CAGE UNCAGED: BLOODY ARIZONA

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"WHAT YODEL KNOW (CAN KILL YOU)"

In order to properly assess one of Cage's earliest and most indelible roles in Joel and Ethan Coens second film, RAISING ARIZONA (1987), we are pairing it with BLOOD SIMPLE (1984), their first feature. Blood Simple is one of the great directorial debuts in film history and the two followed it up with one of the most beloved comedies of all time, not only avoiding a sophomore slump but eradicating the very idea such a concept exists.

All three of us are huge fans of the brothers so if you are looking for us to dunk on either movie, sorry.

Blood Simple has been called the most auspicious film debut since Citizen Kane and the greatest independent film of all time. Is that hype? I mean, geez, take it down a notch, fellas, breathe into a paper bag or something.

Raising Arizona was NOT as well received at the time of its release. Critics thought it too stylized, affected, self-aware and even mean-spirited toward its characters. Maybe it's hindsight but those critics were dead wrong - Raising Arizona is not even close to being a Wes Anderson movie. Cage has never been better and the Coens have rarely been quite as warm hearted. Movies can be magic and Raising Arizona is proof.

REMAINING CAGE UNCAGED EPSIODES:

13. BEYOND THE BLACK RAINBOW & MANDY

14. PIG

15. WILLY'S WONDERLAND & FINAL THOUGHTS/CAGEMATION

THEME SONG: HOWLING FANTODS