When a childless couple of an ex-con and an ex-cop decide to help themselves to one of another family's quintuplets, their lives become more complicated than they anticipated.
Larry Gopnik, a Midwestern physics teacher, watches his life unravel over multiple sudden incidents. Though seeking meaning and answers amidst his turmoils, he seems to keep sinking.
Directors:
Ethan Coen,
Joel Coen
Stars:
Michael Stuhlbarg,
Richard Kind,
Sari Lennick
An eccentric, if not charming Southern professor and his crew pose as a classical ensemble in order to rob a casino, all under the nose of his unsuspecting but sharp old landlady.
Recidivist hold-up man H.I. McDonnough and police woman Edwina marry, only to discover they are unable to conceive a child. Desperate for a baby, the pair decide to kidnap one of the quintuplets of furniture tycoon Nathan Arizona. The McDonnoughs try to keep their crime secret, while friends, co-workers and a feral bounty hunter look to use Nathan Jr. for their own purposes.Written by
Scott Renshaw <as.idc@forsythe.stanford.edu>
Randall 'Tex' Cobb was not familiar with riding motorcycles prior to filming. While shooting the scene where he rides up to inspect the hole where Evelle and Gale had escaped from prison, he actually crashed into the hole on one of the takes. See more »
Goofs
When Glen comes back with a neck-brace the curtain on the window of the trailer door changes to a Venetian blind, and then when H.I. goes back inside the louvers change from closed to open. See more »
Quotes
[first lines]
H.I.:
[voiceover]
My name is H.I. McDonnaugh. Call me Hi.
See more »
Crazy Credits
The opening credits (which start quite a ways into the movie) list only the main cast. The crew is not listed until the ending credits. See more »
As well received as it is, I don't think this film gets the credit its due. It is quite literally the first of the modern scripts, utilizing actual writing and making it as key to the experience as the actors. Its not cliche in this instance to say its not whats being said thats so funny, but how it is being said. By fully exploiting the heretofore under utilized treasure that is American English, the Coens reintroduced mainstream cinema to the screenplay. The rest is pretty damn good too. Its affably off kilter like every Coen venture, Cage and even Hunter are superb, the supporting cast even better. Must see.
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As well received as it is, I don't think this film gets the credit its due. It is quite literally the first of the modern scripts, utilizing actual writing and making it as key to the experience as the actors. Its not cliche in this instance to say its not whats being said thats so funny, but how it is being said. By fully exploiting the heretofore under utilized treasure that is American English, the Coens reintroduced mainstream cinema to the screenplay. The rest is pretty damn good too. Its affably off kilter like every Coen venture, Cage and even Hunter are superb, the supporting cast even better. Must see.