The latest Coen Brothers film "No Country for Old Men" showcases the finely honed skills of these true cinematic masters, and harkens back to their earlier work; in fact one might argue that this is their finest film to date. They're in top form here, it all begins with the opening shots of the Texas plains—which are filmed with a lonely, washed out feel, that seems almost alien, and properly foreshadows what awaits.
Roger Deakens proves himself to be one of the finest cinematographers working today, creating a sweeping and unforgiving look, that is as integral to the movie as the story itself. The film, based on the 2005 Cormac McCarthy novel of the same name, is set in this strange and ancient Texas circa 1980.
Llewelyn Moss (Josh Brolin) is a hardnosed Vietnam vet who passes his days hunting. We follow him as he stumbles upon a brutal crime scene, which appears to be a drug deal gone wrong. Llewelyn finds two million dollars near the scene, and does what you'd think he would, he takes it. This action causes a violent cat and mouse game between Moss, the Mexicans (who were part of the drug deal) and Anton Chigurh (Javier Bardem) who has been hired to retrieve the money. Meanwhile the ready for retirement Sheriff Bell (Tommy Lee Jones) has to deal with this horrendous crime scene, and the bodies that begin piling up around his little border town, all the while trying to find Llewelyn before the bad men do.
Bardem's not exactly a household name, but that never really matters anyhow, talent is talent. He portrays Chigurh with such relentless evil, that he will stick with the viewer long after the film ends. He becomes more than just a hired psychopath, he becomes the amoral center of this universe, and in a way he represents the inevitability of death itself, which seems to be the films underlying theme.
Bardem's top notch performance is equally matched by Jones, and Brolin; who also have the sort of parts that actors dream of. Jones portrays the sheriff with an aged wisdom we’ve seen before, but more importantly he portrays the man with a certain frailty and underlying worry, as if he’s actually witnessing time slowly pass him by, it steeps his character in reality to say the least. Brolin also delivers, what is not just a fine performance, but probably a career altering one for him.
If I were a gambler, I’d wager heavily that one of these actors is going to win an Oscar for this film. Which actor that would be, I could not tell you. That's how good all of their performances are.
The films ending has led to a lot of controversy as well. There appears to be a 50/50 split of those who thought the ending was anticlimactic, and those who thought it moved in a powerful new direction. I'm in the later camp. It seems the film is about not being good enough, and coming to terms with one's own mortality. This is heavy subject matter and it’s handled in a way that doesn't ring false. In fact it does just the opposite; it cuts deep and makes you wonder.
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The end.
Written by Guest on 2007-12-06 09:42:08
Will somebody please explain to me why the ending was so great? |
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