Ah yes, in fact they have been married since 1984, the year ''Blood Simple'' came out (which was incidentally her first film).

Francis McDormand is one of my favorite actresses. I had to do a little soul-searching to come up with my 2nd favorite film performance by her (after the incomparable Margie Gunderson, of course). I came up with ''Laurel Canyon'' where she played a downright sexy mama.

I would go for Bande a Part by Jean Luc Goddard (a bit film geeky but some great quotes and approach to story) and Annie Hall by Woody Allen (very funny and well made).