call it, friend-o

Rating: 10/10 (19 November 2014)

I don't give a damn whether the Coens did this flick or somebody else.
For me, all that matters is: does it work? And hell yes, it does.
The story is gripping and grim, thrilling from the very beginning. Brilliantly written dialogs and amazing cinematography. But what this really is about is the triangle Brolin/Bardem/Jones, who interact perfectly without ever(!) encounter face-to-face.
Above all, Bardem delivers the best performance of a serial killer I've seen in donkey's years. His Character stays entirely mystical throughout the movie. In one scene, someone says he resembles an impalpable "ghost", which, wherever it looms, makes your blood run cold.
Otherwise he appeared to be a man who seems utterly on edge, frustrated and latently bored to death of the narrowness and stupidity of human race. He condones them as a cursed malady of mother nature, but he gives a f*** to kill them when they haphazardly cross his route. But he has his ways with the "zombies" when he makes them call the coin. No more said.
Brolin and Jones are absolutely brilliant in portraying their characters too, no offense. But Bardem clearly is the big player.
This bloody tale of three extreme different characters and what drives them to to do what they do makes this one of the best movies I've ever seen.
10 stars