2. Blood Simple (1984)
Directors: Joel and Ethan Coen Cast: John Getz, Frances McDormand, M. Emmet Walsh Joel and Ethan Coen, better known as the Coen Brothers, are among that rare breed of director with a cult following. David Lynch, Terry Gilliam and John Waters enjoy a similar following. Good or bad, up or down, their films at the very least offer something unique and interesting to viewers. And we use director in its singular form because the two brothers essentially work as one. With 13 Oscar nominations and four wins, the Coens write, produce and direct their films as a single unit. They even collaboratively edit their films together under the pseudonym Roderick Jaynes. Blood Simple was the film that propelled the Coen Brothers to international recognition. Released in 1984, Blood Simple tells the story of a bar owner who hires a private detective when he suspects that his wife and his bartender are having an affair. Like many of the Coen Brothers plots, Blood Simple descends into the unexpectedly bizarre. Double crosses, mistaken identity, paranoia, violence and vengeance come into play. Blood Simple received stellar reviews and remains an important 1980s American thriller. Now that the Coen Brothers have a fairly hefty filmography, its possible youve missed this early window into their unique storytelling and filmmaking prowess. Blood Simple is easily a candidate for your must see movie list.