Blood Simple is a deceptively simple morality tale that announces the Coen brothers as fully formed filmmakers. It's thrillingly unpredictable as it constantly shifts perspectives and withholds information to keep you second guessing. It covers so many of the preoccupations that would become staples of their work from the incompetence of the characters to some of the frequent collaborators who portray them.
Frances McDormand debuts with the start of a wonderful creative partnership as the closest thing to a moral centre of this film. The best moments come from John Getz and Dan Hedaya during a prolonged sequence in the middle without any dialogue. It's both tense and funny to witness this cacophony of errors that's rife with guilt and clumsiness.
Joel Coen's direction feels like a first time director in the best ways. There's a clear desire for him and cinematographer Barry Sonnenfield to announce themselves with their meticulous shot composition that draws attention to itself without taking it away from anything else. The editing on display by the Coen brothers and Don Wiegmann is terrific as it always finds inventive ways to transition.
Frances McDormand debuts with the start of a wonderful creative partnership as the closest thing to a moral centre of this film. The best moments come from John Getz and Dan Hedaya during a prolonged sequence in the middle without any dialogue. It's both tense and funny to witness this cacophony of errors that's rife with guilt and clumsiness.
Joel Coen's direction feels like a first time director in the best ways. There's a clear desire for him and cinematographer Barry Sonnenfield to announce themselves with their meticulous shot composition that draws attention to itself without taking it away from anything else. The editing on display by the Coen brothers and Don Wiegmann is terrific as it always finds inventive ways to transition.