If you are looking for a dark comedy that will keep you on a fast track and can glue you to your home screen for an hour and a half, then Arizona should do the trick. This crazy, wacky, thriller of a script has a fine cast, able direction and some very good cinematography where it counts most. Now on DVD, Blu-ray and Ultra 4K the home video is one of my top picks of the month.
”From 2000 to 2005, the United States experienced the biggest housing boom in its history…In 2006, Home Prices dramatically started to slide…Industry analysts predicted it would only be a temporary downturn,,, and then it all went to S_ _ T.” – Luke Del Tredici
Local real estate sales person Cassie Fowler (Rosemarie DeWitt), has found it tough going in a suburb in Harding, Arizona with housing being put on the market mostly through foreclosures or short sales or even model homes that builders want to dump. Even Cassie has a problem paying off her mortgage, where her neighborhood has many for sale signs. To keep the value of the homes where she lives that paint the dead grass green. Her 14 year old daughter Morgan (Lolli Sorenson) is flunking math and her ex-husband has no clue of Cassie’s failing finances. But her boss Gary (Seth Rogen), owner Bartka Reality where she works, is constantly on her case to sell homes.
While at her office with her account base down and desperate for a sale, her day is about to get worse when Sonny (Danny McBride), a customer of Bartka Realty shows up. During a heated argument between Sonny and Gary and accidental death happens. So begins a wild and crazy story that with so many twists that it will have your head spinning. And that’s a good thing.
Director Jonathan Watson handles his well-known cast well establishing their characters, setting the dire situation, bringing in other roles that cause even more chaos and then making it come to a plausible ending. It’s not easy to keep an audience off guard to compel them to get involved visually, but Watson does a brilliant job with the wacky script. With every twist the movie takes a different turn catching you off guard while the film gets more and more unpredictable. It’s a fun ride in a vindictive playground.
I don’t know when I’ve seen Rosemarie DeWitt so animated in a role and I think this little indie is perfect for her. Her Cassie only wants to make a living so her daughter will be able to finish high school and lose a little weight, but it’s not happening in Harding. She bought the house there prior to the housing economy dropping out of sight and is not stuck with a mortgage she cannot pay. Her only out after witnessing a crime is to hope that her life won’t end because of the fluke. DeWitt is a stitch, she’s breaking into houses, running across desert type yards, evading a crazed man and wondering where her next step will take her. She’s a winner in my book.
The film’s a roller coaster ride when it comes to Danny McBride as Sonny the disgruntled owner of a faulty house. Sonny is out of control and looking to sweep everything under the rug, even Cassie. His only problem is how to off her and get away with it all. Then of course there’s his ex-wife Vicki (Kaitlin Olson) who’d go anywhere she can to make his life miserable, and she does.
BONUSES:
“The Making of Arizona” Rosemarie DeWitt, Danny McBride, Luke Wilson go over their rolls and how they fit into the story.
“Photo Gallery” has shots from pivotal scenes in the movie.
Arizona is Not Rated by the MPAA, but contains language, violence, drugs, gore and an attempted suicide. Be cautious when deciding whether immature children should see this film in your home as there are parts that may be very inappropriate for your youngsters.
FINAL ANALYSIS: A very cool film with nonstop situation comedy. (4 out of 5 Stars)
Specifications and additional video information:
Starring: Danny McBride, Rosemarie DeWitt, Luke Wilson, Kaitlin Olson, Seth Rogen, Elizabeth Gillies and David Alan Grier
Directed by: Jonathan Watson
Genre: Action, Comedy, Crime
Running Time: 1 hr. 23 min.
MPAA Rating: Not Rated, language, violence, drugs
Original Theatrical Release:
Video Release Date: October 16, 2018
Language: English
Reviewed Format: DVD
Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1
Video: Widescreen, Aspect Ratio 2.35:1
Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish, French
Number of Discs: 1 disc
Distributed by: RLJE Films
Released Formats: Blu-ray, DVD, Ultra HD 4K/Blu-ray Combo
Writer, critic, film editor John Delia, Sr. has been on all sides of the movie business from publications to film making. He has worked as a film critic with ACED Magazine for more than 20 years and other publications for a total of 40 years. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Florida. John is a member of the Southeastern Film Critics Association and Critics Association of Central Florida Send John a message at jdelia@acedmagazine.com
