Five of the Coen Brothers’ films are currently (as of 4/5/16) included in the Amazon Prime Video catalog, and their Raising Arizona is currently available to own in HD for $6.99.
Blood Simple (R, 4.5/5 stars)
Abby is cheating on her saloonkeeper husband, Marty. The object of her affections is Ray, one of Marty’s bartenders.
Marty hires Visser, an unscrupulous detective, to kill them. But Visser has other, more lucrative plans of his own.
So begins a calculating round of double and triple crosses that build to a bloodcurdling, surprise-filled climax.
– Written by Fiona Kelleghan
Hudsucker Proxy (PG, 4.5/5 stars)
When Waring Hudsucker, head of hugely successful Hudsucker Industries, commits suicide, his board of directors, led by Sidney Mussberger, comes up with a brilliant plan to make a lot of money: appoint a moron to run the company.
When the stock falls low enough, Sidney and friends can buy it up for pennies on the dollar, take over the company, and restore its fortunes.
They choose idealistic Norville Barnes, who just started in the mail room. Norville is wacky enough to drive any company to ruin, but soon, tough reporter Amy Archer smells a rat and begins an undercover investigation of Hudsucker Industries.
– Written by Reid Gagle
Fargo (R, 4.5/5 stars)
Jerry works in his father-in-law’s car dealership and has gotten himself in financial problems. He tries various schemes to come up with money needed for a reason that is never really explained. It has to be assumed that his huge embezzlement of money from the dealership is about to be discovered by his father-in-law.
When all else falls through, he sets a plan in motion for two men to kidnap his wife for ransom to be paid by her wealthy father (who doesn’t seem to have the time of day for his son-in-law). From the moment of the kidnapping, things go wrong and what was supposed to be a non-violent affair turns bloody with more blood added by the minute.
Jerry is upset at the bloodshed, which turns loose a pregnant sheriff from Brainerd, MN who is tenacious in attempting to solve the three murders in her jurisdiction.
– Written by Anonymous
The Big Lebowski (R, 4.5/5 stars)
There are two men named Jeffrey Lebowski. One is a lazy, pot smoking, White Russian drinking hippie who goes by “The Dude”. The other is a self-made, handicapped, multimillionaire war veteran who lives in a huge mansion with a full time assistant.
Their paths cross when the millionaire’s trophy wife owes money to a known pornographer. The thugs hired by this man confront The Dude because he has the same name. The Dude, wanting payback for his rug, destroyed by the thugs, seeks out the millionaire Lebowski.
What follows takes the Dude and his bowling buddies Walter and Donnie on a weird tale of intrigue, kidnapping, pornography, nihilists, White Russians, and more White Russians.
– Written by halo1k
Intolerable Cruelty (PG-13, 3.5/5 stars)
Miles Massey, a prominent Los Angeles divorce attorney has everything–and in some cases, two of everything. Despite his impressive client list, a formidable win record, the respect of his peers and an ironclad contract (the Massey pre-nup) named after him, he’s reached a crossroads in his life. Sated on success, boredom has set in and he’s looking for new challenges. All that changes when Miles meets his match in the devastating Marylin Rexroth.
Marylin is the soon-to-be ex-wife of his client Rex Rexroth, a wealthy real estate developer and habitual philanderer. With the help of hard charging private investigator Gus Petch, she has Rex nailed and is looking forward to the financial independence a successful divorce will bring. But thanks to Miles’ considerable skills, she ends up with nothing.
Not to be outdone, Marylin schemes to get even and as part of her plan, quickly marries oil tycoon Howard Doyle. Miles and his unflappable associate, Wrigley, unwittingly dig themselves in deeper and deeper as they go head-to-head with Marylin. Underhanded tactics, deceptions and an undeniable attraction escalate as Marylin and Miles square off in this classic battle of the sexes.
– Written by Sujit R. Varma
It’s not currently included in the Prime catalog, but Coen Brothers fans will want to know that the excellent and hilarious Raising Arizona (PG-13, 4.5/5 stars) is currently available to own for $6.99 in HD.
Recidivist hold-up man H.I. McDonnough and police woman Edwina marry, only to discover they are unable to conceive a child.
Desperate for a baby, the pair decide to kidnap one of the quintuplets of furniture tycoon Nathan Arizona.
The McDonnoughs try to keep their crime secret, while friends, co-workers and a feral bounty hunter look to use Nathan Jr. for their own purposes.
– Written by Scott Renshaw
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