An excursion back to the beginning, or at least near the beginning of the Coen Brothers catalog. Interesting that there are certain things you'll always find. Odd characters, odd violence (the knife in the hand was a nice touch) and the opening shot low on the pavement.
Funny that the pace was much more like No Country than say, Barton Fink. Maybe they are just coming full circle. And what's up with one of them directing and the other producing? Do they play rock/paper/scissors to pick that?