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Annette Kellerman goes down on NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN!
I feel incredibly lucky that I was able to attend an early screening of NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN, and I'm writing in to join those singing its praises. Like many of you, I am a long time fan of the Coen brothers, and I was greatly anticipating this latest effort. Unlike many of you, however, I was completely unaware that the film is based on the Cormac McCarthy novel of the same name. With this in hindsight, I'd first like to relieve any of you who fear another ALL THE PRETTY HORSES. There is no comparison. While that film frustrated and rambled, NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN enthralls and mesmerizes.
The story begins with a bang as a lone hunter in the brambles of the Texas desert discovers a drug deal gone bad- really bad- and decides it his good fortune when he recovers the case of cash left in the midst of the bloodbath. Soon enough, however, our antagonist, Llewelyn Moss, realizes that what seems too good to be true probably is. It turns out that he and everyone he turns to for help discover themselves on the hit list of a maniacal killer who is after the money
as well. Of course, for the audience this is where the fun begins as a colossal game of cat and mouse plays out across various Texas landscapes with equal parts of cunning intrigue and stunning violence. As the action takes place, we are also treated to the parallel story of the aging and all-knowing sheriff who unravels the case just a step behind us right up until the end where no one, including the audience and main characters, are ahead.
The performances in the film are incredible. As Llewelyn, Josh Brolin delivers just the right amount of smarts and swagger for a leading man on the run. His performance is wonderfully understated and realistic even while dodging figurative and literal bullets. Tommy Lee Jones in
the role of Ed Tom Bell embodies the old school charm and wit of the sheriff who is witness to the degradation of society. His ease with the character is a breath of fresh air and provides not only the sparse comic relief of the film, but the axis of the story as well. Then there's Javier Bardem as the psychotic Anton Chigurh. Words can't describe the raving look in his eyes as he picks off victim after victim without a hint of remorse. Chigurh is a mad man and Bardem portrays him with chilling intensity. Fantastic supporting performances by Kelly Macdonald, Woody Harrelson, and Stephen Root round out the spectacular ensemble cast.
Also worth mentioning is the number of smaller roles by relatively unknown players. As always, the Coens have done a wonderful job in utilizing a number of character actors that actually look like real people. There are very few faces with chiseled features and perfect smiles- no botox, hair plugs, or veneers here. These actors look like everyday people circa 1980 and its damn refreshing.
Perhaps the most enchanting character of the film, however, is the West Texas landscape itself. It seems the Coen brothers have written a sort of love letter to this oft-caricatured region of our country. Beautifully shot by cinematographer Roger Deakins, the vastness of the Texas desert and quaintness of the border towns provide the perfect backdrop and juxtaposition for such a sinister plot.
At its heart, the film is a simple morality tale. Although it is a story about greed and the evils that follow suit, it's not the kind of story that's tied up with a pretty bow at the end. There's a
strange satisfaction with not being completely satisfied by the end of the film. In other words, the film refuses to placate by Hollywood's rules of A-B-C storytelling. NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN follows no rules. It's gritty, it's real, and it's one of the most honest crime dramas
I've seen in a long time.
Until next time, Annette Kellerman.
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At least not on here.
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Well, it's not a machine gun leg, but the inspiration for Rose is clear from the cartoon rendering above.
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weird endings that don't tie up the story bug the hell out of me. Sorry, I guess I'm just a mindless Hollywood loving idiot. The last paragraph of that review sounds like a desperate attempt to justify the ending.
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so they can't really change the ending without fucking it up
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I didn't say it was weird ending and I didn't say it didn't tie it up. I just said it wasn't with a pretty bow. And I like it.
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I will show you the life of the mind...!
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Oct 29, 2007 10:05:41 PM CDT
"I was completely unaware that the film is based on the Cormac M
by meshgearfoxx
Thought it was sheer coincidence? With a title like that I can see why.
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"I was completely unaware that the film is based on the Cormac McCarthy novel of the same name" Thought it was sheer coincidence? With a title like that I can see why.
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Oct 29, 2007 10:11:17 PM CDT
When is the Little Lewbowski going to meet Nathan Jr
by stereotypical evil archer
C'mon, a sequel to 2 movies at once.
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Unaware of the existence of said novel.
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Just from what i heard it sounds like it might annoy me. But then again, lebowski had a kinda anticlimactic ending and i liked that one.
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I was completely unaware that the film is based on a Cormac McCarthy novel of the same name. I thought the book was decent but do yourself a favor and read Blood Meridian.
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you smart. me stupid. dumb articles
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that people will have issues with, it's the climax. The Coens, apparently by following the book, don't show you what you're desperately wanting to see. Which, to me, was perfectly fine. Honestly, it grounds the story into a certain reality. It will piss off quite a few people, but according to Josh Brolin that was something anticipated by The Coens when they wrote the script. It defies convention, and it'll be purely subjective if you will find it bothersome, or fitting to the story.
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transformers good! Coen brothers bad! correct grammar and spelling bad!-Massawyrm
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Reviews don't have to be decades long to convey a complete message about a film and the reviewers experience with it.. Nice write up, and I look forward to reading your next one Annette.
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Well written and articulate. That's a rarity 'round these parts.
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Damn you Michael Bay
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That is all.
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...Annette. Is there something wrong with me that I would notice that in a cartoon?
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"... being completely satisfied by the end of the film." Hmm. I don't know what that means exactly, but it sounds suspiciously like stupidity. Or you weren't satisfied, but you really liked the rest of the moive, which would simply mean that the ending is flawed, but you didn't want to admit it. But, I could be wrong.
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Fucking awesome. I want to see Chunk in the next Coens flick and maybe spirinkle in some Short Round in a blockbuster next year...who would have guessed Sean Astin would carry the torch.....? Corey Feldman? I heard there is a lost boys thing cookin...so ....
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If people keep bitching about the ending, im going to puke. Both of McCarthy's recent novels(the road, no country) end in "unsatisfactory manner, if by that you mean ambigous and thristing for more. So the good guy loses, and so no one wins? Too much to wrap your heads around?
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Oct 30, 2007 4:48:03 PM CDT
Llewellyn Moss is the PROTAGONIST, not the antagonist.
by twindaggerturkey
That is all.
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