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Blu-ray Review Blood Simple Blu-ray Review (1 Viewer)

Citizen87645

Reviewer
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Cameron Yee
The Coen Brothers' (and Frances McDormand's) first feature film - a thriller that gives the film noir genre a twist as much as it pays it tribute - finally comes to Blu-ray. Though the release merely ports over the limited extras from past DVD releases, the quality high definition picture and sound make for a worthwhile upgrade.



c48540e2_BloodSimpleBlu-ray.jpeg




Blood Simple


Release Date: August 30, 2011
Studio: MGM Studios / 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
Packaging/Materials: Single-disc Blu-ray "ECO-BOX"
Year: 1984
Rating: R
Running Time: 1:35:38
MSRP: $19.99






THE FEATURE

EXTRAS



Video

1080p high definition 1.85:1

High definition



Audio

DTS-HD Master Audio: English 2.0

Stereo



Subtitles

English SDH, Spanish

None







The Feature: 4.5/5


It's a tale as old as time.

Man (John Getz) and woman (Frances McDormand) have affair. Woman's husband (Dan Hedaya) finds out. Husband hires all-around creep (M. Emmet Walsh) to have Man and Woman killed.

Where it all goes wonky is when the people who are supposed to be dead, really aren't. And everyone thinks the person who is actually dead, is still alive.

Thanks to misunderstandings, assumptions and happenstance foul play turns farcical.

Had "Blood Simple" been an actual farce instead of a neo-noir thriller, it would have had a madcap chase scene for its closer. Instead the would-be contract killer and the female protagonist are thrown together in a "face off" that is as grim as it is subversively humorous. It's a spin on the genre that hits all the right notes in terms of modern female empowerment, as well as being a tongue-in-cheek callback to the potboilers of yore.

Understandably the film - which was the Coen Brothers' first - received tremendous praise with its debut. Finally arriving on Blu-ray after some delays, "Blood Simple" remains one of their strongest projects even after the likes of "No Country for Old Men" and "True Grit." Now almost 30 years old, the film represents an auspicious start of a formidable directing team as well as a stellar debut for a talented female character actor. Over 12 years later another of their collaborations would win them Academy Awards, though based on "Blood Simple" this should have come as no surprise to anyone.

Note: The Blu-ray contains the 96-minute "director's cut" that was released theatrically in 2000 and on DVD in 2001.


Video Quality: 4/5

The film is accurately framed at 1.85:1 and presented in 1080p with the AVC codec. Considering its age and its low budget origins, the picture quality holds up quite well. Grain seems a little thick in the darkest environments and wide shots can be hazy and indistinct. Resolution fares much better in close ups, however, revealing fine detail in hair, skin and fabrics. Black levels can be a little limited, affecting contrast, though colors exhibit solid depth and definition, despite the generally muted and earthy palette. There are also no obvious signs of excessive digital sharpening or noise reduction. The hazier wide shots do give me pause on the issue, though the indicators don't linger long enough to make a definitive assessment.​


Audio Quality: 4/5

Dialogue in the 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio track is crisp, detailed and intelligible. The sound stage is reasonably wide if not especially remarkable, though the straightforward presentation also suits the rawer aspects of the production.​



Special Features: 2/5


The extras are essentially the same as the 2001 DVD release, which were spartan but entertainingly original.



Introduction by Mortimer Young of Forever Young Films (1:35, HD): The founder of the fictional film restoration company provides a brief background on the director's cut of the film.



Commentary with Kenneth Loring of Forever Young Films: Loring (whoever he is) provides a tongue-in-cheek track about the filmmaking process, including the use of "movie sweat."



Theatrical Trailer (1:41, HD)


Recap

The Feature: 4.5/5
Video Quality: 4/5
Audio Quality: 4/5
Special Features: 2/5
Overall Score (not an average): 4/5



MGM Studios turns in a strong presentation for the Coen Brothers (and Frances McDormand's) first, remarkable feature film. The extras are limited, though consistent with past DVD releases. Owners of those standard definition versions should consider the Blu-ray release a worthwhile upgrade. It's also the clear choice for those looking to add the film to their collections for the first time.
 

Bryan Tuck

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Thanks for the review! However, I sure wish they would have included the original theatrical cut as well. I realize the differences are few, but that's all the more reason that it should have been a snap to seamlessly branch.
 

larryKR

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I purchased this fine movie from Amazon Canada, and the special features are missing. No Kenneth Loring commentary, no introduction from Mortimer Young, and no trailer. The back cover has the audio commentary and trailer listed as special features. The menu on the BD has no option for special features.
 

cafink

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Carl Fink
Interesting that the Canadian version is a different disc--I don't suppose it has the original cut instead of the Director's Cut as on the USA Blu-ray? I'd like to have both.
 

Henry Gale

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Originally Posted by Cameron Yee

The Coen Brothers' (and Frances McDormand's) first feature film - - finally comes to Blu-ray.




And right here we're off to a bad start.

No, this ISN'T their first feature film, as Cameron mentions later, it's the inferior "director's cut".


If I look through my history of posts on the HTF, I'd find over a dozen examples of me whining about the lack of a theatrical version of the film.


I'm not gonna stop.


"Blood Simple" is the film the Coen reputation started with. But YOU CAN'T WATCH IT.


Actually, if you come over to my house you can view something pretty close on a laser disc.
 

Bryan^H

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And in all honesty, I don't think I will ever get used to this version without "I'm a Beliver" from Neil Diamond. I watched it so many times in its original form that it is forever etched in my brain.
 

Bryan Tuck

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And in all honesty, I don't think I will ever get used to this version without "I'm a Beliver" from Neil Diamond. I watched it so many times in its original form that it is forever etched in my brain.

Wasn't that a replacement song for the original video version? From what I understand, the Four Tops song was in the original theatrical release, and it was finally relicensed for the director's cut.
 

Bryan^H

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Wasn't that a replacement song for the original video version? From what I understand, the Four Tops song was in the original theatrical release, and it was finally relicensed for the director's cut.
I never even looked into it. I just assumed the copy on Laserdisc, and VHS was the theatrical version.
 

Bryan^H

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I also forgot to mention the scenes that were in the VHS, and Laserdisc, but were cut on DVD and all future home video releases.

Were they in the theatrical version as well? It is confusing.

EDIT:

Alright, from IMDB this explains everything. IF you are watching it on DVD, or Blu-Ray you are seeing an altered version of the film with alternate scenes or scenes that were simply cut from the film from the director. You are not seeing what was shown in the theater originally.

However the Neil Diamond song was always a home video version only on Laserdisc, and VHS. DVD, and BD have the correct song from the Four Tops


Bottom line if you are seeing it on home video--you are never going to see the way it was shown in theaters initially.


For the 1998 restoration, the Coen brothers not only remixed and re-recorded new sound effects for the stereo soundtrack, but also made some minor trims to various scenes and dialogue:
  • Meurice asking a bar patron at the jukebox what night it is and, realizing it's "Yankee Night," he explains he's from Detroit, thus justifying his intervention of the patron's musical selection.
  • Ray sticking his cigarette in the stuffed warthog's nose at Marty's house, and the following lines: RAY: You gonna leave all this stuff? ABBY: It's all Marty's.
  • After Marty suggests to the P.I. the "incinerator" as a means of destroying the evidence of his proposed murder, the P.I.'s line: "Sweet Jesus, you're disgusting!" is deleted.
  • A couple lines from the landlady showing Abby the studio apartment (mainly assuring her Abby won't be bothered at that location) before she starts yelling at her ex-brother-in-law, are deleted.
  • As Marty opens his safe to retrieve the bounty money (and swap the photo) his line: "This is an illicit affair" has been removed, although he can still be seen mouthing it.
  • When the P.I. shoots Marty, a couple shots are removed of Marty and the P.I. staring at each other after the gunshot.
  • When Ray and Abby are discussing "what happened," in her studio apartment, and Ray feels cold enough to rise from his seat, the shot of him steadying the walrus piggy bank is removed and his dialogue is heard off-screen to cover this change.
  • When Abby goes to see Meurice about her concerns, the scene cuts as soon as she enters. In the original version, the scene continues and she is seen inside his place and he pours a drink while assuring her that Marty is not dead, even though she is very worried that he is. Some of the dialogue from inside the house is placed over the shot outside Meurice's door before Abby goes in, in the 1998 version.
  • When Marty is rejected by the woman chatting with Meurice at the bar, the dialogue "Now that I've communicated, why don't you get lost" is omitted, along with Marty's reply "I own the place. Why don't you grow up."
  • A new page of credits is added at the end, covering the restoration.
A restored version of Blood Simple with stereo soundtrack premiered at the Austin Film festival on October 3, 1998.
In the original theatrical version, as well as the version shown on TV, the Four Tops song "It's the Same Old Song" is played on the jukebox and over the end credits. In the video version it is "I'm a Believer" by Neil Diamond.
 
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