Blood Simple: The Screenplay

by Joel Coen and Ethan Coen

Book Overview

Director Joel Coen's and producer Ethan Coen's "Blood Simple ("1984, River Road Prods/Circle Releasing/Palace) is a contemporary noir thriller set in Texas. A taut, convoluted plot and imaginative direction made the independent release a word-of-mouth hit and established the Coen brothers' reputation for originality. Actors John Getz, Frances McDormand, and Dan Hedaya appear in the story in which a woman commits adultery, and her enraged husband hires...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312021682
• ISBN13: 9780312021689
• Release Date: January 1989
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
• Length: 112 Pages
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 5.5" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

The best Coen Bros movie

Once upon a time, two eager outcasts named Joel and Ethan Coen, strived to be accepted as serious filmmakers...They went on to become two of the most overrated filmmakers of all time. Blood Simple is for people who like challenging clever movies. If you like pointless cake-decorating and whimsy see their other 8 movies.

Well done.

This script is probably their(the Coens) best, Fargo not withstanding. I see this as more of a shooting script rather than a screenplay, in the traditional sense. There several references to point of view and the camera location or angle used in a slugline form. No matter, the pace and mood of this story are beautiful and haunting. I think it's the simplicity of the action and the great detail paid to the action that enthrall the reader. If you've seen the film, it's dark and atmospheric texture are a direct result of the attention given within the script. Well done.