Browning Cinema
Crime, Blood, and Laughs: The Coen Brothers
Directed by Joel Coen
With John Getz, Frances McDormand, Dan Hedaya
Rated R, 96 minutes, Blu-ray
This razor-sharp modern film noir, the first film by Joel and Ethan Coen, introduced the brothers' inimitable black humor and eccentric sense of character, a sensibility that has helped shape the course of contemporary American cinema. Deep in the heart of Texas, a sleazy bar owner suspects his wife of having an affair and hires a private detective to confirm his suspicions—only to have the crosshairs turned back on himself. Playfully shot by Barry Sonnenfeld and featuring a haunting score by Carter Burwell and a cunning performance by Frances McDormand, Blood Simple was a career-launching film for this ensemble and the first articulation of the precision of style that has defined the Coens' work ever since.
Sponsored by the Meg and John P. Brogan Endowment for Classic Cinema.
Event Dates
Tuesday, September 1, 2026 - 7:30 PM
