Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #22880 in DVD
• Released on: 2008-02-18
• Rating: Suitable for 18 years and over
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 11
• Running time: 1126 minutes

DVD Description
Available for the first time EVER, all 11 of the Coen Brothers titles in one box set covering the first 20 years of their output. Released to coincide with the cinematic release of their new, critically acclaimed film ‘No Country for Old Men’.

Joel and Ethan Coen have blazed a cinematic trail that is truly independent in spirit and original in style. Continuing to excite audiences over the world, the Coen Brothers interweave wordy dialogue with striking imagery to great effect. By balancing stark contrasts; black humour and violence, pathos and passion, they create a filmic texture that is all their own.

Bonus features on each disc totalling 3hrs, 35 mins

48 page companion booklet, written by Eddie Robson, author of ‘Coen Brothers’, published by Virgin Film, best selling book to date on the film makers.

Films included: Blood Simple, Raising Arizona, Miller’s Crossing, Barton Fink, The Hudsucker Proxy, Fargo, The Big Lebowski, O Brother, Where Art Though, The Man Who Wasn’t There, Intolerable Cruelty, The Ladykillers

Synopsis
All encompassing collection featuring each of the writer, director, producer siblings films from their astonishing debut BLOOD SIMPLE to their remake of the classic Ealing comedy, THE LADYKILLERS. Also includes RAISING ARIZONA, MILLER'S CROSSING, BARTON FINK, THE HUDSUCKER PROXY, FARGO, THE BIG LEBOWSKI, O BROTHER WHERE ART THOU, THE MAN WHO WASN'T THERE, and INTOLERABLE CRUELTY.

Customer Reviews

A very very good boxed set, from a very very good pair
Over the last 25 years the Coen brothers have given us some great films, some amazing films, and maybe one or two bad ones. This boxed set contains every film they made from blood simple to ladykillers. Unfortunately, this means the set doesn't include their latest films no country for old men and burn after reading. So lets start from the beginning:

Blood simple- 5 stars. The Coen's debut is a dark, violent and occasionally funny film. The story is of a man who hires a private detective to kill his wife and lover. The private detective instead double crosses him, taking the money and killing the man. All seems so simple, but the disposal of the body brings with it quite a few problems. This film one of the 'dark' Coen brother films. Despite the fact that the story takes place in the sunny state of Texas, it remains dark and moody throughout. All in all, a very good film, with great performances and great direction.

Raising Arizona- 4 stars. It was a tough decision whether or not to give this four or five stars. Starring Nicholas Cage and Coen fav John Goodman, this is a story of a couple who steal a baby, as they're unable to have their own. A lighter Coen film, this is funny, occasionally emotional and generally feel-good. If you want to be lifted up in a quirky sort of way, this is the film for you.

Millers Crossing- 5 stars. A personal favorite of mine, this is a cold tale of 1930's gangsters. It is generally viewed as a look at the whole gangster genre, focusing in on a group of Irish-American gangsters. Like the genre itself, the film is a look at violence in a gangster world. Be warned. Though brilliant, this film is bleak. The ending leaves a sort of bad taste in your mouth but the film is overall brilliant.

Barton Fink- 5 stars. John Turturro stars in this fascinating look at a hollywood writing going crazy. The Coens are on top form here, and the performances are also great featuring a great support for John Goodman and a great minor role for Steve Buscemi (or however you spell his name). This makes you laugh, wince and the ending is rather tense. A strange film, more dark than it is light, but with light moments.

The Hudsucker Proxy- 4 stars. Childish glee is the only way to describe this film. A charming one from the Coens, the story focus's on Tim Allen in what i think is his best role. Definatly a light Coen film, makes me smile whenever i think of it. Yay.

Fargo- 5 stars. Quite frankly, if you haven't seen Fargo you should be forced to buy this boxed set at gun point. Fargo is similar to Miller's crossing, cold, harsh and bitter. It is still a wonderful film, and deserved more oscars. This is everybody's favorite Coen, but it is one of their darkest film, almost completely lacking humanity.

The Big Lebowski- 5 stars. I love the big lebowski. If i smile every time i think of Hudsucker proxy, i laugh every time i think of this. Jeff Bridges is on top form as 'the dude' and John Goodman is beyond hilarious as his vietnam vet friend Walter. Though the story isn't much when you think about it, the humor is just perfect. If you love the Coens, or just films, or acting, or actors, or... In fact, if you have a heart, you should love this film.

O Brother where art though- 4 stars. This is a great little film by the Coens. Starring the great George Clooney, this (despite involving hanging, drowning and the KKK) is a very light hearted, happy Coen brothers film. Check out the soundtrack as well- great!

The man who wasn't there- 5 stars. This neo-noir look at films of the fourties is one of the Coens very best, up there with Lebowski and Millers crossing. Vey stylish. Very Cool. Lovely and brilliant. Billy Bob Thornton is great in this story of a man who just wants to be a dry-cleaner. The Coens pull of another great one. But this boxed set.

Intolerable Cruelty- 3/4 stars. This odd Coen film focus's on George Clooney's Divorse lawyer in a film that made me laugh as well as think, hmmm, is this bad, or am i missing something? It confused me this one. Light hearted, and very funny, but lacking a little something for me.

The Ladykillers- 2 stars. There's always one. Tarantino had his four rooms, now the Coens have this. If you haven't seen the original then you may get something out of this but let me be straight. This is a bad film. I wish i didn't have to say it, i wish it could have been as good as or better than the original but unfortunately that is not to be.

Overall, Despite one major hickup this is a great boxed set. If possible watch all in a row. Order pizza and hire a slave for a couple of days so you don't have to get up. I can promise you you'll have a great time. And without meaning to end on a bad note, don't include ladykillers. Watch the Big Lebowski twice.

Almost perfect
The only flaw of this box is that 'Blood Simple' is only in 4:3 ratio. Apart from that I can only recommend it to any Coen fan.

The Lady killers....?
I will never forgive these guys for remaking the classic British comedy The Lady killers. Did they really believe they could get away with such a stupid idea. Buy the set for the other movies but promise me you'll burn this sacrilegious disc.