Recent Reviews for Raising Arizona
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MCT:September 2, 2008Was this movie supposed to be comedy?it wasn't to me!
with all respects to Coen Bro,but plzzzzzzzzzz don't do this kinda stuff again!
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MCT:August 29, 2008One of the classic comedies and also one of my favorite movies. This movie is plain brilliant and hysterical. Go watch it if you haven't seen it already...
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MCT:August 28, 2008
i relly fell for nick cage in thes movie him and holly hunter i relly like her also thay were great in thes i got 2 of them on vhs
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MCT:August 28, 2008Raising Arizona, the Coens' follow-up to their excellent debut Blood Simple, is an explosively clever and riotously funny exploration of fertility, homemaking, and the working class in the prisons and trailer parks of the desert southwest. H.I. McDunnough (Nicolas Cage) meets local cop "Ed" (Holly Hunter) while having his mugshot taken. When H.I. gets paroled, he and Ed marry but find themselves unable to conceive. Hungering for a simple family life, H.I. gives up the gone-straight life to steal one of a furniture tycoon's quintuplets, but soon finds an apocalyptic bounty hunter on his tail. Meanwhile, two of H.I.'s jail buddies (John Goodman and William Forsythe) seek refuge with the new family man after busting out of the joint and tug at H.I.'s loyalties. Raising Arizona is consistently absorbing and well-acted; in the biggest scenes, including an astounding and hilarious chase/robbery of diapers, it reaches comic greatness. Nonetheless, it's a triumph of style over substance.
Ed McDonnough: [sobbing] "Turn to the right.
H.I.: What's the matter, Ed?
Ed McDonnough: My "fy-ance" left me.
H.I.: [narrating] She said her fiancé had run off with a student cosmetologist, who knew how to ply her feminine wiles.
H.I.: [out loud] That sumbitch. You tell him, I think he's a damn fool, Ed. You tell him I said so - H.I. McDonnough. If he wants to discuss it, he knows where to find me: in the Maricopa County Maximum Security Correctional Facility For Men State Farm, Road Number 31, Tempe, Arizona! I'LL BE WAITIN'! I'll be waitin'." -
MCT:August 24, 2008Why this one is called "Arizona Junior" in Sweden instead of the original title beats me. However it's one of the few movies where I can stand the sight of Nicholas Cage.
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MCT:August 19, 2008very weird senes and story.an offiicer and a criminal gets married then take a baby of a rich family?what a crazy world!
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MCT:August 10, 2008
Back before i realized Cage's eccentricities were insane arrogance instead of just talent. "I found myself driving past convenience stores... that weren't on the way home."
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MCT:August 7, 2008kitchy, corny, knee-slappin', aw-chucks americana (hardly better'n "hee haw") is a little grating to the sensibilities...okay, it's downright condescending, bitter to the extreme and tiresome at length, but there is a ersatz DNA strand of hope played in yer basic fucked-up, everyday hayseeds chosen by the the coen brothers that works somehow to redeem their questionable "work"...insert "rebel yell" here.
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MCT:July 28, 2008
"H.I." (Nicholas Cage), a convict who goes by the nickname "Hi", and his police officer wife (Holly Hunter), who he met while being booked on a robbery charge and courted during even more bookings on robbery charges, have been trying to have a baby. They soon learn that she can't have a baby.
They try the adoption route, with her appearing at the adoption agency in uniform, but they are denied because of "Hi's" huge criminal record. Soon after, the couple learn that a local businessman and his wife have just brought home a set of quintuplets, and because she wants to be a mother so bad they decide to take one of the children and raise the kid as their own.
I have heard a lot of good things over the years since this movie came out, and I have to disagree with what people have said about this film.
The first problem with the movie is the script. It's basically not funny at all, and the performances all around suffer from it. None of the characters were memorable, and were all a bit over the top.
None of the jokes, with exception of two, made me really laugh. In fact the jokes were not real funny at all. Maybe if they were set-up better, the jokes may have worked.
Like I said earlier, the performances are bad all around. Not one of the characters are performed with any intelligence. Every character is one step up from an idiot. Maybe this was done because the writers thought it would be funny, but it wasn't.
Even the wardrobe was pretty boring, as was the sets. If you ask me, the movie was also poorly developed, as were the characters.
If you ask me, this movie should only be seen on TV. I wouldn't rent this one, unless my first five choices were not available. -
MCT:July 17, 2008
My favorite comedy of all time. Note perfect from beginning to end. Saw it in a run down little theater in Ely Minnesota - all by myself. Fantastic
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MCT:July 9, 2008
well, it was funny and quirky, and i love nicolas cage. it's one of those movies you'll love or you just won't get. guess which it was for me!
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MCT:July 9, 2008
Le deuxième film des frères Coen, qui explorent cette fois l'univers de la comédie. L'histoire est assez simple, aurait pu même tourner au banal, mais les cinéastes ont su guider l'intrigue juste comme il le fallait, en alliant l'humour parodique au suspense un peu plus classique. Une mixture dosée avec habileté qui garde toujours le bon ton.
La caméra est maniée avec vitalité; les réalisateurs s'amusent beaucoup avec les plans et les mouvements, mais jamais de manière à détourner l'attention du spectateur. La technique des frères Coen, comme celle de Scorsese, demeure toujours subtile, toujours en arrière-plan, la priorité allant à l'histoire et son déroulement. Ce n'est pas exactement un grand film, mais c'est un bon film, réalisé avec beaucoup de savoir-faire. C'est surtout un excellent divertissement. -
MCT:July 1, 2008
I liked the simplistic feel of the movie. It was edgy without being dramatic which complimented the irony of the film very well. I would have personally prefered John Goodman as Hi and Cage as Gale, but that's just me. Casting Goodman was brilliant as every film I see with him in it always gives me a sense that the movie will get better. The actors did very well with the exception of Holly Hunter and the film was overall laughable, but like a lot of movies you've got to be in the right mood. I only watch this film occasionally, but I would reccomend it!
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MCT:June 27, 2008
I loved this. It has a crazy, loose, beautiful rhythm to it that doesn't let up until right towards the end when it descends slightly into schmaltz. Nic Cage is a brilliant whirlwind and Holly Hunter is gorgeous. Pity about the music.
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MCT:June 24, 2008
I keep liking this more and more. I take back what I said about hoping Burn After Reading doesn't turn out like this. If it did, well that wouldn't be too bad. Any movie that can make Nicolas Cage likable is my kind of movie.
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MCT:June 21, 2008
My 2nd fav Coen Bro flick. Both NC & HH should go back to comedy & give up the dramas. JG is hilarious as always.
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MCT:June 10, 2008
"I tried to stand up and fly straight, but it wasn't easy with that sumbitch Reagan in the White House. I dunno. They say he's a decent man, so maybe his advisors are confused."
Raising Arizona is now considered a classic gem from currently-renowned filmmaking duo Joel and Ethan Coen. Now that the pair have achieved such success with their crowning jewels such as No Country for Old Men, Fargo and O Brother, Where Art Thou? to name a few, it's an interesting experience to revisit some of the earlier films created by the Coen Brothers. Taking all their succeeding films into account, Raising Arizona is a top-notch production and is unmistakably the effort of Joel and Ethan Coen. It is simply their type of movie: wildly offbeat, surreal, atmospheric and unique. However their style of humour will certainly not be appreciated by all tastes.
In this bright and moderately unconventional slapstick comedy, we are initially introduced to criminal H.I. McDunnough (Cage). H.I. (known as "Hi" among friends) is a repeat offender who is continually arrested for armed robbery. Every time Hi is arrested he meets Ed (Hunter), a police photographer. With each new arrest, the two continue developing a relationship. Hi vows to give up his life of crime when he mounts a successful marriage proposal to Ed. All is wedded bliss until it is discovered that Ed is unable to fall pregnant, and due to Hi's former persistent dedication to crime they are subsequently rejected by every adoption agency in town. Things become desperate when the inability to have children places a strain on the marriage and the relationship between Hi and Ed. They soon learn that well-known furniture tycoon Nathan Arizona (Wilson) has recently welcomed quintuplets that he feels is too much to handle. In an attempt to finally gain a baby, Ed and Hi plan to kidnap one of the babies from Nathan Arizona and pass it off as their own. When things look shaky, the happily wedded couple grab the baby and hit the road. In typical Coen Brothers style, pure mayhem and chaos ensues.
Raising Arizona is an interesting twist on your usual comedy, in fact it's one of the most inventive, original and off-the-wall comedies I've seen for years. Interestingly enough, the only wacky comedies that can compare to this film are none other than the other works of the Coen Brothers. This film is wicked fun from the get-go. It's incredibly fast-paced and well made; featuring top-notch performances, effective direction, inventive cinematography and solid directing. For a film made in the late 80s it still looks pretty damn good in terms of production values and the extremely innovative utilisation of the camera. On top of this the film is skilfully edited and contains some music that effectively sets the tone and atmosphere. The chase sequence is a particular stand-out in this film. For something this wacky, you can only find two possible people at the helm (yes, Joel or Ethan Coen...or both).
Nicholas Cage convincingly pulls off the title role. His accent always sounds genuine and he never strikes a false note. Heck, even his facial expressions towards the film's conclusion are enough to make you laugh! Holly Hunter is also quite excellent. The chemistry between Cage and Hunter is outstanding. These two are supported by an excellent bunch of actors including John Goodman, Trey Wilson, William Forsythe and Frances McDormand among others.
Overall, Raising Arizona is a very funny movie and still one of the best creations of the Coen Brothers. From a simple storyline the duo were able to create a mesmerising landscape, deft one-liners and some very off-the-wall characters. Although the script is a little clichéd and the ending is fairly standard, the whole movie is very satisfying; featuring fight scenes and chases that are skilfully choreographed and filmed, as well as being exciting and entertaining. In a nutshell: this film is great enjoyment and is destined to keep you extremely entertained. -
MCT:May 26, 2008
This movie was frakkin awesome. It's hard to remember the last time Nic Cage was in a good movie. The Coen brothers rock.
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MCT:May 25, 2008
Paradigmatic example of the Coen brothers' fantastically odd, cartoonish and hilarious world of adorable losers. Barry Sonnenfeld's camerawork is amazing.
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MCT:May 8, 2008
Another genius creation of the Cohen brothers. Quirky comedy. We're going to do our Christmas cards in the theme of this Movie poster!
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MCT:May 5, 2008
The Coens deliver another clever and masterful laugh fest which happens to be one of the greatest comedies ever
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MCT:April 27, 2008
A very dark comedy about a couple that steals a child because they can't have one of their own. Lots of trouble happen as they get on the edge of a breakdown. The Coen brothers write and direct.
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MCT:April 16, 2008
Raising Arizona is a unique and enjoyable flick with extremely wonderful characters. Holly Hunter, Cage and Goodman were all great.
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MCT:April 10, 2008
the characters, crazy and deadpan that they are, make this movie...they are like extreme stereotypes...
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MCT:April 8, 2008
This film just cracks me up in how deadpan the characters are. The chase scene where Nicolas Cage runs from the store clerk and the police with the diapers in hand is classic.
