Bros Coen, The Best of

"Blood Simple" was the great debut film by the best storyteller brothers since the Brothers Grimm. Frances McDormand, a favorite of Joel and Ethan C, stars in this crime flick. The quirky M. Emmet Walsh steals the show, in my opinion. Dan Hedaya is Abby's (Frances M.) husband and a strange ranger, of course. LOOK UNDER THE FISH BLOODY BUDDY!
"Fargo" is their best. Frances McDormand is the main character (a nine months prego copper) in beautiful, snowy Fargo, N.D. Her hubby is the reliably effective William H. Macy. Quirky actor Steve Buscemi stars also. The Coens love the crime stuff and this one is (ya hey dere you betcha) a good one. Frances garnered a well deserved "Best Actress" Oscar.
"No Country for Old Men" is J & E's (2007) nicely done film-noir, this one involving drug dealing gone violent. Who would have thunk? Tommy Lee Jones stars as the sheriff. Javier Bardem, a fine actor and Josh Brolin star also. This not too bad film took Best Pic, Best Director(s) and Best Supporting Actor (Bardem) at the Academy Awards ceremony.
"Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?" is Joel & Ethan's adaptation of Homer's "The Odyssey". What? It has a great southern Mississippi soundtrack, which won a Grammy. This is the film that let me know that I had previously under-respected George Clooney as an actor. He is brilliant in this chain gang story. John Turturro and Tim Blake Nelson are good as his escapee brothers.
"Raising Arizona" likewise made me respect Nicolas Cage. Holly Hunter is great too in the comedy based on the unlikely premise of a baby's kidnapping. This is a touching film by the Coen Brothers. The always funny John Goodman and Frances McDormand are in this one.

Visit my website here.

Let's do (David) Lynch, His Best

"Wild at Heart" is his best in my opinionated vision. Nicolas Cage's best too. Why it wasn't well received (except at Cannes) is something I do not understand. It has great energy, especially the violent beginning. It's just Sailor and Lula (Laura Dern) in a love story. Wow.
"Blue Velvet" showcases weirdness and Dennis Hopper. Wait, that's the same thing. Laura Dern, a Lynch favorite, is in this one, as she is in "Wild at Heart". D.L. got an Oscar "Best Director" nomination for this great & disturbing film.
"Lost Highway" has a brilliant soundtrack and Patricia Arquette has never looked better than in this surrealistic film. Can she act? I don't care. Robert Blake has never looked worse-creeeeepy. This was Richard Pryor's last act, from a wheelchair.
"Mulholland Drive" has great chemistry between Naomi Watts and Laura Elena Harring and lots of twists. Lynch got a "Best Director" Oscar nomination for this dream sequence, unusual for the genre.
"The Elephant Man" is based on a true story, Lynch style. John Hurt is tremendous as the deformed star. This film garnered Lynch his first "Best Director" nomination in Hollywood, in 1980. He should have gotten the award.

visit my web site here.