Blood Simple (Director's Cut)

Starring:John Getz, Frances McDormand, Dan Hedaya, M. Emmet Walsh, Samm-Art Williams, Deborah Neumann, Raquel Gavia, Van Brooks, SeÃ±or Marco, William Creamer, Loren Bivens, Bob McAdams, Shannon Sedwick, Nancy Finger, William Preston Robertson, Barry Sonnenfeld, Holly Hunter
Director: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
Studio: Universal Studios
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com essential video

The debut film of director Joel Coen and his brother-producer Ethan Coen, 1983's Blood Simple is grisly comic noir that marries the feverish toughness of pulp thrillers with the ghoulishness of even pulpier horror. (Imagine the novels of Jim Thompson somehow fused with the comic tabloid Weird Tales, and you get the idea.) The story concerns a Texas bar owner (Dan Hedaya) who hires a seedy private detective (M. Emmett Walsh) to follow his cheating wife (Frances McDormand in her first film appearance), and then kill her and her lover (John Getz). The gumshoe turns the tables on his client, and suddenly a bad situation gets much, much worse, with some violent goings-on that are as elemental as they are shocking. (A scene in which a character who has been buried alive suddenly emerges from his own grave instantly becomes an archetypal nightmare.) Shot by Barry Sonnenfeld before he became an A-list director in Hollywood, Blood Simple established the hyperreal look and feel of the Coens' productions (undoubtedly inspired a bit by filmmaker Sam Raimi, whose The Evil Dead had just been coedited by Joel). Sections of the film have proved to be an endurance test for art-house movie fans, particularly an extended climax that involves one shock after another but ends with a laugh at the absurdity of criminal ambition. This is definitely one of the triumphs of the 1980s and the American independent film scene in general. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

Blood Simple.......2007-07-06

Filmed on a shoestring budget by Joel Coen and his producer brother Ethan, this heart-pounding homage to 1940s film noir was instantly hailed as a classic of American indie cinema. Featuring Barry Sonnenfeld's innovative camerawork and murky lighting, "Simple" not only tells a dark, disturbing tale of murder, passion, and back-stabbing meanness, it introduces the marvelously talented McDormand and features a brilliant performance by Walsh as a sleazy, audaciously amoral gumshoe. Inspired by the novels of James M. Cain and Jim Thompson, "Blood Simple" is a gutsy, dark-comic debut thriller by the directors of "Fargo" and "The Big Lebowski".

Please enter a title for your review.......2007-05-06

Every dialogue exchange is slow and tedious. Waiting for a pertinent piece of information to drop is an exercise in patience and endurance. The characters are never established, nor developed enough to even like or dislike them or have much understanding of what motivates anything they do.

Good........2007-04-10

I am a huge Coen fan, but I put this one off for a while, because the 80s are so unappealing to me. But it proved that I really can't go wrong with a Coen movie...even if the 80s soundtrack is not to my taste.

Unbelievable!.......2007-03-26

The acting and directing were excellent, but the story line--lots of plot holes that continued to UNSUSPEND my disbelief. There are so many contrivances in this story, such as the private investigator shooting his client and then not making certain that he was dead--just assuming. And murdering his client instead of killing the persons he was hired to kill? If he was willing to kill his client, then why not kill the persons he was hired to kill. Makes no sense. And the investigator leaving in his client's office a photo of a what was supposed to be a murder (that actually never took place)? And on and on and on. There is not a real character with true motives in this story--just bad people of various sorts acting according to a illogical story line. Save your money on this--unless you like to suspend your thinking process while watching it.

First outing for the Coens is an outstanding 80's film noir thriller.......2007-01-22

This is the Coen brothers' directorial film debut, and not only is it different from most other films in the Coens' catalog of work, it is just a different kind of film altogether. With a budget of just a little more than one million dollars and four main characters, the Coen brothers created a film noir thriller 35 years after the genre had expired. In this film the Coens demonstrate that if you have a conscience, a killing can be hard to carry out, but regardless of whether or not you have a conscience, a killing is hard to get away with.

Throughout the film, as is true in many film noirs, the audience is kept aware of most of what is really going on, which is a grand misunderstanding with very tragic consequences. The four characters are all being misled by the incomplete part of the jigsaw puzzle that each of them possesses. The setup is simple enough: Ray is having an affair with Abby, wife of his evil boss Marty. Marty gets angry about the situation and decides to pay a private eye to murder both of them. Things proceed to go as badly as possible for everyone from that point on as each of our characters are mainly motivated by mistrust - even the young lovers Ray and Abby.

What makes Blood Simple different from other Coen brothers films is he complete lack of humor throughout the entire film. Even the bleak "Fargo" is sprinkled with humor throughout. Equally noticeable is the cold remoteness that fills every square inch of this film which includes everything from Abby's Texas-sized apartment, to the flat open stretches of Texas landscape. This cold remoteness just seems to magnify the quiet terror of what is going on. For in this movie, the spilling of blood isn't clean, easy, or free of emotional consequence. For example, when one character is in the process of burying the "body" of someone he believed had been murdered by someone else, he finds out, much to his surprise, that the person is actually still alive. Now faced with the "necessity" of killing this person to cover up the crime, he finds the task impossible. As a result, he winds up actually killing the person in the most horrible way possible - by simply ignorring the fact that he is still alive and burying him anyway - all because he is too queasy to commit the overt act of shooting someone himself. As we witness the sun come up on a day bereft of the life of the deceased and the entombment complete, it's very relieving to remember it's only a movie.

None of this is to say that Blood Simple isn't an enjoyable film. Seeing the characters and their lives come apart one by one will keep you riveted to your seat. We already know "who done it," we're just hanging around to see if the other characters figure out not only "who done it", but what it is that has been done in the first place. All the cast members were great and Frances McDormand, Dan Hedaya, and M. Emmett Walsh have gone on to bigger and better things since this movie was made. I just wonder what happened to John Getz, since he performed just as well as the other three only to remain largely unknown. With the exception of a small part in the remake of "The Fly" in 1986, I can't think of another film in which I've seen him.

In summary, the best thing about Blood Simple is that even if we always know what's happening, we never know what's going to happen next up to the very end. Highly recommended. Unfortunately, this DVD can only be found used. For about twice what this DVD goes for used, you could buy "The Coen Brothers Collection" which includes Blood Simple and 3 other Coen brothers films. Unfortunately, the other three films in that collection are not their best work, in my opinion.

Average customer rating:

do yourself a favor, buy somthing else.
DO NOT BUY THIS SHIATSU DVD
Did not like this: very poor quality
Contents of this DVD

Japanese Shiatsu Massage Made Simple
Starring: Jerry Luglio
Manufacturer: Artistic Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Special Interests | Genres | DVD | Video

Fitness | Fitness & Yoga | Genres | DVD | Video

Stretching | Fitness & Yoga | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Educational | Genres | DVD | Video

( J ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Special Interests | Independently Distributed | Stores | DVD | Video

Independently Distributed | Indie & Art House | Stores | DVD | Video

General | Instructional | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Shiatsu Massage Advanced DVD
The Thai Massage DVD
Acupressure Massage
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Clinical Shiatsu

ASIN: B00078TUL0
Release Date: 2005-02-01

Customer Reviews:

do yourself a favor, buy somthing else........2006-12-21

i was deeply sorry that i bought this tape, after i viewed 10 times i did not learned nothing from it.

DO NOT BUY THIS SHIATSU DVD .......2006-10-08

THIS DVD WAS PURCHASED AS THE VERY FIRST DVD ON SHIATSU FOR OUR SCHOOL. IT WAS PREVIEW BY FACULTY MEMBERS FOR REVIEW PRIOR TO CLASS VIDEO PRESENTATION. WE DID NOT HAVE ANYONE WHO FOUND THIS DVD TO BE EDUCATIONAL OR INTERESTING. TWO STUDENTS BORROWED IT FROM OUR SCHOOL'S LIBRARY ( BROOKLYN INSTITUTE OF MASSAGE THERAPY, NEW YORK)
AND BOTH RETURNED IT THE VERY NEXT DAY. WE HAVE RECEIVED VERY POOR FEEDBACK. WE WERE TOLD BY THE STUDENTS THAT THEY SHUT OFF THE DVD PLAYER AFTER ONLY 10 MINUTES, THEY WERE BORED. NOTHING MEANINGFUL WAS PRESENTED THAT THE STUDENTS DID NOT ALREADY LEARN IN ORIENTAL BODYWORK THERAPY COURSE. FINAL THOUGHT, DO NOT BUY THIS DVD. IT LACKS BOTH QUALITY AND ACADEMIC INSTRUCTIONAL PRESENTATION. ** PRESIDENT BROOKLYN INSTITUTE **

Did not like this: very poor quality.......2005-10-29

Bought this DVD to deepen my knowledge and improve my technique as a Cerified Massage Therapist and a graduatee in Massage Therapy at College.

Was greatly disappointed with the material presented in this DVD and its poor quality. It looks more like a home made video than a serious hands-on visual manual.

Contents of this DVD.......2005-06-21

Detailed instruction includes stretching exercises for the masseur and techniques for massaging every part of the body. Close-ups and many camera angles make learning the techniques easier. Menu chapters for each technique makes this DVD easy to use.
Jerry Luglio thoroughly explains the principles behind each technique, including finger and palm pressure, breathing techniques, passive stretching, loosening joints and examples of treatment of particular problems.
This is a chance to share healing with your friends and family. Shiatsu massage brings a deep inner peace throughout your body.
2 hours

The Coen Brothers Collection (The Big Lebowski/Blood Simple/The Man Who Wasn't There/Intolerable Cruelty)

Average customer rating:

Great diverse collection from the Coens
BLOOD SIMPLE IS ONE OF THE BEST FILMS EVER MADE
Horrible Compilation
THE COEN BROTHERS COLLECTION

The Coen Brothers Collection (The Big Lebowski/Blood Simple/The Man Who Wasn't There/Intolerable Cruelty)
Starring: John Getz , Frances McDormand , Dan Hedaya , M. Emmet Walsh , and Samm-Art Williams
Director: Joel Coen , and Ethan Coen
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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( C ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Barton Fink
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ASIN: B000ASATSU
Release Date: 2005-10-18

Description

The Big Lebowski: The Coen brothers' irreverent cult hit comes to DVD as a Collector's Edition, with all-new bonus material. The hilariously twisted comedy-thriller stars Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Steve Buscemi and Julianne Moore. Join the "Dude" and his bowling buddies on their journey that blends unforgettable characters, kidnapping, a case of mistaken identity and White Russians. Enter the visually unique and entertaining world from the creative minds of the Coen brothers and remember: the Dude abides.

Blood Simple: This critically-acclaimed thriller set in rural Texas combines chilling suspense with offbeat humor to create an all-American version of the classic "film noir." Abby (Frances McDormand) is cheating on her saloonkeeper husband, Marty (Dan Hedaya). The object of her affections is Ray (John Getz), one of Marty's bartenders. Marty hires Visser (M. Emmet Walsh), an unscrupulous detective, to kill them but Visser has other, more lucrative plans of his own. So begins a calculating round of double and triple crosses that build to a bloodcurdling, surprise-filled climax. It's an evil-minded masterpiece from the exciting filmmaking team of Joel and Ethan Coen. In Blood Simple, when someone's gone...it's never for good!

Intolerable Cruelty: It's comic gold as two of Hollywood's most dazzling stars - George Clooney and Academy Award-winner Catherine Zeta-Jones - light up the screen in Intolerable Cruelty, a hilarious romantic comedy about men, women, and everything that can go wrong between them. Sparks fly when brilliant divorce attorney Miles Massey (Clooney) meets his match in the beautiful but ruthless Marylin Rexroth (Zeta-Jones). From Academy Award-winning directors Joel Coen and Ethan Coen (Fargo; O Brother, Where Art Thou?), Intolerable Cruelty also stars multi-talented Billy Bob Thornton and outrageous Cedric The Entertainer.

The Man Who Wasn't There: The Coen Brothers are back with a dark and twisted film noir unlike anything you've ever seen. Set in a small 1949 California town, this is the story of a seemingly simple barber, who turns to blackmail and revenge to escape his achingly dull life. But in the tradition of classic noir, nothing goes as planned and nothing is as it seems. And as the barber's plot unravels, the delicious surprises, stunning revelations and just plain strange occurrences will disturb and delight you long after the film has ended.

Customer Reviews:

Great diverse collection from the Coens.......2007-01-04

This 4 movie collection from 2 of the most original minds in cinema is a real treat.
Big Lebowski is possibly the best example of the Coen brothers style as it contains elements of drama, mystery and comedy in an intertwining tapestry.
Blood Simple remains one of the best thrillers made since Hitchcock's prime.
Intolerable Cruelty is fun romantic comedy.
And finally the Man Who Wasn't There is fascinating film noir combined with a Lynchian sensibility.
The negative reviews below are silly. First, these films reprisent only the Universal films the Coen's have made, thus, it's logical and predictable that this box set contains nothing from the other studios.
Also, one reviewer giving the collection 1 star is a big Spielberg fan, yet, seems to dislike his more adult work. (Furthermore, if you don't even like the Coens' Blood Simple you should definitely stick to E.T.)
A reviewer from Australia gives this collection a single star because she received the wrong country format. (That's a real shame, but a movie review site is a poor place to discuss a customer service issue.)

Hopefully there will be other collections released containing the other Coen brother films from the other studios.

BLOOD SIMPLE IS ONE OF THE BEST FILMS EVER MADE.......2007-01-01

AWESOME SET.
BLOOD SIMPLE AND THE BIG LEBOWSKI ARE AWESOME. THE OTHER TWO ARE NOT QUITE AS GOOD, BUT ARE GREAT FILMS AS WELL.
BLOOD SIMPLE IS ONE OF THE BEST FILMS EVER MADE.
THE COEN BROTHERS ARE PERHAPS THE BEST FILM MAKERS AROUND IN THIS DAY AND AGE (TOO BAD THERE AREN'T ANY KUBRICKS LEFT OUT THERE).

Horrible Compilation.......2006-08-21

Atrocious Compilation - it's of some of the worst films the Coens' did (excluding The Big Lebowksi) and does not include their most famous films. What were they thinking? It's like if they released a Spielberg Compilation but only included Catch Me If You Can, AI, Minority Report, and War of the Worlds. WTF!!!!

Plus you can buy each DVD separately and come UNDER the asking price of the entire set. The BIg Lebowski and The Man Who Wasn't There are about 10 bucks new in most stores. Blood Simple and Int. Cruelty (which is the most UNCoen film ever) are closer to 5 in many places I've seen. So don't fall into the "compilation trap" because you are not getting a "bulk" discount. Just buy the films you want separately. Most Coen DVDs are very reasonable price wise.

Any Coen compilation without Fargo, Barton Fink, and Raising Arizona is worthless.
And again, you're better off spending $40 on those DVDs individually.

THE COEN BROTHERS COLLECTION.......2006-08-17

The DVDs we received were not formatted to Zone 4 (Australia) se we've had to return the goods, unfortunately. Therefore, no helpful comments.

Average customer rating:

Blood Simple
Please enter a title for your review
Good.
Unbelievable!
First outing for the Coens is an outstanding 80's film noir thriller

Blood Simple. [Region 2]
Starring: John Getz , Frances McDormand , Dan Hedaya , M. Emmet Walsh , and Samm-Art Williams
Director: Joel Coen , and Ethan Coen
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Thrillers | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Indie & Art House | Stores | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( B ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Miller's Crossing
Barton Fink
The Man Who Wasn't There
The Hudsucker Proxy
Raising Arizona

ASIN: B00004W4H4

Amazon.com essential video

Customer Reviews:

Blood Simple.......2007-07-06

Please enter a title for your review.......2007-05-06

Good........2007-04-10

Unbelievable!.......2007-03-26

First outing for the Coens is an outstanding 80's film noir thriller.......2007-01-22

Average customer rating:

Blood Simple
Please enter a title for your review
Good.
Unbelievable!
First outing for the Coens is an outstanding 80's film noir thriller

Blood Simple. [Region 2]
Starring: John Getz , Frances McDormand , Dan Hedaya , M. Emmet Walsh , and Samm-Art Williams
Director: Joel Coen , and Ethan Coen
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Thrillers | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video