Watch it and then watch it again - it is near perfect

Rating: 9/10 (13 January 2010)

For all you people bagging it out: I have read a selection of bad and good reviews. The people who have written the bad reviews simply don't get it and it's not that deep, nor difficult to understand. It would be interesting to know the demographics of those people. This movie is based on a book. You would be best served to have a look at the background of that before watching the movie.
I watched this movie some time ago and may have agreed with comments about it being a fancy kill fest BUT, I have just watched it again and can clearly see it's intention and how flawless the execution of it is. There is so much in it that it is easy to get lost in the first viewing. Spectacular that it was, the second viewing highlights the nuts and bolts and nothing has been left out that I can see - much UNlike the MESS of Inglourious Basterds. Nothing is left undone in this movie. Every part is there for a reason.
It is a statement of OUR time - as Ellis says "You can't stop what's coming." It is indeed no country for old men. It leaves you with a lot to think about.
**Spoilers follow**: The whole movie is a reflection of our society today. Moss' (Brolin) conscience gets the better of him and he shows compassion and goes back to give the dying Mexican water, albeit a stupid decision. This compassion will mean his death. Chigurh (Bardem) kills because he simply does not care and wants what is his and will do anything to get it. We see his total and complete ruthlessness demonstrated with the killing of deputy, the taking of the first car and the execution of his helpers. He has killed his enemy, an innocent and colleagues - nicely rounded to include everyone.
It is not implausible that the deputy turns his back on Chigurh. We are in Texas, not a Mensa based university.
Chigurh was the guy collecting the drugs for the money. The transmitter was put in the bag because he was always going to get the money back later - in keeping with his character. Via Wells' character (Harrelson) we are introduced to the brokers of the drug deal. The guys that hire Harrelson have given the mexicans a transmitter as well. They send Harrelson to find the cash before Chigurh. Without Harrelson, there is only one side to the organisation. The mexicans brought the drugs and wanted the money. Typical bad guy/ good guy drugs and greed scenario.
There are people doing this to other people every day and seriously - who of you cares? Sheriff Bell (Tommy Lee Jones) is tired. He is sick of what people are doing to each other, where we are headed. He doesn't need to constantly be visiting the same crime scenes for information he already has or what someone else with more skill can/will inevitably tell him, if they can. There is no point. He knows that even he is getting out of his depth. The younger cops have no idea. What will happen to them?
The mexicans get to Moss before Chigurh but Chigurh gets the money - hidden like the first time in the air conditioning vent.
The end of the movie: Bell has realised that he is past it and can't do it anymore. He can't protect anyone. It is isn't the same as it was. Remember to the beginning of the movie when he was talking about cops not even carrying guns. He decides to quit.
Ellis was a cop who is in a wheelchair because he was shot. The guy who shot him died in jail. Ellis lives in squalor.
Sheriff Bell always wanted to be a cop. His father was a cop who died 20 years before the age he (Bell) is now. So now he has retired because he can't do it and probably doesn't want to die like others he has known and yet he has still died because he has served no purpose and has now has no life left anyway.
the players in the game don't need any depth of character. They are not there for that. They aren't important at all. It is a simple story, a statement of OUR time - again, as Ellis says "You can't stop what's coming." It is No Country For Old Men.