The Coens' cold, relentless examination of incomprehensible evil, human fate and morality. Breathtaking.

Rating: 10/10 (20 January 2008)

No Country For Old Men (2007)
Number 2 - 2007
Rated R for strong graphic violence and some language
"What's the most you ever lost in a coin toss?" Anton Chigurh
As the opening shots of the film examined the desolate, empty deserts of Texas over Tommy Lee Jones' restrained narration about how times are changing and the world is becoming increasingly violent, I was hooked. The film met every expectation.
Based on Cormac McCarthy's 2005 novel, this film is about a hunter who stumbles across a drug deal gone sour and finds a bag with two million dollars in it. Llewelyn Moss (Josh Brolin) would have never touched that money if he knew what was coming. Claiming $2,000,000 from a drug scene never proved to be an easy task. Moss and his wife, who live in a trailer park must first escape the hands of the relentless, remorseless, emotionless hired hit-man Anton Chigurh who will do absolutely anything to get the money...
Anton Chigurh is terrifying, haunting; he walks around with a cattlegun killing anyone or anything that gets in his way. The person who is responsible for creating an unforgettable character is Javier Bardem. It would be a travesty if this man doesn't win the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
On the other side we have Academy Award Winner Tommy Lee Jones as Sheriff Ed Tom Bell, a man whose family has been involved with the law for generations; Ed Tom does not like the new times, he thinks the world is too violent, too characterless. From the character and thoughts of Ed Tom you will get a great idea why the film is called 'No Country For Old Men'. Needless to say, Tommy Lee Jones consumes his role with his usual casual, sarcastic undertones that were responsible for his Oscar in 'Fugitive'.
This is a Coen Brothers film. From that I knew this would not be an ordinary film; their previous works, some of which are masterworks give you an idea of their style. The Coens direction is brilliant - we are shown horrors, landscapes, characters, times, thoughts with such focus and efficiency, probably the best directed film this year. And of course the screenplay, which is an excellent one manages to squeeze in some comedy at some unbearably tense moments in the film. The achievements in the film are not to go by without accolades.
No Country For Old Men, is a film about fate, evil and choice. How a world changes but some things really remain the same. As you watch those characters for 2 well worth hours of your life, you will think, question and admire the cinematic mastery that has gone in this film. This is no ordinary achievement, it is quite simply a masterpiece of modern cinema and of the best films of the decade. Unmissable
10/10