![Blood Simple [Blu-ray] (1984)](/wp_content/uploads/2011/10/51VoLk0LXL._SL500_AA300__150x150.jpg "Blood Simple [Blu-ray] (1984)")
BLOOD SIMPLE (1984 Blu-ray released August 30, 2011 – MSRP $19.99)
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It’s hard to believe the Coen Brothers have been making films for so many years now – Blood Simple dates back to 1984. It was their first feature and they were kicking ass right out of the gate. Their Neo-Noir classic has gotten the Blu treatment finally and is available separately and as part of The Coen Brothers Collection set.
Previously released (twice) on DVD, this version is the same Director’s Cut as the 2001 DVD, 3 minutes shorter than the version seen in theatres back in ’84. Some re-edits were done to make a tighter film. I can’t say that I’ve really noticed the difference. It’s still great!
- “From the celebrated filmmaking team of Joel Coen and Ethan Coen (“Fargo”, “Raising Arizona”), comes this visually stunning tale of a double-cross – and murder – in a small town. When the owner of a backwoods bar hires a man to kill his cheating wife and her boyfriend, he opens a door into the criminal world that he’ll never be able to shut. “Blood Simple” hurtles forward with the speed and intensity of a fired bullet… and delivers as devastating an impact as has ever been felt from a noir film.“
A woman in a troubled relationship and the poor schmo who loves her and would do anything for her plus a jealous husband with an unscrupulous private investigator that would do anything for a buck, make for a dangerous mix. Throw in some sex, guns, foreshadowing and foreboding and you have the stuff that noir is made of. Blood Simple is a murky, suspenseful scramble through a small Texan town where people make poor decisions and pay for them.
Presented in a 1080p, AVC encoded transfer; Blood Simple looks as it should: the colors slightly washed out with great contrast between light and dark in the shots, and the a nice sheen of film grain present without much unsightly print damage to speak of. The sound on the disc is surprisingly good (keeping that independent feel) in 2.0 DTS-HD MA. All of the original music sounds great, particularly the excerpts from the Carter Burwell film score played in the Main Menu over eerie shots from the film.
Filed under fun and interesting facts: Blood Simple’s cinematographer was Barry Sonnenfeld. Sonnenfeld also shot Raising Arizona and Miller’s Crossing for the brothers before going on to direct his own films (Get Shorty, Men In Black). Blood Simple, inspired by countless noir films also inspired an off-beat comedy “remake” – Zhang Yimou’s 2009 film, A Woman, A Gun and A Noodle Shop.
There is not much in terms of bonus material. What has been preserved are the cute offerings from the previous Director’s Cut DVD releases – Theatrical Trailer, a fun, fake Commentary track by the Artistic Director of (fake) “Forever Young Films” and an introduction to the film by the founder of Forever Young Films, Mortimer Young.
I forgot how good a film it was until I saw it again. Blood Simple is an excellent example of neo-noir. I’d say go for the collection, though, if you don’t already own any of the other Blu-ray discs packaged in it–The added pleasure of owning Raising Arizona, Miller’s Crossing and Fargo as well on Blu-ray is well-worth it and the price is certainly right, saving you several dollars over buying each disc on its own!
SPECIAL FEATURES:
- Commentary with Kenneth Loring of Forever Young Films
- Cast and crew biographies
- Production notes
- Theatrical trailer
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