The crown jewel of film noir

Rating: 10/10 (1 July 2008)

The pace, tone, imagery and character of this film are nothing shy of perfect. Though I had a pair of objections over scenes that must have either been left on the cutting room floor or abbreviated during the screen writing process, I had to think that this was nearly the best film of its genre I had ever seen. I saw that coming, having read the novel and been a life-long fan of Coen Bro.s films, but I didn't exactly expect the spot-on performance turned in by Josh Brolin as Llewelyn Moss (a role that was turned down by the late Heath Ledger, and perhaps it was providence that landed him the Joker role upon which he was too busy working). Without that performance this film would not have been the beautifully-worked masterpiece it is.
The story's central theme, given away by its title, was also developed very well. The sense that Ed Tom Bell is at once a brilliant officer of law-enforcement and an impotent has-been comes through without being damaged by over-acting or over-thinking of the script. And enough has been said about Javier Bardem that there's no need for further comment.
In short, No Country is the pinnacle achievement of this cinematic style.