No Country For Old Men [MA]

A retired welder and Vietnam veteran stumbles upon the bloody aftermath of a Mexican standoff, a pick up truck loaded with heroine, and two million dollars in cash. Unable to resist the temptation, he takes the briefcase of cash and unwitting sets into a motion a fatal three-way game of cat-and-mouse with a homicidal hitman on his tail out to reclaim the money, and a south western sheriff one step behind both of them. 

The Coen brothers have done it again! Based on the novel by Pulitzer Prize winning author Cormac McCarthy, No Country For Old Men is a tantalizing and suspense-fuelled action/thriller set against the harsh backdrop of south western Texas in the 1980s. Armed with a most wonderful and surprisingly deep script as well as harsh violence and brilliant performances, it really is an amazing film. 

A retired welder and Vietnam veteran stumbles upon the bloody aftermath of a Mexican standoff, a pick up truck loaded with heroine, and two million dollars in cash. Unable to resist the temptation, he takes the briefcase of cash and unwitting sets into a motion a fatal three-way game of cat-and-mouse with a homicidal hitman on his tail out to reclaim the money, and a south western sheriff one step behind both of them. 

On the surface, the film is your classic Coen-esque black comedy, delicately treading that fine line between comedy and thriller. The simple story of one man making one fatal mistake, thus setting violent and brutal wheels in motion, is a scenario that we see, however altered, in many Coen movies. What I particularly like about this film is its duality. On the one hand, the movie is a thrilling game of cat-and-mouse with the majority of the major conflicts taking place between the hero and the villain with the law right on their tail. But then on the other hand, the film has a much softer and deeper meaning as is conveyed through the character of the sheriff. The film puts forth some intriguing and poignant statements about the fragility and flaws of manhood and, more strongly, the changing times and a growing generation barrier mainly caused through lack of understanding. In a voice-over at the beginning with Tommy Lee Jones, we hear him say

“ The crime you see now, it’s hard to event take its measure. It’s not that I’m afraid of it. I always knew you had to be willing to die to even do this job. Not to be glorious. But I don’t want to push my chips forward and go out and meet something that I don’t understand.”

That line is very reflective the film’s meditative overtones and it clearly conveys the deeper meaning of the film’s title. The script was absolutely wonderful and at the same time sort of ironic. Set against the harsh south western backdrop of Texas, and as such all lines spoken with the strong southern accent, to hear these rugged and coarse characters speak reflectively and meditatively is really beautiful and really deep. It’s fantastic. 

The movie scooped up a handful of Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Actor in a Supporting Role. I must draw attention to that final one because Javier Bardem who won the award delivered a most sinister and mesmerising performance. The sheriff describes his as “a ghost” and there is no greater way to put it. He did the role so perfectly with no emotion, no understanding, it really was as though he was just this lifeless thing in the shape of a man. Stunning, ABSOLUTELY STUNNING and spooky to no end. 

Starring Josh Brolin, Tommy Lee Jones, Kelly Macdonald, and Woody Harrelson, No Country For Old Men is a brilliant film that’s filled with action, violence, and suspense. It’s not for the faint-stomached to be sure, there is some nasty violence that takes place, one particular bout that won’t make us look at air compressors in the same way ever again, but it really is a fantastic film!