What's the rumpus? It's still the Coen brothers' best film. It might be fairly low budget, but it looks great. It has both the small moments and the big setpieces, and a beautifully constructed script that is endlessly quotable. I was just speculatin' about a hypothesis. But was it even nominated for an Oscar? Nuts! Shame on the Academy. Look into your heart. Eddie Dane is a great bad guy and Jon Polito as Johnny Caspar is strangely sympathetic, almost running off with the film. Always put one in the brain. Re-watching it, you notice small details, like the number of times Verna says "heart". A masterpiece, but if I'd known we were gonna cast our feelings into words, I'd've memorized the Song of Solomon.
What's the rumpus, indeed?! I have been a fan of the Coens for many years but actually didn't see this one until last night. The only other of their movies that I still haven't watched all the way through is Bloodsimple which I fell asleep to.
ReplyDeleteI agree that it looks great (or even "handsome", as it is said in the bonus material). It is darker than the average Coen film, though their trademark humour is ever present. They really have an ear for oneliners that turn into running jokes throughout that movie ("You know, for kids!", "Not counting the mezzanine", "Up in Sacramento", well the list is endless), and the rumpus and what it is is another great one.
I saw it without subtitles and had a little trouble distinguising between names and probably missed some of the plot as well, but it was as great as anything they have done. It even has Frances McDorman in a very small part.
Yes, Joe Polito is wonderful - the way he insists on ethics - and Gabriel Byrne seems perfect as Tommy. But Finney totally stole the movie in the scene where he defends the privacy of his home with "Danny Boy" as the soundtrack, genius!