Everything I look for in a film...

Rating: 10/10 (21 April 2009)

...a strong cast, excellent performances, a sparkling script, a belly laugh in just about every scene, and a delightfully absurd 'shaggy dog story' plot that nevertheless holds you all the way. The best honour I can give it is to say that I've seen it more times than any other film. In fact, recently I rented it out for a week and watched it every night for three consecutive nights (a tad obsessive by anyone's standards, maybe - but it still had me rolling about each time). Those who find it stupid, boring, for potheads only, etc... well, I can only feel sorry for them. They're missing something fundamental. This is film-making, story-telling, performing and writing at the very top of the game. Easily, for my money, the best that the Coen brothers have ever made. A unique distillation of all of their considerable talents. Absolutely 10 out of 10.