This movie ranks third on the all-time best list by capturing at the same time the dynamics of personal relationships and the paradigm shift in American culture from the 1950s to 1960s. It helps in this case, not to have read the book before viewing the movie as the movie stands on its own merits. Those who are looking for the beatnik story will be disappointed as this is a movie about relationships and how people suffer and long for commitment in those relationships. One of the several forlorn characters is Ann Dusenberry (stevie) who steals the show in her relatively brief screen time, giving the best film noirsh, look back from a window and uttering the greatest jilted lover line of all-time ("I don't give a rusty f* for that or anything else"). Nolte gives his best performance ever, he's made for the neal cassady (see rich man, poor man)role. John Heard also gives his best performance in this one while Spacek weighs in with one of her best ever. The look, feel and musical score all blend to capture uniquely a time and place as well as relationship dynamics not often attempted let alone achieved.
Reviews
2 Reviews
Blood Simple
(1984)
earliest and still greatest of the coen brothers' movies
16 February 2000
This is the Coen brothers' masterpiece. It's number 10 on the all-time greatest movie list. The Coen brother movies are classics in and of themselves and this one has all of the elements which mark most of these classics; riveting plot twists, music score, betrayal, stacked deck against common man theme, greed, great characters and plain dialogue. This movie in particular captured the Texas culture in the way Fargo went after Minnesota and succeeded like no other.
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