Cult Films: Raising Arizona (1987)

By Jason Haskins

Nicholas Cage plays a guy who loves loves loves to rob convenience stores in the heart of Arizona. After all of his stints going to the big house he ends up falling for one of the officers-a policewoman played by Holly Hunter. Both get married and she quits her job (while he quits his robbing campaign) and find out that their bodies aren't very fertile and they can't bear any children. This isn't so bad, though, because they've just discovered that a local rich businessman, Nathan Arizona, has just had a pack of kids so they jump at the chance to kidnap one of the babies (since there's enough of ‘em to go around in this guy's household) and raise it as their own. However, when some cons break out of jail, too, and come looking for a place to crash at their house as well as some other proverbial poopiness that's certainly in the cards to hit the fan...this couple's predicament goes from bad to worse. Aside from the law after them there's also a crazed bounty hunter, as well as their own convictions getting in the way...of raising little Arizona.

This is the second film directed by Joel and Ethan Coen after Blood Simple in 1984 and by far their most fun film this side of The Big Lebowski. While it received a mixed reception when it first came out years ago, it's long since catapulted itself to cult status because of its uproarious humor and zany direction that sets it apart from other movies of the time period. This basically does for Arizona what their Fargo movie does for Minnesota.

Every time anyone mentions our Southwest state I always have to think of some shlock from this film--and that's perfectly okay because this here's a classic, folks. This was made back when Nicholas Cage was a burgeoning star before he turned into the crazy farce he is today and along with Holly Hunter these two pack a mighty fine punch that are equal parts over the top and ridiculously hilarious. The supporting cast is also really stellar, which includes a younger John Goodman as one of the convicts who broke out (who provides heaps of comedy, let me tell you), Frances McDormand as an annoying housewife, and Tex Cobb as the crazy motorbike bounty hunter who dominates the screen with his outrageous antics.

The Coens clearly took some much needed time off after their messy debut and really drilled home some concepts they really wanted to explore in Raising Arizona. They made a movie that's so full of content and interesting style that you could watch it a hundred times and still find something new to grin or clap your hands at. Their direction is very focused on keeping things fast moving and very cinematically sound so that the audience is constantly being bombarded with interesting set ups and funny situations.

The film's pace is diabolically good and keeps you on the edge of your toes the entire time. The script is very quirky and funny in a way I haven't seen before or since and that adds tons of dimensions to why this movie has aged so well, too. There are tons of moments that are laugh out loud ridiculously funny while others take a more refined approach and you'll be entertained the whole time because of how out of control the characters are.

Along to the bright music provided by Carter Burwell, which is like this crazy yodeling folksy country stuff, you'll have the time of your life as the movie completely obliterates everything that the eighties was about and cements why the Coens are so gosh darned talented. This is a film I grew up with and I still get a ton of enjoyment out of it because it's so original and stylized. The Coens have been making classic after classic for a long time now and this is the one that stands out in their early careers, which really proves what they are worth. If you haven't seen it then I think it's about time you raised a little Arizona yourself.

© Jason Haskins, 2011

5 out of 5 Stars