A childless couple decide to steal one of a wealthy family's
quintuplets, causing all sorts of chaos to complicate their lives. COMEDY
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Raising Arizona (1987)Written and Directed by Joel Coen and Ethan Coen
Starring Nicolas Cage, Holly Hunter, John Goodman, William Forsythe, Trey Wilson, Randall "Tex" Cobb, Frances McDormand, Sam McMurray |
Raising Arizona is one of the Coens' best films. It's hilariously ridiculous and is considered a cult favorite by many, including myself. Nicolas Cage and Holly Hunter are stellar and make this film a truly funny ride. The Coens seem to excel with every film they make and this one is no exception.
What's interesting about this film is the devil symbolism implied by Tex Cobb's villain, Leonard Smalls. He is a force of nature, with fire in his blood (literally). The entire second half of the film is so bizarre, with H.I. (Cage) and Ed (Hunter) trying to get Junior back from Smalls. Oddly enough, the Coens make it work and help make Raising Arizona a bona fide cult hit. With hilarious performances from Nicolas Cage, Holly Hunter, John Goodman, and pretty much everybody else, it's not hard to see why Raising Arizona is such a great movie. To those who are looking for an introduction to the Coens' extensive filmography, I would say that Raising Arizona is the perfect place to start. |