A triumph for all involved

Rating: 10/10 (26 November 2014)

The best picture Oscar doesn't actually mean as much as it should. The films which win that award are usually pretentious, overlong, aren't actually the year's finest film and lack true punch. No Country For Old Men, which won the award in 2007, proves that academy voters aren't a load of pretentious film snobs and it's a pretty brave choice for the award. It's also the right choice. This exploration of evil, law, Religion, fate and morals wrapped up in a nail biting cat and mouse thriller is a masterpiece and one of the decade's best movies. Some will dislike it due to its blunt refusal to stick to conventions. It has something on an anti-climax. The Josh Brolin protagonist never actually meets Javier Bardem's hit man and dies off screen. Bardem gets away and the film ends with Tommy Lee Jones talking about a dream. Joel and Ethan Coen were defying convention in a very audacious manner so this doesn't undo all the brilliance that came beforehand. NCFOM will be a frustrating experience for some, but most will probably like it. It may require a couple of viewings to understand.
Apparently the screenplay is very faithful to the novel and much of it was copied, but it's still a fine screenplay. Many of its themes aren't obvious without close analysis but the emotional impact and haunting nature of the film is undeniable. The direction is something else, and this might be one of the tensest and most visually stunning thrillers ever made. The Coen brothers successfully create some of the best motel scenes since Psycho and make a bowl cut absolutely terrifying. The acting is great all around, but Javier Bardem is terrifying and hypnotic as the villain. The film has a sense of humanity and depth, it looks amazing and it's thrilling and gripping from start to finish. It's an incredible movie and essential viewing for Cormac McCarthy fans. It may lack a hugely satisfying conclusion, but sticking to conventions all the time can be incredibly boring. Definitely one to watch. Just don't expect to look at a motel, a bowl cut, a coin flip or a captive bolt pistol the same way again.
10/10