Raising Arizona

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation | Release Date: March 13, 1987

8.3	USER SCORE Universal acclaim based on 180 Ratings

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amheretojudgeSep 2, 2019

I don't get the mixture of these many genres at all, I feel unsatisfied and left out from a whole lot of something.

Raising Arizona Coen Brothers' joke is not something I get. I like the humor they have. I get the joke. But it cannot justI don't get the mixture of these many genres at all, I feel unsatisfied and left out from a whole lot of something.

Raising Arizona

Coen Brothers' joke is not something I get. I like the humor they have. I get the joke. But it cannot just be the joke. At the end of the day, it is a film. And it is not particularly the joke that I have an issue with, but it is framed that way. I cannot help but blame that at all. The writer Joel and Ethan Coen sat down to write a classic. That was in their mind. It is frankly clear. Take the set pieces, for instance, that they have created, going out of their way, for either a laugh or an awe. The prologue that eerily resembles with Pixar's Up and also has an equally intimate epilogue to finish the circle beautifully.

But it is the troubling journey that's not captivating as we're promised to. No matter how artistically they are flexing their muscles. The stops are the real issues. The narrative is put on hold when the joke is told and we are told to laugh separately before they start resuming, running, chasing and bickering. Speaking of which, the major laughs are drawn from the reaction that the lead couple offers us after a shocking information is revealed.

Not for us, of course, but for them. Holly Hunter who cries, nay snobs, on demand is the one driving the emotional car. She is doing most of the heavy lifting when it comes to express the views or the state of the couple. Nicolas Cage on the other hand is playing the macho con artist who suppresses his way out of life and walks it off calling it a bad day and bad luck. And blending these two in one room in Raising Arizona, spirals a pretty standard married life oozing the issues that we've all known, experienced and agreed or disagreed to.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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JaredCFeb 5, 2008

It's a sweat film to start their directing career, the Coens did a profound job with Cages superb performance. Everything fine, just the visual never quite came to me and I was practically waited for something to happen but nothing did.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

rotkuApr 1, 2012

Bizarre, surreal and zany with all the hallmarks of a Cohen brothers movie. Not as polished as some later efforts but that adds to the movie. With great performances from both Cage & Hunter.

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SpangleJun 11, 2013

Certainly one of the zanier movies I've seen. The Coen Brothers are in full force here as you can really see a lot of their "style" in use here and used very effectively as per usual. Cage does very well in the lead role and it really makesCertainly one of the zanier movies I've seen. The Coen Brothers are in full force here as you can really see a lot of their "style" in use here and used very effectively as per usual. Cage does very well in the lead role and it really makes you miss the old Nicolas Cage rather than the one we're forced to see in today's world. Overall, if you like the Coen Brothers, you'll like the movie.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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clem666Nov 17, 2022

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The movie benefits from a very quick and effective start. The two main characters and their backgrounds are depicted in a few minutes which allows the plot to be on track very easily.

The script is interesting and original, and highlights the fact that these characters evolve and question themselves (like Hi who keeps asking himself if he should continue to be a criminal or not for example). Others characters appear but are sadly way more stereotyped than Hi and Ed. It feels like the Coens did need them in order to make the plot move on. And this plot goes on and on with these terrible 'humourous' lame scenes. So many dull gags. And those gags lasts for something like an eternity. The ending quite interesting as it is an open one.

I almost said that Hi & Ed were likeable. In fact, only Ed is, since Hi (Nicolas Cage) can't help but make faces and spout uninspired lines from the beginning. His character is very one-dimensioned and acts like if he doesn't know if he is an adult or a dumb teenager. Ed's acting is terrific, just the best of the whole movie.

I have to recognize environments and many scenes are beautiful though. Lighting is great. In conclusion: visually beautiful movie with dumb characters (sometimes with sparks of intelligence), bad humour, and mixed ending.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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