No Country For Old Men
No County For Old Men - Oscar glory awaits the Coens' movie.
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Published by Harper Collins, hardback, 382 pages, £16. |  |
Wednesday, 09, Jan 2008 11:01
Directed by Ethan and Joel Coen, out January 18th, in cinemas, starring Tommy Lee Jones, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, Woody Harrelson and Kelly Macdonald, running time 122mins.
In a Nutshell:
Violent, Texan, Dark, Desolate, Genius
What's it all about?
Set in the 1980s, No Country For Old Men is situated in the bleak and desolate landscape of West Texas. The story revolves around Vietnam veteran Llewellyn Moss (Josh Brolin), who accidentally stumbles across a failed drug deal that has resulted in numerous dead bodies, burned out cars and an uncollected couple of million dollars. Moss decides to take the money to make a better life for himself and his wife Carla Jean (Kelly Macdonald).
However, Moss hasn't accounted for hired killer Anton Chigurh (Javier Bardem) who will stop at nothing to get the money back. Caught somewhere in the middle of all of this is local sheriff Ed Tom Bell (Tommy Lee Jones), who is struggling to come to terms with the widespread increase in mindless violence occurring within his usually sleepy jurisdiction. A fascinating, dark and violent man-hunt ensues with the terrifying Chigurh chasing down what he believes is rightful his and seeking revenge on all that get in his way.
Who's in it?
Josh Brolin (American Gangster) plays the main character Llewellyn superbly as the opportunistic have-a-go hero, intent on not running from his destiny. Kelly Macdonald (Gosford Park, Trainspotting) is very impressive in her turn as Moss' wife Carla, boasting a flawless Texan accent. Woody Harrelson (The People vs Larry Flynt) also pops up adding some welcome humor. It's the two old campaigners though who steal the show here. Veteran Spanish actor, Javier Bardem (Jamon, jamon; Collateral), plays the stone-cold Chigurh with unnerving ease while Tommy Lee Jones (The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada) further increases his standing as one of the greatest actors of his generation, continually improving into the twilight of his career.
As an example:
Carson Wells: "Don't worry, I'm not the man who's after you."
Llewellyn Moss: "I know that. I've seen him."
Carson: "You've seen him? And you're not dead? Huh."
Llewellyn: "Who's this guy supposed to be, the ultimate badass?"
Carson: "Well I don't think that's how I would describe him."
Llewellyn: "Well how would you describe him?"
Carson: "Well I'd say he doesn't have a sense of humour."
Likelihood of a trip to the Oscars?
There is considerable Oscar talk already surrounding No Country. The film has received Golden Globe nominations for best motion picture, for the Coens' direction, Bardem's performance in a supporting role and best screenplay. The film also received a nomination for the Golden Palm at the Cannes Film Festival. The film has and will continue to excite the critics, Coen fanatics and film lovers all in equal measures.
What others say
"The Coens squeeze us without mercy in a vice of tension and suspense, but only to force us to look into an abyss of our own making." - Rolling Stone
"For formalists, those moviegoers sent into raptures by tight editing, nimble camera work and faultless sound design, No Country for Old Men is pure heaven." - New York Times
So is it any good?
No Country for Old Men is being touted as a triumphant return to form for the Coen brothers. Many of their fans however will claim they never really lost it but simply changed track for a while. No Country instead then is a return to the classic Coen film experience, and boy what an experience it is.
There are so many things that are truly astounding with this film. The wild, empty, imposing landscape dominates throughout and wonderfully sets the tone for the whole story. The detail, characters and basic story all impress in equal measure. It's the violence though that really makes this film note worthy. Bardem's depiction of the psychotic killer Chigurh is brilliant. The violence he inflicts is extreme but measured, a compressed air cannon (the sort used to kill cattle in slaughterhouses) his weapon of choice. The ease at which he goes about his business, without any apparent moral dilemma, will haunt many viewers long after they have watched this. Bardem as a result deserves to pick up every award going for what he has achieved here.
The Coens' direction also, allowing the landscape and the sparse but brilliant dialogue do the talking, is flawless. This is by far and away their best effort to date. They have also coaxed out of Tommy Lee Jones a superb performance as the down-beaten sheriff unable to face up to this fresh nightmare facing him.
The violence will make the headlines but that should not put people off, what the Coens have produced here is without a doubt the best film you're likely to see all year. Oscar glory awaits this piece of cinematic gold.
9.5/10
Richard James