The film is outstanding, unfortunately in parts

Rating: 6/10 (3 September 2011)

No Country for Old Men is what I call a film with great potential. The potential of being a masterpiece, potential of reaching same heights of "Fargo" or "Blood Simple". But by the third and final act, the film loses its narrative arc and it resolves into just a good film.
The first, second and third acts of the films are truly gripping - genuinely thrilling. Every muscle on the faces of all the actors moves exactly the way it should, following the directors' vision; the actors' enunciation is 100% perfect, and the dialogs, frequently minimalistic, are flawless. But by the last act, the graph drastically falls, characters don't get their proper send off and the film basically ends without any conclusion.
The film is fueled with damn good performance by Javier Bardem, stunning photography by Roger Deakins and some great sound design which compensated for music score. Bardem is eerie, creepy and down-right chilling as Anton Chirugh, a ruthless psychopathic serial killer. His stone cold expressions are imported straight from hell. Bardem's Chirugh is one of the best on screen villainy I have seen. Josh Brolin is decent enough, Tommy Lee Jones is just there. Bardem outshines each and every cast member and steels the film.
Roger Deakins' (who unfortunately again didn't won Oscar) work is marvelous. The bleak, deserted region of South Texas is wonderfully framed and composed. Deakins played with shadow and light so well in jaw dropping sequence of Motel confrontation, that alone deserved an Oscar.
The film could have been so much more - only if the screenwriters/directors Coen Brothers could've made the ending of the film a little bit more cohesive. The biggest folly made by the directors was the off-screen death of Moss. In the end, the whole film resolved into nothing and you are left disappointed.
7/10