Reinvigoritaed brothers rescue Hollywood, nobody notices

Rating: 7/10 (13 November 2007)

Joel and Ethan Coen return to form after a few less then spectacular "lighter" outings with this lavish, tense, expertly directed cat-and-mouse thriller which transitions, perhaps too awkwardly, into something quite different in the end.
Regardless of a conflicted conclusion (undoubtedly difficult to transition from paperback roots), there are many thoughtfully captured(in no small part aided by Javier Bardem's scene-stealing, warped charisma) action sequences throughout which should elevate No Country above so much faux-visionary b.s. cinephiles desperately search through when compiling scenes to memory; motion that matters.
Of course Hollywood is run in such an ass-backwards manner (so seems the taste of a paying general public majority, in fairness) that we will have one of America's most compelling cinematic experiences in years shown in as few theaters as possible. Any true fan of the craft should unfortunately make the lengthy trip.