One of the best of the year.

Rating: Null/10 (8 November 2007)

A time when drug deals come with multiple murders and amoral operatives is no time for aging West Texas sheriff, Ed Tom Bell (Tommy Lee Jones) to stay on the job, especially since Anton Chigurh (Javier Bardem) is determined to retrieve the dollars from amateur but crafty Llewelyn Moss (Josh Brolin).
No Country for Old Men, adapted from Cormac McCarthy's 2005 novel by the Coen brothers, is a classic explanation of a title, where the plot is perfectly in synch with the titular expectations. In fact, this film is one of the best modern westerns ever and even at this late time of the year, closing in on Oscar, one of the best of the year.
Because the Coens are notorious for ingeniously wringing out humor in dark films (Think the washed out Fargo, the pregnant cop, the Minnesota accents), no one will be disappointed at the laughs emerging from the clipped, minimalist speech of Texans who wouldn't acknowledge Mr. Death if he were handing them a calling card. For example, when Carson Wells (Woody Harrelson) is asked how dangerous Anton is, he replies, "Compared to what? The bubonic plague?"
The Coens catch the slow, indifferent drawls and irritation at strangers who don't get it. But in most cases, Anton Chigurh is in no mood to indulge these rubes and disposes of them as one might shoo flies from a hot border cafe. (Sometimes he engages his victims in a simple existential conversation concerning fate and personal responsibility.)
The pace is slow enough for Jones to do his best acting ever, with Brolin a stunning Nick Nolte imitation. But the slow, assured menace of Bardem dominates No Country, like the arid, deathly plains of New Mexico cinematographer Roger Deakins nails perfectly as metaphor. Add this modern Western to this year's excellent westerns 3:10 to Yuma and Assassination of Jesse James, and you have as satisfactory a genre year as ever since Unforgiven.
Much will be made of the Hitchcockean pacing and inscrutable ending. Granted, but these facets are just a signal that the Coens are back borrowing and puzzling as never before with a film that stands proudly beside Arizona and Fargo.