No Country For Old Men, the newest film from Joel and Ethan Coen, is truly one of the marvels to have come out in the multiplexes this year. It has a unique sense of mystery and hilarity that all transposes onto the screen almost perfectly.
Javier Bardem stars as Anton Chiqurh, a psychopathic killer trying to get his money from a drug deal gone wrong. It just happens that Llwelyn Moss (Josh Brolin), a simple country man, stumbles upon the cash along with the dead bodies that came with it. Chiqurh follows Moss using a tracking device hidden among the money, which leads to several intense action./chase scenes. Tommy Lee Jones also stars as the sheriff of the local town who also begins pursuit of the two men.
The movie is very violent but none of it seems out of context. The only fault in the movie is the ending. It feels out of place with the movie and seems more of a random monologue then anything else. While Jones delivers it perfectly, it ends abruptly and is by no means satisfying.
However, that being said, the story is terrific, the performances are some of the years best, and the action sequences are perfect. Bardem gives the best supporting performance of the year and Brolin as the hero does a fantastic Oscar worthy job as well.
One of the Coen brothers’ greatest storytelling abilities is their twist of funny moments among dramatic content. In particular there is a scene early on in the film where Chiqurh debates weather or not to kill a gas station owner. Their conversation is hilarious and it all leads up to a coin toss where he makes the owner call it for his life.
Truly one of the year’s best films, No Country For Old Men is significant mostly because it is the years only clear Academy Award nominee. Sure several films such as Into the Wild and Once are hopeful for the small golden man, but odds are they may get snuffed. No Country For Old Men is truly a must see.
Grade – A
Review by CJ Simonson
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