A Raw Western Masterpiece...

Rating: 10/10 (4 February 2008)

In a world that becomes increasingly violent and harder to understand, people often get to a point of quitting. At times, the world can seem like a thankless and mindless place; often that is true. No Country for Old Men channels this current feeling.
A simple man comes across a case full of money from a drug deal gone bad and decides to take it. He is pursued not only by his hometown sheriff and a bounty hunter, but also by a serial-killing mad man. The game of cat-and-mouse that follows is one you won't soon forget.
Superbly acted, memorably written, and thrillingly directed, this is one of the best films made in a long time. This is the first movie by the Coen Brothers that I have watched- I'll have to see their other work now. Everything here is done with skill and purpose. The result is a Western thriller that wonders if maybe there is no hope for better times.
I have to talk about the acting again because it is astonishing. Josh Brolin gives a subtle and surprisingly tender performance, and Tommy Lee Jones is wonderful in his perfectly calculated role as a world-weary sheriff. But it is Javier Bardem who steals the show with his terrifying portrayal of pure evil in the form of a cold-blooded killer. This is an actor I just might be frightened to encounter on the street. Mr. Bardem will win the Oscar and deserve it.
In a year of few fantastic films, this one stands out. Do yourself a favor and see it on the big screen while you still can; it's well-worth the ticket price. 9/10 stars!
Jay Addison