Sunday, February 17, 2019

Movie Review: "No Country for Old Men" (2007)

Director: Joel and Ethan Coen
Year: 2007
Rating: R
Running Time: 2 hours, 2 minutes

A hunter stumbles upon the remains of a drug deal gone bad and discovers a suitcase full of $2 million in cash. When he tries to take the money for himself, he is pursued by drug dealers, police, and a murderous hitman trying to get it back.

No Country for Old Men 2007 movie Javier Bardem
"I got here the same way the coin did." (Image Source)
Of all the movies featuring bad guys with bad haircuts, none are quite as badass as Anton Chigurh. "No Country for Old Men" is written and directed by Joel and Ethan Coen, who have both written and directed such extraordinary films as "The Big Lebowski," "Raising Arizona," and "Fargo." It is based on the novel by Cormac McCarthy, who is no stranger to having his work adapted to film. It tells the story of a hunter named Llewelyn Moss (Josh Brolin), who happens upon a crime scene where a drug deal has gone all sorts of wrong. Aside from numerous dead bodies and a massive quantity of drugs, he also finds a suitcase with about $2 million bucks inside of it. He decides to swipe the cash despite knowing it could put him and his family in danger if anyone should come looking for it. That's the one thing he gets right. The owners of the money immediately come after Llewelyn, including a murderous psychopath named Anton Chigurh (Javier Bardem), who will stop at nothing until Moss is dead. Meanwhile, an aging cop named Ed Tom Bell (Tommy Lee Jones) tries to figure out what's going on and help save Llewelyn from a nasty fate.
No Country for Old Men 2007 movie Tommy Lee Jones
"Are you going to shoot me?" (Image Source)
Joel and Ethan Coen have made a name for themselves as two of the most talented directors working in the industry today. They have a penchant for making offbeat, stylish comedies, more serious (but still darkly humorous) dramas, as well as modern-day westerns. "No Country for Old Men" is one such modern western, one of the best we've ever seen, new or old. It's a film that introduced the world to one of cinema's greatest villains, Anton Chigurh. This movie probably would not have been as amazing as it is without Javier Bardem playing Chigurh. He is absolutely incredible, and he and hairstylist Paul LeBlanc must be given a lot of credit for breathing life into the ominous presence and the unmistakable look of this infamous psychopathic character. Bardem took home a much deserved Oscar for his performance here. Though Josh Brolin and Tommy Lee Jones could be considered the main characters and give excellent performances in their own right, Bardem is the one who steals each and every bloody scene he is in. He's what makes "No Country for Old Men" so memorable. The acting isn't the only thing that makes this movie unforgettable. Roger Deakins's impeccable cinematography aids in telling this story with its desolate landscapes shot in picture-perfect form. Despite being just 16 minutes long, Carter Burwell's score manages to add to the intensity factor despite that the film is almost entirely devoid of music. Last but not least, the visceral fear, the palpable tension, the excessive violence, and the shock-and-awe ending could only come from master-class, visionary writers/directors like the Coen brothers.
No Country for Old Men 2007 movie Josh Brolin
"What you got ain't nothin' new. This country's hard on people. You can't stop what's coming. It ain't all waiting on you. That's vanity." (Image Source)
We absolutely love "No Country for Old Men." Some of the Coen's narrative choices may bother some people, but not us. This is a magnificent film and is easily one of the best of the 2000s. It was nominated eight Academy Awards and took home four Oscars, including best picture and best director. This is a must see for all film lovers.

My Rating: 10/10
BigJ's Rating: 10/10
IMDB's Rating: 8.1/10
RT Rating: 93%
Do we recommend this movie: ABSOLUTELY YES!!!

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