Just wondering, because I just finished watching it and thought it was pretty funny, perhaps not the greatest Coen brother movie but still enjoyable. I looked it up on Ebert's film review archive and was surprised to see he only gave it *1/2 stars. Seeing as I wasn't born when this was made, it just made me wonder, how was this received?
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I remember when this movie came out (I live in Charleston, SC with not a large number of movie theaters especially in 1987) and it was seen as kind of quirky but still darkly funny. The Coens were not hugely famous and up til Raising Arizona were really only known for Blood Simple. R.A. was sort of one of those small indie-type movies that briefly played at the more "artsy" theaters. I think it only played at one cinema out of about four in the area and it didn't play for long if I recall. It was the summer of 1987. It was liked but certainly not a blockbuster with people lining up to see it. I think I was one of maybe 2 or 3 or 4 other people in the theater during a Friday night showing.
shareIn England it was universally acclaimed. I read the Time Out review which gave it a brilliant write up.
I went to see it on the strength of that review and the fact i'd liked their earlier film Blood Simple.
I absolutely loved the film. It was funny, cinematic, had great characters and a very moving ending. I still think it's the Coen's best film and one of the best of that year. (1987 i think!)
"Perhaps he's wondering why someone would SHOOT a man before throwing him out of a plane"
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I loved this movie since the time it came out. Heck, I loved it so much, I made my wife-to-be take a quiz about the movie. She passed.... :)
shareEbert LOVED "Blood Simple". I'm almost positive that he had it in his Top 10 of 1985 and listed M. Emmet Walsh as a major oversight by The Academy for Best Supporting Actor.
With his, at the time, limited frame of reference for the Coen's Brothers,on first viewing, he may not have known what to make of Raising Arizona and was off-put by its quirkiness.
I am old enough to remember when this movie was new. I remember it being in the theaters for quite a long time. It was a very unusual film for its time, and people who'd seen it would always be telling others who hadn't to go and see it. So I would say it was well received, just from what I can recall.
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