Raising Arizona (Joel Coen, 1987)

The Coen Brothers follow-up to their critically acclaimed film noir debut 'Blood Simple' (1984) is a madcap comedy, reminiscent of some of Hollywood's best screwball comedies, which is played for laughs and would work just as well if it had been animated! Struggling cop and robber couple, played by future Academy Award winners Holly Hunter and Nicolas Cage, are unable to have children of their own. In line with the humorous film narrative it therefore seems perfectly reasonable that they 'borrow' a baby from one of the richest families in the state and raise him as their own. On the run from police and private investigators alike, the couple go on the run...a journey which teaches them much about themselves and what they would be prepared to do to have a family together. John Goodman makes his first Coen appearance as a crazy escaped convict (watch out for the hilarious scene which 'Shawshank Redemption' (Frank Darabont, 1994) stole in a manner of speaking) who sees a chance to make a quick buck at the expense of others. When all is said and done in the world of Raising Arizona, it is the performance of former heavyweight boxer Randall 'Tex' Cobb as relentless manhunter Leonard Smalls which really catches the eye and imagination and represents one of Coens' best ever characters. He and the hired gun from 'Blood Simple', as I mentioned in my review, are the catalysts for the creation of the man monster terminator Anton Chigurgh from 'No Country for Old Men' (2007).