At last, a movie where people behave like people really behave!

Rating: 8/10 (12 April 2014)

What does one say about "No Country For Old Men" that hasn't already been said except, perhaps, that, in what seems most unusual for movies, the characters behave as you would expect them to behave and not in some totally ridiculous way? Well, almost!
For example, when Llewelyn Moss (Josh Brolin) happens upon a drug deal gone wrong whilst out hunting in the desert and finds the bag of money - over 2 million bucks - meant to pay for the drugs, I was saying to myself, "Grab it and get the hell out of there." and that's just what he did - EXCEPT that, after going home to his wife, Carla (beautifully portrayed by Scottish actress, Kelly Macdonald), he decides to take water to the one member of the drug gang who wasn't quite dead when he was there earlier (even though there was about a 99% chance he wouldn't still be alive when he got back). But then I suppose he had to do that, firstly to show that he had a heart and also so that the film actually had a plot!
Then later, when Llewelyn knows that Chigurh (Javier Bardem), the apparently emotionless, cold-blooded thug hired by the drug boss to recover his money, is coming to his hotel room, rather than rush out, guns blazing, to meet him, he does exactly what I'm sure every viewer would do in the same circumstance and turns off the light and waits, gun at the ready, for Chigurh to open the door - EXCEPT that, instead of waiting 'til he can see him, shoots through the still-closed door and, of course, only wings him. But then I suppose it had to be that way so that the film didn't end somewhat lamely right there.
Actually, Chigurh, is a much more believable evil villain that Freddy Kreuger (Nightmare on Elm Street) or Jason Voorhees (Friday the 13th) because, whilst he seems almost indestructible - sewing himself up where he's been shot and making a makeshift sling and walking away with his bone poking out of his arm - it isn't taken to a totally ridiculous level as in so many thriller suspense movies. Bardem's work was well- deserving of his Oscar because he was very convincing as having absolutely no respect for human life even though he tried to give the impression that he did by tossing coins for his victims to decide whether they would die or not - even though he killed them anyway!
One thing I learned from NCFOM was that, if ever I find a bag full of money, I'll check it thoroughly for homing devices before taking it anywhere recognisable. I should be so lucky!
The film stops where Cormack McCarthy's book doesn't and so I'm surprised that there hasn't been a sequel movie where we find out what Chigurh does after seemingly walking away leaving just about everyone (including his own associates - giving the impression that he just wants the money all to himself) except Sheriff Bell (Tommy Lee Jones) dead. Maybe there will be one eventually. I kinda hope so because, until we see his demise, I'll be wondering where he is!
You'll need to read the book to find out - or, of course wait for the sequel.