Comments on: Raising Arizona

By: Corson

Corson — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 18:17:41 +0000

It's not actually my practice to post comments, but I thought I would say that this was outstanding. -G Free Energy for Your Home

By: Pat

Pat — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 01:48:45 +0000

Great review of a movie I happen to love. I love your equating of Nathan Jr. to the plaid suitcase of “What’s Up Doc?”

“Raising Arizona” is crazy and makes me laugh- but the ending genuinely touches me (with H.I.’s observation “Ed and I, we can be good, too” and the scene of them at the family dinner in their old age.) I think that’s why I love it so much.

By: Coosa Creek Times, 4-7-2008 | Coosa Creek Mambo

Coosa Creek Times, 4-7-2008 | Coosa Creek Mambo — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 02:57:55 +0000

[...] MovieZeal; I’ll be contributing a piece later in the month; in the meantime, check out this great review of Raising Arizona by Evan Derrick, who writes Raising Arizona continues the Coens’ fascination [...]

By: Thrifting and the Coens | thimbly things

Thrifting and the Coens | thimbly things — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 20:42:37 +0000

[...] this will be better upon a second viewing… I don’t know. I’ve always loved Raising Arizona. Since I was about 8 years old. Knowing the quirkiness of this film helped me appreciate Blood [...]

By: Joseph

Joseph — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 19:28:24 +0000

Gotta love the last rider of the apocalypse.

By: Rick Olson

Rick Olson — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 04:47:39 +0000

I was on imdb earlier today, and one of the comments was something like “‘Raising Arizona’ used to be my favorite screwball comedy, but then I saw ‘Bringing Up Baby,’ and now it’s my favorite.” Aside from the false choice of having to pick favorites, I think Joel and Ethan might just be flattered, that it took the Hawks movie to best “Arizona”. Personally, I prefer “Raising Arizona” for it’s smart irony.

By: kristena

kristena — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 19:30:20 +0000

My favorite: Ed sobbing in car, “I-I-I love him so-oh-oh much! I-I-I love him so-oh-oh much!”

By: kristena

kristena — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 19:26:48 +0000

Thank you, Phillip, for that quote! It brings tears of joy to my eyes even now.

Evan, the one thing I disagree on is that you only gave the film 4 stars. But since your review is so spot-on fantastic, I will forgive you.

“That they manage to make an abandoned infant in the middle of the road (who is subsequently snatched up by a moving vehicle) humorous is a testament to their grasp of tone.”

How astute of you. Being pregnant and having a small child, you might think that this movie would make me cringe more (as most films involving the safety of children do). But the Coens indeed are masters of tone, and I laughed so hard as to bring on mild contractions.

By: Phillip Johnston

Phillip Johnston — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 18:33:36 +0000

“Boy, you got a panty on your head.”

This is one of my favorite movies to give out to people who ask for a comedy … just to see what their reaction is. The delivery of the line about the baby born with its heart on the outside never fails to make me laugh hysterically.

By: Craig Kennedy

Craig Kennedy — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 18:05:10 +0000

They’ve made richer and deeper movies since, but Raising Arizona is still my sentimental favorite and the things that are great about it tend to creep up in all of their movies to one degree or another.

You’re right though. This is definitely not a movie for all tastes. Part of the problem I think is that it’s a very smart movie dressed up as a very stupid one. On the surface it’s all cartoonish screaming and slapstick, but the dialogue is almost like poetry and the movie has a surprisingly sweet center to it underneath all the bluster.

And don’t forget the terrific Carter Burwell soundtrack. Where else are you going to hear Beethoven’s Ode to Joy on a ukulele?