"H.I" (Nicolas Cage) is an habitual petty criminal who gradually falls in love with the police officer "Ed" (Holly Hunter) who has to take his mug shots every time he is apprehended. Finally determined to go straight, they marry and he takes a mundane job in a metal works. It's all going swimmingly, but try as they might they cannot conceive. This affects "Ed" badly, she loses her job and her motivation and they are soon in a rut. Serendipity takes a hand though, one night, when news of the local furniture kingpin "Nathan Arizona" and his wife having quintuplets after IVF is announced. They think that's a bit greedy, and alight on a plan to pinch one of the babies and... Keeping that a secret proves difficult as firstly his boss "Glen" (Sam McMurray) and then two of his erstwhile jailbirds who have escaped from prison - "Gale" (John Goodman) and his brother "Evelle" (William Forsythe) all come to visit and conclude that this miraculous conception and the news headlines are linked! Add to the mix, the motor cycle riding, grenade carrying "Hell Rider" bounty hunter "Smalls" (Randall Cobb) who wants to track down the bairn for the $25,000 reward and we have a perilous mix of comedy and menace that works well for the first hour or so. Cage is on good form for the most part as is Hunter for maybe the first 45 minutes, thereafter though the joke really does begin to wear a bit thin and the comedy a little too puerile. The fun car chases (don't forget the nappies) are entertaining and the script is quickly paced and entertaining, but that too turns to much farce as we head to an ending that I found really quite underwhelming. There's a fun scene with Frances McDormand and the deliberations of the parole board made me smile, and all in all it is still worth a watch.
**Another honorable addition to the Cohen Brothers' remarkable filmography.**
I've seen several films by the Cohen Brothers and this one, far from being one of the most quotable when talking about them, is full of qualities that deserve note. The two brothers are known and respected for the way they create and direct cinematographic projects, giving little room for interference that would disturb the overall vision they have outlined, and actively interfering in all aspects of production. It's their film, they define the characteristics and, whether you like them or not, they are undoubtedly a talented duo.
And being an author's work, this film follows several characteristics that are hallmarks of the two filmmakers. This is a work full of irreverence, where the narrative stands out for its bizarreness and sarcasm, intelligently constructed and crafted in a way that surprises the audience. The story is simple: a couple, who meet and fall in love under the most unorthodox conditions, discover that they cannot have children and, therefore, decide to kidnap a baby from a family that had quintuplets. There is an entire history of crime in the life of one of the couple's members that contributes to them being the target of a brutal chase by a wild bounty hunter. And there are many moments of acidic and difficult-to-digest humor. Added to this is the cinematography and soundtrack, where the Cohens are completely at ease. Personally, I must say, I didn't really like the soundtrack that was used in this film. I found it excessively intrusive and strident, but this is just my personal taste.
In addition to the artistic and author notes, the film also features a skilled cast where Nicholas Cage has plenty of space and material to shine. He is charismatic enough to give his character all the sympathy he needs to captivate us, and he makes a good romantic pair with Holly Hunter, who received a character tailored to her abilities and talent. The two actors have everything it takes to do an exceptional job, and there is no doubt that they won't leave us disappointed. Trey Wilson, Frances McDormand, John Goodman and Randall Tex Cobb join the project, with all their talent, to shine with very well-made secondary characters.
