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I imagine this got a great transfer. Looked at some of the Blu-ray.com caps and went, "Yeah, it appears like it's probably a really good transfer," but it's difficult sometimes to judge from the heavily compressed images.

Excellent movie. I really need to pick it up sometime soon.

(Posted on Tuesday, June 21, 2011 at 8:54 PM)

Start with FARGO. I can't get enough of that film, a true American masterpiece.

(Posted on Tuesday, June 21, 2011 at 9:09 PM)

My favourite Coen brothers film is Raising Arizona, its out in the next few months on blu ray.

(Posted on Tuesday, June 21, 2011 at 9:16 PM)

A bit OT, but anybody know how the US Once Upon a Time in the West BD is? So tempted to pick it up for ten bucks, and I'm sure either way it's a lot better than the DVD, but if it's not a fantastic transfer really representative of the film source, I'm a little hesitant/apathetic.

(Posted on Tuesday, June 21, 2011 at 9:57 PM)

Never seen??? You just not all that into westerns, or what? :p Easily my favorite western, though I love all of Leone's films (well, except that sword and sandal one, which I haven't seen).

If it turns out being a not-so-hot transfer, I'll be pretty let down, considering Leone's my favorite director. His films are pretty mistreated on Blu-ray in the US. I bought the Italian BD for A Fistful of Dollars, and that thing is a treat. The other Italian BDs aren't English-friendly.

(Posted on Tuesday, June 21, 2011 at 10:21 PM)

And actually, I shouldn't say easily my favorite western; The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford is a close contender.

(Posted on Tuesday, June 21, 2011 at 10:21 PM)

Do you mean BURN AFTER READING and THE LADYKILLERS are the only two Coen brothers films you've seen? Bad place to start I'm afraid! The former is OK, in a treading-water kind of way, but the latter is just about their lowest point ever (INTOLERABLE CRUELTY excepted).

Anything from BLOOD SIMPLE through to O BROTHER, WHERE ART THOU? is well worth watching, but then they started to lose their way a bit (my opinion, of course). Of the other fairly recent films, NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN is terrific, A SERIOUS MAN got good reviews but I found it a bit soulless.

The real high points were probably FARGO and THE BIG LEBOWSKI.

(Posted on Tuesday, June 21, 2011 at 10:53 PM)

I'm surprised Michael's never seen OUATITW, not because it's a western, but because his boy Dario co-wrote it!
My favorite western of all time and in my Top 20 films of all time.

I think The Man Who Wasn't There is underrated.

What I'm pissed about is that the DVD equivalent of the upcoming Coen Bros box set included Barton Fink, one of my very favorite films by them (also underrated), and it's absent from the BD box!!

(Posted on Wednesday, June 22, 2011 at 12:16 AM)

I'm pretty bummed about the absence of Barton Fink as well, Daniel. Rights issue?

(Posted on Wednesday, June 22, 2011 at 12:51 AM)

Felt like sharing some opinions:

1. Once Upon A Time In The West might be the greatest film ever made. If not...it's damn close.

2. Fargo is overrated.

3. No Country For Old Men is top-notch. Ditto with the bd.

4. The Italian Fistful Of Dollars bd is fantastic.

(Posted on Wednesday, June 22, 2011 at 2:31 AM)

Have to agree with some of Neil's comments. OUTITW is an amazing film, one of the best.

Fargo is definitely overrated. Don't get me wrong, it's a good, solid film but in the canon of Coen films it doesn't come near the top for me. Those I rate highly are Big Lebowski, Barton Fink, Miller's Crossing and Raising Arizona. I think No Country for Old Men is great too.

(Posted on Wednesday, June 22, 2011 at 9:17 AM)

Robert Harris rates the Once Upon A Time in The West transfer, link below.

http://www.hometheaterforum.com/forum/thread/312163/a-few-words-about-once-upon-a-time-in-the-west-in-blu-ray

(Posted on Wednesday, June 22, 2011 at 10:47 AM)

I always thought westerns were just not my kinda thing. Then I saw OUATITW.

It's not just a great western, it's a truly great film.

(Posted on Wednesday, June 22, 2011 at 12:50 PM)

Well, if Harris says it's good, then I'm sure I'll think it's good. :p I've yet to disagree with him on anything, to be frank. I know his isn't always a popular opinion (see: Django, Bram Stoker's Dracula, The French Connections), but he's a guy who knows a lot and is quite trustworthy.

Anyone know if he had a hand in the Street Trash restoration? I watched the documentary on the film and he's in it briefly, and I was curious if he oversaw the restoration, or just came in by request to see how it looked. Whatever the case, Synapse's special edition DVD looks wonderful, and I'd love to have a Blu-ray of the film.

(Posted on Wednesday, June 22, 2011 at 1:30 PM)

Just to add to a million conflicting suggestions...
I'd suggest starting with Blood Simple and viewing their films in chronological order. It was fascinating seeing them develop through the 80s and 90s to reach their first "mature" film (IMO - one that harnesses all their strengths and eccentricities, which sometimes overcome them a little in their earlier work) with Fargo.

Not viewing these early films as a 'prelude' to Fargo, mind. They're fantastic viewing in their own right, particularly Miller's Crossing, which reveals more and gives more pleasure with every viewing. And looks stunning.

(Posted on Thursday, June 23, 2011 at 5:57 AM)