Raising Arizona Review
Following their noir debut, Blood_Simple (1984), Joel_Coen and Ethan_Coen turned their idiosyncratic, film-literate attentions to screwball comedy in Raising Arizona (1987). The Coens play the American Dream for farce, as non-violent hold-up man "Hi" (Nicolas_Cage) and mug shot photographer Edwina (Holly_Hunter) attempt parenthood through kidnapping. With nods to cartoon slapstick and The_Road_Warrior (1981), among others, and a script that mixes southwestern slang and polished locutions, the Coens extract maximum wackiness from their sly send-up of familial urges. From crude yet refined convicts Gale (John_Goodman) and Evelle (William_Forsythe) to blowhard father Nathan Arizona (Trey_Wilson) to swinging procreators Glen (Sam McMurray) and Dot (Frances McDormand), all the cartoony characters want to parent baby Arizona for all the wrong reasons. Cinematographer Barry_Sonnenfeld's sharp compositions, low camera, and manic "shakycam" shots showcase the Coens' energetic visual wit, particularly in a prolonged chase featuring dogs, cops, a "panty"-wearing Hi, and a package of purloined Huggies. Complete with carefully modulated over-the-top performances from the entire cast, Raising Arizona confirmed the Coens' place among the most distinctive filmmakers to emerge from the 1980s independent cinema. Lucia Bozzola, Rovi
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