteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11016905507543736049noreply@blogger.com