Blood Simple: Easy Blood - Classic Neo-Noir Crime Film for Movie Nights & Film Studies

'Blood Simple' is probably my favorite film from the Coen brothers, and is also just one of the best thrillers and neo-noirs films ever. This movie is just so tightly wound and inevitable in spite of the extreme complexity of the plot, and the Coen's use just the right tone, making it pulpy and outlandish with some dark humor while still keeping it just down to earth enough to allow you to suspend your disbelief. (Sam Raimi would've been wise to watch this film before making his overly pious adaptation of the truly wild and outrageous novel 'A Simple Plan'.) I don't want to ruin in by going in to specifics, but this is really an ingeniously plotted film with a few moments where I could hardly believe what had just happened. Equally significant, it maintains a dark, oppressive intensity through out the final half of the film, which helps the film hold up under repeated viewing. 'Blood Simple' does have a somewhat prolonged intro, but this just serves to heighten the reality of the situation, which makes the more outlandish occurrences of the second half of the film all the more plausible. The budget was low but performances are strong and believable all around, with particular kudos going to M. Emmet Walsh as the slimy PI. The film is shot very competently and stylishly with a lot more flair and unusual transitions than you'd usually see in a film this cheap. Music is also used effectively, and though the main score is quite repetitious I just really like that main piano part that accompanies some of the more climactic scenes. Finally, the climax of the film is just splendidly done, taking an almost horror movie approach and with a few neat stylistic touches. (Such as one character trying to shoot at another through the wall into a darkened room, thus creating numerous small shafts of light coming through the wall.)I know I haven't said much, particularly about the plot, but this is just one of those movies you should know as little as possible going in. It's awesome, just take my word for it.Grade: A