Watching your favorite movie on the big screen is a rare treat, a chance to relive the communal experience of the first time you saw it.
Got that chance last night - the local outdoor cinema-fest broadcast “Raising Arizona” on an inflatable screen.
I’ve seen the film countless (a hundred-plus?) times since its 1987 release. When I worked at a video store in the late 1980s, I’d pop it in at 7:30 p.m. precisely on Saturday nights just so I can hear that yodelling soundtrack as I beat back the mad rush of customers.
No movie reveals more of its greatness with every viewing than Joel and Ethan Coen’s best comedy. Who else but the Coens would hatch a romance based on a repeat offender wooing the woman who takes his mug shot?
It’s hard to watch a great film at an outdoor venue, and that held true last night. The tiny moments fade away into the night, like John Goodman carelessly flicking his cereal spoon to punctuate a thought. Priceless.
The film’s Memorable Quotes section at imdb.com goes on forever … they might as well just republish the screenplay and be done with it.
(Photo: Nicolas Cage flirts with an off-screen Ed (Holly Hunter) in the comedy classic “Raising Arizona.”)
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Nick 07.19.08 at 12:46 am
As a fellow Coen lover, I’d love a chance to see some of their older films on the big screen, since I was too young at the time to see them. But, while I love “Raising Arizona,” “The Big Lebowski” just edges it out for me as their best comedy (I’d choose “Miller’s Crossing” as their best overall film). Though I will admit there’s nothing that could possibly top “Son, you got a panty on your head.”
Definately looking forward to “Burn After Reading.”
James Frazier 07.19.08 at 3:07 am
Loved this post. I’m always telling people my age how great this film is. So offbeat and playful with its strangeness. Between this and “Blood Simple” it is realy easy to see the Coen’s aptitude for oddly bent style early on.
When I’d tell people that “No Country For Old Men” was perhaps the Coen’s sixth best film, I’d often get into arguments when I’d list this one.
K 07.19.08 at 4:50 am
This isn’t the first time Toto has pushed this movie. Fortunately, I happen to agree with him on it so it’s okay. Notice how the “biker from hell” character comes back in “No Country . . . ” Except both nastier and far more realistic. Yikes.
cftoto 07.19.08 at 4:54 am
Nick - thanks for giving attention to Miller’s Crossing. It’s my second favorite Coen flick
James - their career has too many high points to count …
K - I have pushed “Arizona” before … but with my web site redesign I decided to mention it anew (plus the outdoor viewing sparked my imagination)