Blood Simple: The Screenplay (St. Martin's Original Screenplay Series) [Paperback]

Joel Coen (Author), Ethan Coen (Author)

Book Description

Series: St. Martin's Original Screenplay Series | Publication Date: March 15, 1989

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 a killer for revenge. Blackmail, violence, and mistaken assumptions lead to an edgy, exhilarating climax.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...a brilliant, fiendishly complex plot, one that gets better as it goes along. There's a kind of geometric clarity to this intricate mechanism, and the audience gets to see how it works while the characters are always in the dark." --Newsweek

"It's plain wonderful. I'll be astonished if the studios give us as brilliant a chiller this year." --Stephen Schiff, Vanity Fair

Product Details

• Paperback: 112 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin; 1st edition (March 15, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312021682
• ISBN-13: 978-0312021689
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,505,544 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Well done., February 5, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Blood Simple: The Screenplay (St. Martin's Original Screenplay Series) (Paperback)

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.

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best Coen Bros movie, February 26, 2002

By 

tierny - See all my reviews

This review is from: Blood Simple: The Screenplay (St. Martin's Original Screenplay Series) (Paperback)

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.

0 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars The Coens first major effort: "Blood Simple"..., August 1, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Blood Simple: The Screenplay (St. Martin's Original Screenplay Series) (Paperback)

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 creative filmmakers of all time, but in this (to their own admission) immature movie, the screenplay is likewise--despite what Roger Ebert and all of his followers say. Only for the desperitly curious...its alright to miss out on this Coen experiment.