Downtown Drive-In Presents: Raising Arizona

Overview

If movies are anything to go by, then the 1980s represented the golden age of comically inept kidnappings. Ruthless People (starring Bette Midler) set the standard in 1986, and the following year Joel and Ethan Coen released their own kidnap farce – Raising Arizona – starring Nicholas Cage and Holly Hunter. While successful in its day, Arizona has since acquired cult status amongst movie fans, both as a fine example of the Coen Brother’s unique vision and quirkiness, and as one of cinema’s all-time classic ‘crims-on-the-run’ road movies.

Cage plays the recidivist petty crook Hi, whose regular encounters with police photographer Ed (Hunter) eventually lead to the most unlikely of romances and marriage. The clucky couple soon discovers, however, that they’re unable to have children, and thanks to Hi’s criminal record – adoption is similarly unavailable as a recourse. As Hi puts it: “Biology and the prejudices of others conspired to keep us childless”. All that’s left, they reason, is to kidnap someone else’s baby and raise it as their own, choosing one from a local businessman’s newborn quintuplets as the target.

Cage is the standout of the cast, displaying all the qualities that made him, at least for a time, one of Hollywood’s most bankable and fearless actors. His performance is hilarious and his facial ticks somehow wildly expressive despite their utter impassiveness, yet it’s his florid narration throughout the film that’s its most charming feature. Hunter is similarly excellent, along with John Goodman as an escaped convict possessed of his own designs on the souvenired child. The film lacks some of the polish that the Coen Brothers would come to display in their later films, however it still retains all of their trademark dark comedy, crackling dialogue and extraordinary empathy for characters both good and bad.

The team behind the much-anticipated event Downtown Drive-In has announced Carriageworks in Sydney’s Eveleigh, just three kilometres from the Sydney CBD, as the location for its three-night season, which will run from November 29 to December 1, 2012.

A seldom-used section of the 120-year-old heritage listed building will form the perfect backdrop for the Back Roads USA season of films. The films to be screened include On The Road, Planes, Trains and Automobiles, Raising Arizona, Stand By Me and Vanishing Point. Downtown Drive-In will also feature a custom menu with individual items designed by The Dip, Sydney’s favourite American-style diner, playfully paying tribute to the films and shared Americana settings and atmosphere. Major sponsor Audi will supply a range of luxury cars for the ultimate drive-in experience. The cars will also feature razor-sharp sound from audio partner Bang & Olufsen.

Entry into Downtown Drive-In will cost $50 for vehicles of up to four people. Walk-in deck chair seating is also available near the screen, at $25 per person. For more information on the film schedule, drive-in experience and participating partners, visit www.downtowndrive.in

Concrete Playground has five double deckchair passes to giveaway to see Raising Arizona at Downtown Drive-In on Friday, November 30 at 9.30. To enter, just subscribe to Concrete Playground (if you haven't already) then email [email protected]