Criterion Year Week 74: Blood Simple

The Criterion Collection, the last vestige of truly collectible DVD and Blu-Ray movies in existence. These are well produced, fancy pants editions of important and interesting films for the discerning film lover.

We continue our journey through Jim's collection of movies with...

Blood Simple.

Spine Number: 834

Director:The Coen Brothers

Genre: Drama

 

As we have said before, there are a handful of filmmakers who seem to spring fully formed into existence. These unique, gifted artist hit the scene with a something that shows you pretty much everything you need to know about their style and just grow from there with it. Well, add The Coen Brothers to that list.

While Blood Simple might not seem like much of their later work, it isn't as overtly comedic, it still gives you a distillation of their style in a lean and direct package. There is humor, but there is also moral ambiguity, corruption, and a sense of justice in the end.

But it's also very tense and brutal. But that's what makes it work so well.

 

So, check it out with us. We promise a good time.

 

Next time we finish our prolonged year of Criterion with...

Spine number 838: Pan's Labyrinth

Also, check this out.

The Life Masters is now it's own show with its own site and own dedicated feed. That's right, we have two completely different shows! 

Right now check it out at www.thelifemasters.podbean.com.

You can also drink in our brilliance on Youtube for both The Film Thugs and The Life Masters.

http://fantasymovieleague.com/

Looks like Summer Movie League has officially become Fantasy Movie League.

It looks quite fun. Here's how it works.

You have an 8 screen theater.

Every week you pick movies and have a budget/salary cap you have to stay under.

Then you compete against other theaters in your league.

It's fantasy football for movie people.

Our league is Film Thugs 2015 and the password is Porterhouse.

And remember, you can be a part of the show any time you wild like. How's that? All you have to do is call or e-mail us. If you live in the US, or any place that makes calling the US easy, just dial 512-666-RANT and leave us a voicemail. We will read the Google Voice transcript and play your message. It's both funny AND informative.

If you live outside the US you can call us on Skype at The_Film_Thugs. You can leave a message, or someone might actually answer.

E-mail us at thefilmthugs@gmail.com and we will read/play whatever you send us, or you can e-mail thugquestions@gmail.com to be part of  an upcoming "Ask the Film Thugs" show, where we answer questions on any subject without having heard them first.

Also, we are on twitter @thefilmthugs and on Facebook and Vine.

Also, be sure to check back often for our new endeavor The Life Masters, where we answer questions to other advice columnists.

Thanks for listening, and until next week...