Fatally flawed

Rating: 1/10 (13 April 2008)

I can't recommend this film, in fact it's hard for me to find a redeeming social value in it. I will grant that the acting and cinematography are very good; however, the story is empty and confusing. The central character Anton Chigurh is a stone-cold killer who asserts that life or death has no more meaning than the flip of a coin. The filmmakers have done a great job portraying this monster, but do not provide a satisfying resolution of the conflict between the 'good' characters and the 'evil' one. For all I can tell, the psychopath Anton Chigurh directed this film because it doesn't seem to care whether any of its characters lives or dies.
For some reason there are several long scenes of cowboy philosophizing by the pursuing sheriff and another old-timer, in a mumbling southern drawl. These seem to be an attempt to add some profound insight and meaning to this collage of pointless violence, but instead come off as sappy and boring. I was falling asleep.
I can understand some of the accolades for this film, because as I said it's technically well done. But I wouldn't recommend it to my parents, my siblings, my film-loving friends, or anyone, really. This film is fatally flawed and a waste of time.