MovieChat Forums > The Hudsucker Proxy (1994) Discussion > This deserves to be regarded as one of t...

This deserves to be regarded as one of the Coens' best!

posted 13 years ago by aworgill
2 replies | jump to latest

Well, not up there with Fargo, True Grit, and No Country For Old Men. But it's certainly worthy of their goofy screwball comedies like Raising Arizona and O Brother, Where Art Thou, (and I admit, I would put The Ladykillers in this category too). The dialogue is some of their best. I think now that indie has gotten so much more mainstream, if this had come out today, it would be well-received. Other than that, the only thing working against it is a very strange title. Ask the makers of The Shawshank Redemption how much of a difference that can make.

[–] maz89 12 years ago

Yes, it is puzzling that it didn't perform so well at the box office since it's definitely a strong effort by the Coen Bros.

I consider it to be a stronger film than Raizing Arizona, btw, which I thought became occasionally grating and silly and had some rough patches that didn't meld so effortlessly. On the other hand, The Hudsucker Proxy was pretty fluid in its storytelling and pretty darn hilarious in a way that wasn't necessarily irritating at the same time. It's possible I'm partial to it because I've always enjoyed the genre (I'm a fan of His Girl Friday, a film which I was obviously reminded of when watching this particular gem). Who cares if it's "predictable derivative mish mash" (as some other user put it - although I don't necessarily agree)... it's well-made and it's pretty darn entertaining and funny.

Clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose.

[–] franzkabuki 12 years ago

Yeah, I think someone´s pointed it out before, but there´s more of Rosalind Russell from His Girl Friday in Jennifer Jason Leigh´s character than there is of Katherine Hepburn. But boy did the ceaseless frenzied-paced patter between Russell and Grant in HGF make my head spin occasionally... here, at least Norville Barnes was more remorseful in these regards. Suffering with us. Or perhaps for us.

"facts are stupid things" - Ronald Reagan