Raising Arizona Reviews

Honestly, it has been a while since I have seen this flick and I should definitely check it again whenever I have the opportunity. The point is that I always had some rather mixed feelings about this flick (like most of the movies directed by the Coen brothers as a matter of fact). And, apparently, I’m not the only one feeling this way. Indeed, on one hand, it is nowadays regarded as a cult-classic but, on the other hand, some other people like Roger Ebert really didn’t care for the whole thing. In my opinion, it is indeed quite a wild comedy but, that’s also the problem, it is actually so wild and so over-the-top, it makes it actually rather difficult to take the whole thing seriously. Still, there were many things to enjoy here. For example, even though some people consider Nicolas Cage as one of the worst actors in the world, he actually worked with some of the greatest directors ever and, in this movie, he gave one of his unique weird performances and he was just pretty awesome. To conclude, even though I don’t think it is one of their best movies, it is still pretty good and it is definitely worth a look, especially if you are interested in the Coen brothers’s work.

How can you not love this movie? I mean, it's the Cohen Brothers, and they are genius, in my opinion.

This movie is quirky, incredibly funny and weird, and it has all the ingredients a Cohen movie should have, great cinematography, great filming and a ton of quirkiness. It just makes you feel warm inside. Nicholas Cage, I think, was superb, as well as Holly Hunter and all the other characters. I was laughing from the first minute into the movie.

"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.

7.9/10