• This is far from the Coen’s best work but it’s a tribute to their depth of filmography just how good this “B-side” film is
  • Certainly is fully a coen brothers film- but also pays tribute to noirs, old Hollywood, james m. cain pulp novels—with the story narrative, voice over, black and white photography
  • Deakins work with that b/w photography is stunning- it’s the coens only film in black and white
  • The cast is stunning with a real depth of talent. Actors as good as Scarlett, Richard Jenkins, and others fill out the ensemble but Billy Bob Thorton in the title role is really the driving force for the film and he’s excellent here. Billy Bob has 9 archiveable films from 1996 to 2003. It’s also a bold and brilliant choice for the coens to center their film on such an empty and vacant lead character- a sad character striving for redemption. Ed Crain the perfect name for him- he’s like a metronome.
  • Ransom note/plotline from big Lebowski, dry cleaning idea is much like the hula-hoop in hudsucker proxy
  • The shadows in the prison scene is really outstanding- it would be repeated with the UFO lights at the finale of the film
  • Meditation on fate which was started with blood simple but clearly is a major part of fargo, no country for old men and the devastating finale scene of a young Bob Dylan in Inside Llewyn Davis
  • Recommend but near top 10 of the year quality- fringe R/HR– strong film