Near-masterpiece marred by mediocre ending...

Rating: 9/10 (26 November 2007)

"No Country for Old Men" is nearly a masterpiece IMO, but is marred by several minutes at the very end, where Tommy Lee Jones gives what I call a "speech." The reason I call it that is: (A) I was deep in thought from the previous scene (a certain car accident, where I feel the movie should have ended) and didn't hear a word that was said, and (B) it was probably a blatant Oscar stab that didn't fit too well with the rest of the film. I'm not sure, because I didn't pick up a single word.
Perhaps my opinion of the film will improve on second viewing, but I recall almost panicking that this film was about to be spoiled by a flood of Hollywood nonsense. That says a great deal positive, but to my mind it also speaks of a flaw.
My viewing ended at the penultimate scene, where I genuinely feel the film should have left well enough alone. 9/10.
P.S. ^^^I have since read more reviews, and understand that the film followed the book closely; the above offers my gut reaction, first impression, whatever you want to call it, going in "cold." If you think I'm complaining loudly, I'm not; IMO the film is indeed nearly (or perhaps fully, I'll decide later) a masterpiece. I find it telling that one negative reviewer opined that the film would have made more sense if it were released 30 years ago: The setting of the film is in fact supposed to take place just that long ago. Something about that increases my esteem for the film even more.