Blood Simple (1984)

[Akijama]

Joel and Ethan Coen’s career-long darkly comic road trip through misfit America began with this razor-sharp, hard-boiled neonoir set somewhere in Texas, where a sleazy bar owner releases a torrent of violence with one murderous thought. Actor M. Emmet Walsh looms over the proceedings as a slippery private eye with a yellow suit, a cowboy hat, and no moral compass, and Frances McDormand’s cunning debut performance set her on the road to stardom. The tight scripting and inventive style that have marked the Coens’ work for decades are all here in their first film, in which cinematographer Barry Sonnenfeld abandons black-and-white chiaroscuro for neon signs and jukebox colors that combine with Carter Burwell’s haunting score to lurid and thrilling effect. Blending elements from pulp fiction and low-budget horror flicks, Blood Simple reinvented the film noir for a new generation, marking the arrival of a filmmaking ensemble that would transform the American independent cinema scene.

DIRECTOR-APPROVED 4K UHD + BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES

• Restored 4K digital transfer, approved by cinematographer Barry Sonnenfeld and filmmakers Joel and Ethan Coen, with 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack
• One 4K UHD disc of the film presented in Dolby Vision HDR and one Blu-ray with the film and special features
• Conversation between Sonnenfeld and the Coens about the film’s look, featuring Telestrator video illustrations
• Conversation between author Dave Eggers and the Coens about the film’s production, from inception to release
• Interviews with composer Carter Burwell, sound editor Skip Lievsay, and actors Frances McDormand and M. Emmet Walsh
• Trailers
• English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• PLUS: An essay by novelist and critic Nathaniel Rich
• Cover by Michael Boland

https://www.criterion.com/films/28852-blood-simple

[dylrichard02]

Glad I waited, however I will continue to wait until we know if this has been cut further like Miller's Crossing.

[GuruAskew]

Originally Posted by dylrichard02

Glad I waited, however I will continue to wait until we know if this has been cut like Miller's Crossing.

It’s been cut for like 20+ years.

[chrisandy007]

I’m confused. I thought the Coens didn’t care for 4K and turned down the chance to release this on 4K originally.

[JohnCarpenterFan]

Yes, the trims to Blood Simple are more extensive than the ones made to Miller's Crossing. Unlike with Miller's Crossing, I actually think the DC of Blood Simple flows better by shortening scenes that go on for too long and making a scene near the end more graphic.

[dylrichard02]

Originally Posted by GuruAskew

It’s been cut for like 20+ years.

Thanks, I didn't even realize! Hopefully it isn't cut any further!

Originally Posted by chrisandy007

I’m confused. I thought the Coens didn’t care for 4K and turned down the chance to release this on 4K originally.

Criterion's original blu-ray came out 5 years before they were doing 4K.UHD discs.

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by dylrichard02

Thanks, I didn't even realize! Hopefully it isn't cut any further!



Criterion's original blu-ray came out 5 years before they were doing 4K.UHD discs.

I'm not able to find a link at the moment, but I believe an anecdote that was going around claimed Criterion had done an HDR pass of Blood Simple several years ago. They had mentioned this to Coen Brothers who replied with: "OK...?" The belief was the Coens either didn't care for HDR or had not read up on it to have an opinion of the technology.

[chrisandy007]

Originally Posted by dylrichard02

Thanks, I didn't even realize! Hopefully it isn't cut any further!



Criterion's original blu-ray came out 5 years before they were doing 4K.UHD discs.

It must have been Miller's Crossing then. I was unable to find it in a quick Google search but I am fairly confident one of the Criterion producers talked about doing a HDR pass of Miller's Crossing to show the Coens and their response was "OK" which basically put them firmly in the category of preferring SDR/1080. So I am surprised they changed their minds about Blood Simple. I know Deakins approved of The Big Lebowski but no idea if they were involved in Fargo.. hopefully this means the upcoming Criterion of The Man Who Wasn't There will be in 4K too.

[rocknblues81]

Originally Posted by dylrichard02

Glad I waited, however I will continue to wait until we know if this has been cut further like Miller's Crossing.

Yep.

[CreasyBear]

My favorite Coen Brothers film! Yes!

[Agent Kay]

Yeah it's forever cut

[MathTeacher]

Literally just bought Blood Simple blu at the B&N Criterion Sale!

[JGCramp]

Originally Posted by MathTeacher

Literally just bought Blood Simple blu at the B&N Criterion Sale!

Same here. So it goes, I guess!

[sfmarine]

Originally Posted by JGCramp

Same here. So it goes, I guess!

Same here as well! Happens to the best of us.

[bradnoyes]

****! I've had this BD in my sell pile for a few weeks and have been lazy about getting it posted. Probably going to put in it a bundle now. I've been unloading pretty much anything that has even a slight change of getting an upgrade, which at this point feels like just about everything.

[Fjodor2000]

Originally Posted by Akijama

Coming in January

Source? Link?

[Gacivory]

Originally Posted by Fjodor2000

Source? Link?

The Criterion website.

https://www.criterion.com/films/28852-blood-simple

[Fjodor2000]

Originally Posted by Gacivory

The Criterion website.

https://www.criterion.com/films/28852-blood-simple

Thanks! Should obviously have been in the OP. I think it's a generally issue. Why the hell do some people skip source link in the OP when it's available?

[themp3000]

Originally Posted by Fjodor2000

Thanks! Should obviously have been in the OP. I think it's a generally issue. Why the hell do some people skip source link in the OP when it's available?

It’s a race to make the post, can’t worry about any of that boring stuff. Gotta go fast. Rise and grind, gamer.

Anyways, I might get this, I don’t know. Leaning strongly towards a yes.

[bradnoyes]

Originally Posted by Fjodor2000

Thanks! Should obviously have been in the OP. I think it's a generally issue. Why the hell do some people skip source link in the OP when it's available?

Akijama just wants to be first. He doesn't have time for superficial stuff like confirming the details of his posts. It's always a loss for this site when he posts before MifuneFan.

That said, these Criterion announcements aren't tough to verify.