The art of suspense and tension.

Rating: 8/10 (7 June 2008)

In the vast blankness of rural Texas, Llewellyn Moss discovers a case of money among a strewn of dead bodies. Having decided that he will take the money he places his life in more danger than he initially anticipated.
No Country for Old Men is a quiet film. There is not that much dialogue or score to sway emotions, and one is left to contemplate the actions of the characters on screen. It is in fact a more sombre and aspirational piece of film making, which does not 'dress-up' scenes for excitement and instead crafts nail-biting suspense and tension. There are some truly vivid scenes, and this film should be watched for its showcase of adrenaline churning moments of tension.
Although No Country for Old Men succeeds to a certain extent in achieving its cinematic aspirations, it is unfortunately flawed by a lack of substance and structure. Although the cinematography, lighting and prose of Ed Tom Bell suggest there is more underneath the surface I would argue that there is little depth. The film also does not convey the purpose of certain characters, who they are, what they do, and events unfold with little explanation.
The characters are what make No Country for Old Men enjoyable. In particular the supporting cast of Carson Wells (played wonderfully by Woody Harrelson) and Carla Jean Moss (the excellent Kelly McDonald)are fun and interesting to watch. Javier Bardem is the obvious stand-out performer as the psychopathic killer who follows his own peculiar 'rules' of engagement.
No Country for Old Men is expertly executed in the art of suspense and tension and has a haunting quality, which is aided by a memorable cast of characters. However, No Country for Old Men has its flaws, and this makes it less memorable than is probably should have been.