Coens Low Budget Crapola

Rating: 3/10 (20 April 2008)

I haven't read the source material that is behind this movie, so I don't know if there is the potential for a decent film hiding in there or not. I did feel like rushing the DVD out of my house and back to the rental store as quickly as possible and told my wife in no uncertain terms to never buy this for me as any kind of gift.
Why? I think it is an ugly movie, which may have only been made because the Coens are able to get a film, any film, done on a smallish budget and with the knowledge that there is a built-in audience for their movies. Seems to me that they recognize the ugliness of the movie by hiding several murders of key characters off screen. Money shots exist here and there, but nothing feels truly wedded to the narrative. The story itself just dribbles to an end but, for me, not a resolution.
I have no respect for writers that handle character arcs by simply killing characters as the story winds down. It is careless writing which doesn't respect character or the audience. I really enjoyed several other movies by the brothers and I hope they can somehow get back to quality writing and directing.