The Complete Coen Brothers Collection (1984-2004) on DVD

Film Description

11 films from Joel and Ethan Coen. Comprises:

Blood Simple (1983)

When the Coen brothers made their debut with this in 1983, it was widely recognised as the work of major talents, and although they may have refined their techniques in later works, it retains a barely diminished impact today. Tales of infidelity and double-crossing have often been told, but rarely with such genre-bending panache.

Raising Arizona (1987)

The Coens' hilarious second feature, a weird and wonderful screwball comedy. Featuring Cage's best early performance, troublesome quintuplets and steadicam set pieces of bewildering ingenuity and stylish bravado., Miller's Crossing, Barton Fink, The Hudsucker Proxy, Fargo, The Big Lebowski, O Brother, Where Art Thou?, The Man Who Wasn't There, Intolerable Cruelty, and The Ladykillers.

Millers Crossing (1990)

Byrne is Finney's loyal right-hand man in an absorbing tale of Irish-American gangsters drawn into a war with a rival Italian gang in 1929. Laced with trademark brilliantly quirky dialogue, this is one of the consistently inventive Coen brothers' finest - entertaining and stylish, with an enjoyably twisting plot and superb characters.

Barton Fink (1991)

An offbeat comedy. A scriptwriter makes it to Hollywood only to find himself suffering from writers block. His inspiration finally comes from the most sinister of sources - faceless movie moguls and headless corpses.

The Hudsucker Proxy (1994)

The Coen brothers take on the filmic style of the 30's (Capra & Sturges in particular) in the hope of creating their first commercial success. They didn't manage that 'till Fargo, but they made an excellent & funny film. The film tracks the lightning fast rise and corruption of boyish Tim Robbins in a large company under the influence of big shot Paul Newman. All the trappings are here - bolshy female reporters, spinning newspapers, scheming directors, montage's, plus plenty of the Coen's own unique invention.

Fargo (1996)

Returning to a small town setting reminiscent of the Coen Brothers' first film, but this time based in the bleak Minnesota landscape of their childhood, Fargo is an austere morality tale of greed, stupidity and the folly of pretending to be what one is not. Characteristically, it is also laced with an icy black humour. As with all Coen movies, the old cliche - 'Amply repays repeated viewings' - applies. Winner of 2 Academy awards.

The Big Lebowski (1998)

The Coens' trademark deadpan wit and imaginative characterisation blend to inspired effect in this bizarre comedy/mystery in which LA slacker Jeffrey 'The Dude' Lebowski, is mistaken for Jeffrey Lebowski, LA millionaire, by two angry gangsters. The Dude becomes entangled in the plot when he goes to visit the real Lebowski in order to get some retribution. Featuring snappy dialogue, twists galore and an astonishing Busby Berkeley-inspired dance routine, this one of the Coens' best.

O Brother Where Art Thou? (2000)

The Great Depression. Three convicts escape from a Southern chain gang and find unexpected fame on the radio. Brilliantly observed updating of Homer's Odyssey.

The Man Who Wasn't There (2001)

The Coens return to film noir terrain with this tale of infidelity, blackmail and death. Ed Crane is a chain-smoking barber, his wife is probably having an affair with her boss, Frank, and Ed's life is pretty much going nowhere. When an opportunity to invest in the dry cleaning business is presented to him, he sees a way out. He decides to blackmail Frank in order to acquire some funds, but things start to go badly awry.

Intolerable Cruelty (2003)

Top divorce attorney Miles Massey is hired to represent a wealthy businessman against his gold-digging wife. Miles becomes attracted to Marilyn but manages to win the case. Now Marilyn is out for revenge.

The Ladykillers (2004)

Relocating the classic Ealing story to the Deep South gives the Coen Brothers an opportunity to bring a new angle to this dark comedy of manners. Tom Hanks stars as Goldthwait Higginson Dorr, Ph.D, a would-be professor who talks his way into the cellar of Mrs. Munson, to carry out a plot to tunnel through and steal a mint from a riverboat casino