Good film, no more, no less.

Rating: 8/10 (24 November 2007)

It is good to read the passion in the reviews on IMD when it comes to a Coen brother's film. People either really love it and can't wait to explain what a great piece of quality cinema it was, or people really hate it and can't understand how anyone could like this violent distortion of life. Unfortunately, I can not be that passionate about this film. The movie was entertaining and the Coen brothers know how to get the best out of their actors. The best performances were turned out by Tommy Lee Jones as a laid back Texas sheriff, a part he has down pat by now. Josh Brolin as a south Texas ex-Vietnam Vet whose actions put this whole story in play. Kelly Macdonald who is surprisingly good as his emotion filled, but somewhat naive wife. And the incredible performance of Javier Bardem as the very scary psychopathic hit man. Unlike Fargo, this Southwest Texas case study was not wholly believable. Maybe the brothers needed to spend some more time there. I don't know, but it seemed to me like law enforcement was a little like the keystone cops, Mexicans road around in trucks with automatic weapons always at the right place at the right time and people were getting killed everywhere and no one did anything. Well I have been there and that is just not the case. Maybe the Coen brothers were using all this as symbolism, but it was just a little too much for me to say this was a great film.