Blood Simple will be released on 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray on January 9 via The Criterion Collection. Michael Boland designed the cover art for the 1984 neo-noir crime film.
Joel Coen (Fargo, The Big Lebowski) makes his feature debut from a script he co-wrote with brother Ethan Coen. John Getz, Frances McDormand, Dan Hedaya, Samm-Art Williams, and M. Emmet Walsh star.
Blood Simple has been restored in 4K, approved by the Coens and director of photography Barry Sonnenfeld, with Dolby Vision HDR and 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio. Special features are listed below.
Special features:
Conversation between the Coen brothers and director of photography Barry Sonnenfeld about the film's look
Interview with the Coen brothers by author Dave Eggers on the film's production
Interviews with actors Frances McDormand and M. Emmet Walsh, composer Carter Burwell, and sound editor Skip Lievsay
Trailers
Booklet with an essay by novelist/critic Nathaniel Rich
The owner of a seedy small-town Texas bar discovers that one of his employees is having an affair with his wife. A chaotic chain of misunderstandings, lies, and mischief ensues after he devises a plot to have them murdered.
I watched this movie years ago because it featured the song “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles).” I honestly couldn’t remember any of it, so I wanted to watch it again. I have to say, I don’t really remember much of it this time either. It’s a very strange movie with very strange characters. It’s also interesting, though, and every actor does a great job portraying their characters. With the characters who they are, it can’t have been easy for Johnny Depp or Mary Stuart Masterson. While it’s a strange story, it’s also a sweet story. I’m not going to say everyone should watch this, because it is definitely not a movie everyone would like. But it’s a movie that can teach compassion and caring for others.
Sex/nudity: 2/10 (kissing, implied sex)
Language: 4/10 (one f-word, not a lot of other stuff but it’s there)
Violence: 2/10 (blood shown in a movie scene, some violent outbursts)
Another The Addams Family (1991) prop I'm obsessed with-- this painting listed as "Morticia Addams Bridal Portrait" on Heritage Auctions.
The figure's pose is modeled after James McNeill Whistler's Symphony in White, No. 1: The White Girl (1862).
It is shown in the Addams' mansion hall as Tully walks to Gomes' office. (On the other side is a painting modeled after Whistler's Mother.)
Something that the Addams portrait is distinctly missing from Whistler's Symphony though is the animal skin the girl is standing on. However, the animal skin actually decorates the floor of the Addams mansion, and it bites Tully before he meets with Gomez.