NO
COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN
"You choose well"
Coming across a drug deal gone wrong, Llewelyn Moss (Brolin) finds $2 million and decides to keep it but when the Drug cartel discovers that the money is missing hitman Anton Chigurh (Bardem) is sent to track down the money. With Anton relentless in this pursuit, killing all witnesses and anyone who gets in his way, Llewelyn decides to run but local sheriff Ed Tom Bell (Jones) has to find him before the murder toll gets any higher.
When the Coen Brothers announce that they are making a movie, their legends of fans and the movie critic community stand up and take notice but for their latest 'No Country for Old Men' is one that will stay with them for a very long time.
Joel and Ethan Coen are filmmakers that continue to push the boundaries of many a genre. From organised crime, the retelling of the Odyssey, a police investigation, a look at capitalism, the perils of divorce and marriage, bringing up a baby and mixing bowling, kidnap and a case of mistake identity, the diversity of their film catalogue is astounding. For their latest, the brothers bring us an adaptation of the best selling novel by Cormac McCarthy that will push the Coen's in a whole new direction.
Combining some of the themes that they have used before but removing their trademark quirky comedy for a seriousness and dark tone that is both chilling and extremely violent, something you might not expect from the Coen's. In 'No Country for Old Men', the brothers have produced a crime movie set around three characters. Set in Terrell County, Texas 1980, the movie is about a local man, Llewelyn Moss who discovers a drug deal taking place in the middle of the desert that goes wrong, leaving both the drugs and the money involved alone. Seeing an opportunity, he takes the cash but the money belongs to some people you really don't want to steal from. Sheriff Ed Tom Bell also discovers the aftermath of this drug deal and starts his investigation but he seems to be always two steps behind. The man they both have to fear is the hitman who is coming for the money and Anton Chigurh is a man who really should be feared. With one on the run, one in pursuit and one trying to figure out what is going on, this is a story of dog, cat and mouse and with a large amount of bloody, realistic violence.
To bring these three main characters to life you need three superb actors. You can't much better than Tommy Lee Jones to play Texas Sheriff Ed Tom Bell. He plays the sheriff with so much ease but he becomes the character who patiently follows the case and the bodies that have come with it. Josh Brolin continues to become one of the best actors of his generation and as Llewelyn Moss. He is an ordinary man, a Vietnam vet, who just sees an opportunity for him to make a better life for his beloved wife Carla but then brings hell down on him and his family. This is another excellent performance from Brolin. Stealing the film however is Javier Bardem as the epitome of evil Anton Chigurh. An emotional hitman, who carries out his orders without remorse or thought for his victim, this is a character that will be one of the best villains in modern movie history.
The support is also very good with Scottish actress Kelly Macdonald producing a brilliant and faultless Texan accent as Carla Jean Moss, Garret Dillahunt as Deputy Wendell, Barry Corbin as the sheriff friend Ellis and Beth Grant as Carla Jean's Mother.
'No Country for Old Men' shows that the Coen's are becoming filmmakers can produce the best from their actors and can adapt any novel with great skill. With performances that pull you into story and mesmerise you from the off, this is probably the Coen's most accomplished film but it is probably not the best they have done. This aside however, this is a captivation movie and one that will stay with you for a very long time.
PICTURE & SOUND
Presented in Widescreen 1.85:1 Anamorphic with a Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack, the transfer is good.
BONUS FEATURES
The Making of
No Country for Old Men (24.31 mins)
Directors Joel and Ethan Coen, executive producer Robert Graf, production
designer Jess Gonchor, costume designer Mary Zophres, prop master Keith Walters
and stars Tommy Lee Jones, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin and Kelly Macdonald
talk about the adaptation of the novel to the silver screen. The group talk
about the source novel, the three main leads never meeting, the dark tone
of the story, the 1980s setting and the locations of the movie. They also
discuss the characters and the violence of the piece. This featurette covers
most of the film's production.
Working with
the Coens (8.10 mins)
Executive producer Robert Graf, Tommy Lee Jones, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin
and Kelly Macdonald talk about working with the Coen brothers, their methods
and how they approach a movie.
Diary of a County
Sheriff (6.46 mins)
Directors Joel and Ethan Coen, executive producer Robert Graf and stars Tommy
Lee Jones, Javier Bardem and Kelly Macdonald talk about Sheriff Ed Tom Bell.
The man, his investigation and how Tommy Lee created the character.
Trailers
Previews of 'Cloverfield', 'There will be Blood', 'The Kate Runner', 'Margot
at the Wedding' and 'Iron Man'
OVERALL
The DVD treatment for 'No Country for Old Men' is good but not as good as it could have been. The featurettes are very good, covering all aspects of the films production but the lack of a commentary, deleted or alternative scenes makes this just good. Fans should be pleased however.
DVD
Blood Simple
Fargo
Miller's Crossing
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