Product Description
It's easy to see why Raising Arizona is one of the best and most beloved films that Ethan and Joel Coen have yet to create. The cultish humor, original characters, fresh cinematography, catchy soundtrack, and zany yet well-structured plot to be found in this film are all Coen brothers trademarks. Nicholas Cage plays a veteran criminal who marries a prison guard named Edwina (Holly Hunter). Because he and his wife cannot conceive, our convict-hero kidnaps, with only the most earnest intentions, one of the famous "Arizona Quintuplets." A hellacious bounty-hunting biker and two old pals who have just escaped from the pen make it very hard for the couple to raise their child properly.

This is a movie—and a screenplay—marked by breathless chases, improbable scenes, and hilarious dialogue throughout.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Just as Funny on the Page!
This screenplay by Joel and Ethan Coen reminded me of how much I liked the film shot from it.Perennial criminal Hi returns to prison again and again for robbing convenience stores but Edwinna, the police officer who takes his mug shots, softens his heart.He decides to make a new life of it by marrying her.They buy a trailer in Arizona, set up housekeeping, and try the next logical step:to start a family. Edwinna, though, learns that she cannot conceive and that's where the screenplay takes a typical Coenbrother leap into absurdity.Ed and Hi decide to become parents by kidnapping one of a set of quintuplets since "it was unfair that some have so many while others should have so few."What ensures is pure madcap, inventive, hilarious comedy with a hint of the bittersweet.

The screenplay evokes the film with such clarity and excellent visual storytelling that you'll feel as though you're watching it.While Holly Hunter and Nicholas Cage, who played Ed and Hi, excel at portraying quirky characters, this script makes it clear that they had a fantastic script to work with and were not the sole reasons for its success.This paperback contains a few black-and-white still shots of the film (certainly not worth buying the screenplay for), the full credits for the film, and a short interview/exchange between the Coen brothers and the filmmakers for Evil Dead II: Dead by Dawn, a movie that was released during the same season. ... Read more

Product Description
Director Joel Coen's and producer Ethan Coen's Blood Simple (1984, River Road Prods/Circle Releasing/Palace) is a contemporary noir thriller set in Texas. A taut, convoluted plot and imaginative direction made the independent release a word-of-mouth hit and established the Coen brothers' reputation for originality. Actors John Getz, Frances McDormand, and Dan Hedaya appear in the story in which a woman commits adultery, and her enraged husband hires a killer for revenge. Blackmail, violence, and mistaken assumptions lead to an edgy, exhilarating climax.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

The best Coen Bros movie
Once upon a time, two eager outcasts named Joel and Ethan Coen, strived to be accepted as serious filmmakers...
They went on to become two of the most overrated filmmakers of all time. Blood Simple is for people who like challenging clever movies. If you like pointless cake-decorating and whimsy see their other 8 movies.

The Coens first major effort: "Blood Simple"...
Once upon a time, two eager outcasts named Joel and Ethan Coen, strived to be accepted as serious filmmakers...they went on to become two of the most creative filmmakers of all time, but in this (to their own admission) immature movie, the screenplay is likewise--despite what Roger Ebert and all of his followers say. Only for the desperitly curious...its alright to miss out on this Coen experiment.

The Coens first major effort: "Blood Simple"...
Once upon a time, two eager outcasts named Joel and Ethan Coen, strived to be accepted as serious filmmakers...they went on to become two of the most creative filmmakers of all time, but in this (to their own admission) immature movie, the screenplay is likewise--despite what Roger Ebert and all of his followers say. Only for the desperitly curious...its alright to miss out on this Coen experiment.

Well done.
This script is probably their(the Coens) best, Fargo not withstanding. I see this as more of a shooting script rather than a screenplay, in the traditional sense. There several references to point of view and the camera location or angle used in a slugline form. No matter, the pace and mood of this story are beautiful and haunting. I think it's the simplicity of the action and the great detail paid to the action that enthrall the reader. If you've seen the film, it's dark and atmospheric texture are a direct result of the attention given within the script. Well done. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

The best Coen Bros. book
Very smart and informative.No nonsense, clear, and straight-shootingwriting style.Many interesting insights based on facts from in and around the different productions.Levine seems to have inside information, but is not snotty about it. I have gotten a lot out of this book by reading the specific chapters after watching the specific films- reference style.There are also several interesting background-info chapters.The only problem... the book was published in 2000, so only covers through "The Big Lebowski."Nonetheless, I've found this book to be better and more useful than other books on the films of the Coen Bros. ... Read more

Product Description
The Coen brothers make a spectacular return to the black comedy of their classic films in this "hilariously vulgar . . . farce" (St. Louis Post-Dispatch). With the arrival of G. H. Dorr III, PhD., unassuming residents of a sleepy delta town are in for a surprise--especially the God-fearing Marva Munson, a widow with an aversion to "hippety-hop music" and a room to let. By providing the villanous doctor with a bed and a cellar in which to practice his "church music," the landlady unwittingly provides Doctor and his motley crew of thieves with a place to plan the perfect heist. Perfect, that is, until she becomes suspicious . . .
... Read more

Product Description
From the creators of Fargo and O Brother, Where Art Thou?

Intolerable Cruelty is the story of a fabulously successful Los Angeles divorce attorney, Miles Massey (George Clooney). Bored and restless with his success, Massey's on the lookout for new challenges when he encounters the much-divorced Marylin Rexroth (Catherine Zeta-Jones), a hard-nosed beauty pursuing financial independence through serial matrimony.As the two square off both personally and professionally, what follows is the mother of all battles of the sexes.

Full of the same sharp wit, snappy dialogue, and charmingly corrupt characters that their fans have come to love, the Coen brothers' latest film is a screwball comedy for the current age.
... Read more

Product Description
From the creators of Fargo and O Brother, Where Art Thou?

From the Coen brothers, "two of our most dependably provocative filmmakers" (Mike Clark, USA Today), comes a darkly funny thriller that harkens back to their earlier classics such as Blood Simple, Miller's Crossing, and Barton Fink.
Set in 1950s California, the film stars Billy Bob Thornton as Ed, a mild-mannered barber whose wife, Doris (Frances McDormand), is having an affair with her department store boss, Big Dave. Although Ed is initially apathetic about his wife's adultery, his life is turned upside down when one of his customers tells him about "the biggest business opportunity since Henry Ford"-dry cleaning-and he decides to blackmail Big Dave for the venture capital to start a chain. From there things go horribly wrong: Dave discovers Ed's identity as the blackmailer and tries to strangle Ed, who winds up killing Dave in self-defense, yet, ironically, it's Doris who the police arrest for the murder. As Ed tries to figure out what to do next his world begins to unravel, piece by piece.
Full of the same kind of slow-burn character studies, biting humor, and pitch-perfect dialogue that their fans have come to love, the Coen brothers' latest film is sure to take a place among their finest work.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

The Coen Brothers are at it again!
If you like the Coen Brothers (Barton Fink), Alfred Hitchcock, and Rod Serling then you will love this movie.Be prepared to sit back and relax.If you are already tense, this won't help you relax because you will be waiting for things to happen with a movie that shuffles as slowly as Prissy.Don't think I didn't like it because I did...laughed out loud at least 3 or 4 times, but I laughed AT the movie, not with it.If you like weird movies you will love this.I loved it even though it is a little weird.Pure Coen/Hitchcock/Serling!

The Editor Who Wasn't There
This latest tale from the Coen Brothers is a perfectly realized portrait of modern man's plight as just another gear in the hair-cutting machine.Dread and laughs abound, in equal measure.And, by the way, Roderick Jaynes, the film editor who introduces the screenplay, doesn't actually exist.Whenever the Coens edit one of their movies themselves, they use "Jaynes" as a pseudonym.

Another Solid Script
Even in their less succesful films, the Coen brothers never fail to deliver something interesting. TMWWT-their latest film, and areturn to the neo-noir territory of Blood Simple-is no exception. Even though it goes slightly off the rails in the last twenty minutes, the film is full of the entertaining oddballs one expects from them. The book is the shooting script, which upon first read doesn't appear to have any deviations from the finished film, along with a three page introduction by their film editor, Roderick Jaynes, in which he discusses the genesis of the title. Good reading for aspiring screen (and other) writers. ... Read more

Product Description
The Big Lebowski begins with a case of mistaken identity which escalates when Jeffrey Lebowski-alias The Dude-attempts to seek recompense for the despoliation of his ratty-ass little rug, and then finds himself entangled in a kidnapping caper as a bagman-a situation that goes from bad to worse due to the interference of his hapless bowling partners.

In this film the Coen brothers have taken on the preoccupations of Raymond Chandler, but have given them a postmodern spin, while at the same time leaving Philip Marlowe's ethos intact as The Dude wanders through the fractured world of nineties L.A. trying to do the right thing. Like the award winning Fargo, The Big Lebowski is suffused with a droll humor and a verbal felicity that is as delightful as it is startling.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Coen magic
The genius of thew Coens captured in this outstanding comedy. The characters, as ever, outdo the narrative, but the quotable lines come close to matching their masterpiece, Raising Arizona. Remember - nobody f#*k with the Jesus!

An awesome accompaniment for my favorite movie.
Although the words don't match exactly from the book to the movie, due to ad-libbing of the actors, this book is a must-have for any fan of The Big Lebowski. This book will make you laugh as much as the movie did.

Entertaining as scripts go...
One of the Coen Bros' best works.Their twisted world is never more hilarious as it is here.

AMust!
This scriptbook is essential to the uncompromising Lebowski fanatic. Great for neighborhood plays too! An easy way to study the simply brilliant use of dialogue found and recycled throughout the film.What's more, the coverimage is far out andwould make a great poster. ... Read more

Product Description
Filmmaker brothers Joel and Ethan Coen got their start in the independent film business in 1984 with their debut feature Blood Simple, which won the award of Best Dramatic Feature at Sundance in 1985 and was hailed as one of the best films of the year by the National Board of Review. Since their early success, the Coen Brothers have built a name for themselves and gone on to create other big-name movies such as Raising Arizona, Fargo, and The Big Lebowski. This book is a comprehensive account of these four films and Miller's Crossing, Barton Fink and The Hudsucker Proxy. Production information and in-depth analysis and critique are provided, as well as discussions on how each movie functions in the broader context of the Coens' work, and the themes, strategies, and motifs often utilized by the Coens. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

loved it
This was a wonderfully insightful book about a unique filmmaking team that Russell illuminates by making connections between film history and the early work of the Coen brothers.Readers should take special note of the chapter on "The Hudsucker Proxy" for the reference Russell makes to the various film genres alluded to in the movie, which help make the viewing so much more enjoyable.Her knowledge and perceptions as well as pithy writing style made this a fascinating read.I would highly recommend this book to anyone, film buff or otherwise!

Sheds New Light On The Coen Brothers' Films
The book is a little pricey, but that's because it's not supermarket fiction. The publisher, McFarland, specializes in cool non-fiction, with a strong emphasis on the arts and scholarly topics. As for the book itself, I loved it. Never thought about the Coen brothers movies in that way before. I wish the author would come out with a second volume and cover their more recent stuff. I give the book 5 stars.

Way overpriced little paperback
I have no idea why this book is retailing at just under $35. It's a short little paperback, and I feel completely ripped-off. It'd be a questionable buy at 7.95... I expected quite a bit more.

superlatives
this boook is wonderfully done and focuses on two very talented movie directors and their products.The author has a wonderful, sometimes whimsical and always lucid writing style.To read her work is to receive the joy we attained while in a university class where movies and books come to life, and to apreciate the artistic talent people have and are able to express.This author must be commended and i look forward to her next book.Where can she be found??? Andy Karpf Longetto Massachusetts ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (7)

Humor, yes, but don't miss out on touching scenes
Yes, this movie was humorous. No, I don't think it was necessarily an all-out comedy. To wit: The scene where Norm is upset that he only got the "tree cent stamp" and Margie is comforting him by telling him the three-cent stamp is important.

Scenes like this, and Margie's soliloquy near the end of the movie about "a little bit of money" add a moving human undercurrent. That's what gives this film far more depth than things like Tarantino movies or other crime films.

Love it or hate it, it's a darn good script.
This screenplay started with the premise, "Wouldn't it be cool if you put a guy through a wood chipper?" and snowballed (no pun intended, honestly) from there, according to the Coens. I think that's part of the amazing originality of this script. Why start with a plot? The storyline is so bizarre and non-linear that it at first you might be inclined to believe the movie actually is based on a true story. Twists, turns, and laugh-out-loud dialogue (for an extra laugh, watch the creative dubbing on TNT sometime: "frugal," "frozen," "flipping," etc.) make this a script worth reading, and well worth its Oscar. And to the Dakotans that have issues with the stereotypical accent: get over it. I'm from North Carolina, and I'm tired of you people whining about how all people in your region don't talk the same way. We southerners don't all talk like rednecks, but neither do we get uptight over movies that tend to forget that.But I digress. This is an excellent peice of writing, as is the rest of the Coen brothers' library. "Raising Arizona" and "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" are also wonderful; I recommend them.

Pretty Darn Good
What a great script! I'm surprised so many locals missed out on the humor of this film. Its easy to see the Coen brothers have a great vision what their films will be while they write. To the Minnesotans and North Dakotans who were harmed as a result of the "yah" stereotype, get over it.The Coens are the best thing to come out of the area since Lawrence Welk.

Amazing Movie And Even Better Script
WOW!If you really want to read a great screenplay pick up FARGO by joeland ethan coen.I love the coen brothers and this is a perfect examplewhy.the characters are all so great and the dialouge is sharp and funny.When you read it for the first time you'll probaly think you know where thestory is headed.WRONG.It's full of twists and turns you'd neverexpect.TAKE MY WORD FOR IT READ THIS BOOK NOW, THATS AN ORDER!

A great story about greed and its consequences.
A fabulous screenplay and an even better movie.Anyone who enjoyed Pulp Fiction or Jacky Brown will like FARGO.Frances McDormand plays a bright policewoman trying to maintain a normal and quiet life with husband Norm. GREAT bad guys you will love to hate.A must see!!!! ... Read more

Product Description
The most commercially and critically successful film of Ethan and Joel Coen, Fargo was nominated for five Academy Awards and received two, an exceptional achievement for a low budget, independently produced film. This volume explores Fargo from a variety of perspectives. Providing a detailed account of the film's production, reception and place within the career of the Coen brothers, it covers issues and themes significant to current film discourse, including genre, gender and sexuality, race, history, culture and myth. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Great companion to the film "Fargo" by the Coen brothers.
This is a great companion to the film "Fargo" by the Coen brothers. Although the story is virtually the same in both formats, reading the written word is not the same as viewing a video. When you can have both, the enjoyment of the story is greater than the sum of its formats.

The biggest complaint I have with all the Kindle books I've purchased so far (since December 2009) is that the line breaks and other document formatting is just plain goofy. If anyone picked up a physical copy of a book and saw similar errors, there is very little chance the person would buy the book. They would think it was defective in printing. But with Kindle books, you pay a slightly lower price and "takes yer chances." Very sad. It's as if someone just cut the pages out of a physical copy and fed them through a scanner, creating a PDF, without bothering to check the output.

This isn't supposed to be a review of the Kindle, however, so I'll leave my comments about that and say that "Fargo" is one of the Coen brothers' best movies, full of both nuance and suspense. The pathetic character played by William Macy comes across in the written form as an even sadder, more desperate man. The description and actions of the two bad guys are all the more ominous and gruesome when read word for word. When I watch "Fargo" on TV and then pick up the Kindle, the experience is fantastic, as if I were immersed in the lives of the characters on a deeper level than could be possible by just watching or reading the story.

I recommend "Fargo" in the Kindle edition for anyone who enjoys the Coen brothers' work, anyone who likes to see how a written plot or screenplay is translated into visual form, and, alas, for anyone who has the patience to put up with the cheap production that is the biggest flaw in all the Kindle e-books I have purchased.

Four stars for an incredible story, but I must withhold the fifth star for the crummy formatting of the book; for the cost of the Kindle version of "Fargo" I should get more than weird line breaks and words running together like snow in Dakota. ... Read more

Product Description
This digital document is an article from Epoca, published by Difusora de Informacion Periodica, S.A. (DINPESA) on October 10, 2008. The length of the article is 1217 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: CNI: a la Americana: los hermanos Coen regresan con la comedia 'Quemar despuês de leer': Joel y Ethan Coen vuelven a la sâtira con una comedia esperpêntica, interpretada por George Clooney, John Malkovich y Brad Pitt, en la que se rîen de los servicios secretos 37, de paso, de l os tics mâs ridîculos de la posmodernidad.
Author: Alfonso Basallo
Publication: Epoca (Magazine/Journal)
Date: October 10, 2008
Publisher: Difusora de Informacion Periodica, S.A. (DINPESA)
Issue: 1215Page: 64(3)

Distributed by Gale, a part of Cengage Learning ... Read more