Yeah, I get the message, but not the best film of the year

Rating: 7/10 (25 February 2008)

I was very hesitant about this film at first. I didn't know what to expect. I saw that it was nominated for 8 Oscars, but when I looked at the plot outline, it seemed kind of, well not important enough for the Oscars. I will give the filmmakers credit for fooling me the whole time. Because for the first hour and a half, I thought I was watching The Hills Have Eyes 3, almost. That may be overdoing it, for at least for the very beginning it looked to be a horror movie, which never get nominated for Oscars.
So, where do I begin. I don't know who the Coen brothers are... no thats not a good start. How about, the film jumps right into the action, it start 18 minutes into it, like most movies do, it starts right away. A little Narration from Tommy Lee Jones, and the good acting is noticeable. The first 3 quarters of film, is a big, complicated chase seen, and you don't know where the movies is going for that whole time. Which is a reason why I like it, a little. The last half hour seems to be jotted in strictly to pick up some Oscar nominations, because otherwise is was a simplistic detective mystery movie, for real. The last quarter of the film begins with (SPOILER) the character, who I thought was the main one being shot. I told you there was a spoiler, twice. So I say, "Wow, there's a half hour left, thats a long exposition" or whatever is in that story chart at the end with the climax, inciting incident, etc. The first time you see the body lying there, you... you're quite shocked really.
His wife is called down, yep hes dead alright. But it wasn't the bad guy. So I know that we have to find out what happens to him.
NOW, yes NOW, with 10 minutes left, we figure out the reason for the plot, or the message. That the country is changing, its all about money, and drugs, and violence, so yeah thats it.