No Country For Old Men – In Theaters

No Country for Old Men
Miramax Films
Written and Directed by Ethan and Joel Coen
Starring:  Tommy Lee Jones, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, Woody Harrelson and Kelly Macdonald
Released: November 9, 2007 (limited), November 21, 2007 (wide)
Genre: Crime/Drama/Thriller
Runtime: 122 minutes
Rated: R for strong graphic violence and some language

5 Stars

Written by Ken Henderson (Courtesy Of: LAFG)

Set in the 1980s, this movie tells the deceptively simple story of Llewellyn Moss(Josh Brolin), a Viet Nam vet and a welder, living in a trailer with his wife Carla Jean (Kelly Macdonald) somewhere in west Texas. While hunting, Llewellyn comes upon a gruesome scene of a drug deal gone wrong. Seemingly unfazed by the bloodshed, Llewellyn helps himself to a briefcase containing two million dollars and inadvertently begins the manhunt that comprises most of the film.

Llewellyn sends Carla Jean away for her own safety and sets out to avoid the drug dealers bent on finding him. The drug dealers are nothing compared to the real villain in the movie – Anton Chigurh (Javier Bardem), a madman hired to recover the money. Anton is evil in a way that neither Llewellyn nor Sheriff Bell (Tommy Lee Jones) can comprehend. Adhering to his own twisted moral code, Chigurh will go to any length to recover the cash and keep his word.

The movie closely follows Brolin and Bardem and their physical confrontations. Jones’ role is almost that of an observer – the after the fact witness to the escalating violence. Macdonald, as Brolin’s wife, creates a role that seems almost childlike and innocent compared to the harsh realities of the other characters.

Other performances of note include Woody Harrelson’s role as mob troubleshooter Carson Wells, Stephen Root as the man who hires Wells and Barry Corbin as Sheriff Bell’s aging uncle Ellis.

“You can’t stop what’s comin’. It ain’t all waitin’ on you. That’s vanity.”

No Country for  Old Men is based on the novel by Cormac McCarthy and has been masterfully adapted by the Coen brothers. In many ways this resembles their first film, Blood Simple, as well as their icy noir, Fargo. Cinematographer Roger Deakins, who has worked with the Coens on several films, creates a specific look for the film that embraces the vast, emptiness of west Texas.

This dark and austere character study is destined to be remembered as one of Ethan and Joel Coen’s most remarkable films. Definitely not suitable for children or anyone offended by the intimate and realistic violence.