Coen Brothers, Where Art Thou?

Lately I have been wondering what is going on with the Coen Brothers. A few weeks ago, we caught a good chunk of RAISING ARIZONA, and I almost wet my pants. I hadn't seen it in years, and I don't know if it's because I have spent a lot of time around babies lately or what, but it really was one of the funniest things I have ever seen - particularly the scene where Nicholas Cage breaks into the house and is standing in the nursery trying to decide which baby to kidnap, and the little buggers are crawling all over him. And of course Holly Hunter is brilliant; I love her sobbing "I...love...him...so...much" meltdown when Nicholas finally brings her the beloved toddler that she has always desired.

And a few nights ago, we watched MILLER'S CROSSING, which despite its operatic violence (during which I of course hid my eyes) is one fine, fine film. Great performances from Gabriel Byrne, Albert Finney, Marcia Gay Harden and John Turturro.

Another other favorite of theirs would have to be THE BIG LEBOWSKI (see my Jeff Bridges post from a few days ago), which I saw in the theater when it was released and found a bit baffling, and then saw again several years later and absolutely adored.

There have been flashes of brilliance from these brothers for years. But honestly, the last film of theirs I saw was THE MAN WHO WASN'T THERE, and I was decidedly underwhelmed. We caught a few minutes of their remake of THE LADY KILLERS (the original is definitely worth checking out), and it looked just, well...off.

I feel like the brothers are still very young, and hopefully have at least a handful of great films left in them. At least that's my hope. I would hate to think that they peaked (at least critically) with FARGO ten years ago, and that now we are just in for the dry heaves.

Your thoughts?