No Country for Old Men (B+ or 3.5/4 stars)
"You can't stop what's coming" in 'No Country for Old Men', a gothic thriller directed by the Coen brothers (Fargo). Violence, death & chaos break out (methodically) after a hunter (Josh Brolin) stumbles upon a smattering of dead bodies, stolen heroin, & a cool $2 mill. A psychotic hit man (Javier Bardem) is sent after him, some Dirty Mexicans are on his tail, & a world-weary Sheriff (Tommy Lee Jones) enters the mix to save the hunter from certain savagery. Everything about this film is meticulous. The direction is precise. The cinematography & sound design are superb. And Javier Bardem is exceptional as our madman. 'No Country for Old Men' is exquisitely made ... but it loses a bit of steam, which lessened its lasting impression on me.
Anton Chigurh (Bardem) is one merciless killer {and his face is evil personified}. We see this in an opening scene when he brutally strangles an officer with his clasped handcuffs. Waltzing through Texas in 1980, and using an air pressure-powered cattle gun as his weapon, Chigurh tears through a series of innocents 'til he finds Llewelyn Moss (Brolin), the man who has taken the $2 mil from the scene of the crime. Moss has stolen the $$, so we're not particularly fond of him, but because 'Death' (Chigurh) is hunting him, we'd like to see him escape unharmed; and then to safely meet up with his simple-minded, worried wife, Carla Jean (Kelly Macdonald). Meanwhile, Sheriff Ed Tom Bell (TL Jones) knows he's hunting the already hunted. Disillusioned by the carnage & mayhem in the Western world, he hopes he can salvage some meaning in life by capturing Chigurh and saving Moss in the process. Will justice be served? Will the Sheriff find closure?
There is so much to praise here. The cinematography in the desert is fantastic {I also loved a scene where the foggy reflection of 2 characters is shown in the shiny lock of a door}. The sound design is astute; mainly because much of the film is shot in eerie silence. And as mentioned, Bardem is incredible as the remorseless, menacing foe -- I was terrified of him. Josh Brolin is stellar; better, even, in his quiet, intense moments than when talking. TL Jones is very good; though, his mumbling, introspective presence sometimes stifles some dramatic power. And I also admired Kelly Macdonald as Carla. Listening to this Irish actress inflect a perfect Midwest accent is amazing. Most other characters, if they survive, come & go without great effect.
The Coen bros. offer ambiguous tones, splashes of dry humor & quirky delivery. But I, along with TL Jones' character, found the violence in the film to be a tad too nihilistic. Cruel violence isn't exactly my idea of stupendous entertainment. I enjoy bursts of invigorating violence, & don't mind open endings of films ... but the ending here is quite abbreviated and, the chilly plot of 'No Country' left me a bit cold; which may have been the point. All that said, this film offers some heart-pounding, highly suspenseful moments - usually involving Bardem's malice - that are truly spectacular. You know, this film is not exactly my cup of cinematic tea and, it won't be for everyone. But while I would not put 'No Country for Old Men' on the God-like mantel it's been placed on by most critics, I do think it is compulsively watchable with a plentitude of laudable elements and, it is exceedingly well-made.
Anton Chigurh (Bardem) is one merciless killer {and his face is evil personified}. We see this in an opening scene when he brutally strangles an officer with his clasped handcuffs. Waltzing through Texas in 1980, and using an air pressure-powered cattle gun as his weapon, Chigurh tears through a series of innocents 'til he finds Llewelyn Moss (Brolin), the man who has taken the $2 mil from the scene of the crime. Moss has stolen the $$, so we're not particularly fond of him, but because 'Death' (Chigurh) is hunting him, we'd like to see him escape unharmed; and then to safely meet up with his simple-minded, worried wife, Carla Jean (Kelly Macdonald). Meanwhile, Sheriff Ed Tom Bell (TL Jones) knows he's hunting the already hunted. Disillusioned by the carnage & mayhem in the Western world, he hopes he can salvage some meaning in life by capturing Chigurh and saving Moss in the process. Will justice be served? Will the Sheriff find closure?
There is so much to praise here. The cinematography in the desert is fantastic {I also loved a scene where the foggy reflection of 2 characters is shown in the shiny lock of a door}. The sound design is astute; mainly because much of the film is shot in eerie silence. And as mentioned, Bardem is incredible as the remorseless, menacing foe -- I was terrified of him. Josh Brolin is stellar; better, even, in his quiet, intense moments than when talking. TL Jones is very good; though, his mumbling, introspective presence sometimes stifles some dramatic power. And I also admired Kelly Macdonald as Carla. Listening to this Irish actress inflect a perfect Midwest accent is amazing. Most other characters, if they survive, come & go without great effect.
The Coen bros. offer ambiguous tones, splashes of dry humor & quirky delivery. But I, along with TL Jones' character, found the violence in the film to be a tad too nihilistic. Cruel violence isn't exactly my idea of stupendous entertainment. I enjoy bursts of invigorating violence, & don't mind open endings of films ... but the ending here is quite abbreviated and, the chilly plot of 'No Country' left me a bit cold; which may have been the point. All that said, this film offers some heart-pounding, highly suspenseful moments - usually involving Bardem's malice - that are truly spectacular. You know, this film is not exactly my cup of cinematic tea and, it won't be for everyone. But while I would not put 'No Country for Old Men' on the God-like mantel it's been placed on by most critics, I do think it is compulsively watchable with a plentitude of laudable elements and, it is exceedingly well-made.