Slightly scratched, but plays fine. Disk Only. No artwork or original case. Condition: Good
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The Coen brothers make their finest thriller sinceFargowith a restrained adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's novel. Not that there aren't moments of intense violence, butNo Country for Old Menis their quietest, most existential film yet. In this modern-day Western, Llewelyn Moss (Josh Brolin) is a Vietnam vet who could use a break. One morning while hunting antelope, he spies several trucks surrounded by dead bodies (both human and canine). In examining the site, he finds a case filled with $2 million. Moss takes it with him, tells his wife (Kelly Macdonald) he's going away for awhile, and hits the road until he can determine his next move. On the way from El Paso to Mexico, he discovers he's being followed by ex-special ops agent Chigurh (an eerily calm Javier Bardem). Chigurh's weapon of choice is a cattle gun, and he uses it on everyone who gets in his way--or loses a coin toss (as far as he's concerned, bad luck is grounds for death). Just as Sheriff Bell (Tommy Lee Jones), a World War II vet, is on Moss's trail, Chigurh's former colleague, Wells (Woody Harrelson), is on his. For most of the movie, Moss remains one step ahead of his nemesis. Both men are clever and resourceful--except Moss has a conscious, Chigurh does not (he is, as McCarthy puts it, "a prophet of destruction"). At times, the film plays like an old horror movie, with Chigurh as its lumbering Frankenstein monster. Like the taciturn terminator,No Country for Old Mendoesn't move quickly, but the tension never dissipates. This minimalist masterwork represents Joel and Ethan Coen and their entire cast, particularly Brolin and Jones, at the peak of their powers.--Kathleen C. Fennessy
Are the "5 star" reviewers" mad? I confess, the Cohen brothers have always puzzled me, and this doesn't help.
I'm sorry, my friends, but this film is awful. I'm sure Mr Bardem is a fine actor, but his character came across as dim and constipated. Tommy Lee Jones was criminally, CRIMINALLY underplayed, as was Woody Harrelson (why even have him in the film if you're going to limit his input like that?). It was as if there were four ideas for the story, no-one could decide which one to go for, so somewhere along the line the direction or the editing couldn't decide which idea to go for. The result was a NOTHING film. And I'm afraid the young Mr Brolin really doesn't (yet) have the presence of a leading man. Perhaps the brothers had such an embarrassment of riches, they just couldn't decide what to do with them? Few films have actually left me furious on leaving the cinema, and the DVD, which I borrowed, was no better. How it won so many accolades is beyond me. What do you think?
Yours,
Baby Cromwell, Nottingham, England
Some observations WARNING! POTENTIAL SPOILERS!
WARNING! SPOILERS!
SPOILERS!
Since I am awarding five stars to this movie, I won't even bother gushing. Rather, I would like to provide some observations.
First, Anton Chigurh (Javier Bardem) only kills one person on screen with the air cannister weapon. Yet, many reviewers (professional and otherwise) mention that Chigurh kills "people" with a "cattle stun gun." Mostly, this particular weapon is used to punch the locks out of doors.
Next, there are many instances of "mirroring" of character actions that I don't always see mention of. Lewellyn Moss (Josh Brolin) says "hold still" while hunting his prey immediately following Chigurh saying hold still to his human prey. Ed Tom Bell (Tommy Lee Jones)is reflected in the screen of a t.v. drinking milk just as Chigurh has been shown previously. This seems to portray the interconnectedness of the characters.
HERE COME SPOILERS!
Military service is alluded to in many scenes. One particular instance that I haven't heard mentioned elsewhere is that Carson Wells (Woody Harrelson) is revealed to have been a retired army colonel.(This happens during his meeting with a fellow lawman in El Paso.)
When Wells tells Moss of his military service, Moss acts unimpressed. Yet, with not much else to recommend Wells' character, Moss decides to call on him. Also, when Moss is having some difficulty getting past a border guard, his mention of his military service becomes his magic key to reentry.
During his meeting with Moss's wife, Sheriff Bell explains exactly how a man could have a puncture wound in the front of his head with no exit wound and no bullet left behind. But we, the viewers, are left to ponder whether he has actually realized his discovery, or, perhaps tellingly, he he chooses to mentally suppress the potential for such a terrible instrument.
The character of Ed Tom Bell is described by most reviews as the real focus of the film. But is this the case or is Bell only the focal point for those of us who share some of his opinions? Is it possible that his character's main purpose in the story is to simply plant the seeds of discontent with the film's other story? Yes. Bell provides the film's final thought, but perhaps these thoughts pertain to something found in the Moss/Chigurh story.
SEE THE FILM BEFORE READING FURTHER!
Moss's final chapter plays off-screen. Is this because the audience is expected to share Sheriff's Bell's reluctance to accept his demise? Or is it because the Mexicans have killed him? Which would ruin expectations that Moss and Chigurh will meet.
Just before Sheriff Bell enters the hotel room with the punched out lock cylinder, Chigurh is shown hiding on the other side. Is he in the room at the same time as Sheriff Bell or is this a flashback? Is he in an adjacent room, thus mirroring an earlier scene at a hotel? Is he a ghost who can choose when and where to reveal himself? He's been shown to be human, but could Chigurh have the ability to become some ethereal entity if given warning?
Does Chigurh kill Carla Jean Moss? Everything in the movie up to this point says "yes." But, is it possible that Chigurh has decided to call the coin himself since Carla Jean's refusal is not acceptable in his mind? Is he checking his shoes for blood upon exiting Carla Jean's mothers house? Or is he simply inspecting the soles of his shoes?
Finally, Chigurh "mirrors" the actions of Moss when he exchanges money for clothing. Not only does the large denomination of the bill hint that Chigurh possesses the money, but there are telling differences between the two exchanges. Moss offers $500 for a coat, then simply asks for a beer which implies that he feels there should be a moral code of decency which states that his overpayment should entitle him to something extra. Chigurh asks "How much for the shirt?" When the shirt is given to him without the condition that it be paid for, he insists that the money be paid to the now-shirtless teenager. Next, he says "You didn't see me." (Earlier in the film he asked the accountant "Do you see me?") Is this because for Chigurh morality plays no part in the transaction? Rather, that there should be an exchange since Chigurh initially asked "How much?" Or is it hush money? Also, once Chigurh walks away, there is a discussion between the shirtless boy and a friend who feels he is entitled to part of the money since he also has agreed to keep his mouth shut. The boy who received the money explains that he is the one with no shirt. Is this a mirroring of the differences between Chigurh and Moss?
Okay. That's enough. I hope others will give their thoughts. All of these remarks may seem like over-analysis. But few movies have caused me to be this analytical. Take that for what it's worth.
One last thing: many have been referring to this film as the worst oscar winner ever. I have just one product to mention: [[ASIN:B000A3XY5A Crash (Widescreen Edition)]] Anyone who refers to NCFOM as the worst film to have won an oscar definitely couldn't have seen Crash.This Movie Won The Best Oscar??? The Academy Is Nuts!!! This has got to be the worst best movie Oscar ever!!! If all you care to see is a psychopathic killer (how in God's name did this guy when the best actor???) on the rampage, then this movie is for you. On top of that, the movie has one of the worst endings ever where everything in the movie is left up in the air. It doesn't even deserve one star.
