A dark and treacherous tale out West.

Rating: 10/10 (4 March 2017)

The Coen Brothers reach their zenith with No Country for Old Men. Their career has long been laden with fame, Oscars, and great filmmaking, but nothing prepares one for this cinema experience. It is as dark as they come. It's gritty, violent, cerebral, and strange. It is terrifying. It is wonderful.
Money, once again, is the motivation here. Dirty money. Drug money. The protagonist stumbles across something he should never have in the first place, and the resulting chase that ensues pits him against a psychotic and dangerous killer. He must use every ounce of his wits and perseverance to escape the trap being set for him, for this is no ordinary villain. The rules have changed.
Based on a novel by Cormac McCarthy, the Coen's film satisfies the thirst for blood their audience has grown accustomed to. To throw you off, there are liberties taken with the pacing, soundtrack (there is none, really), and other film conventions that usually set a scene. Instead, you are at the mercy of a relentless madman who creates the story with him.
Coen fans will love this, cinephiles will appreciate it, and your average film-goer will delight at the action provided by this masterpiece. It is for the ages. One of my favorites.