Good movie, good performances, unsatisfying ending

Rating: 7/10 (27 November 2007)

The basic plot is familiar - man comes upon a pile of cash which, no surprise, belongs to emotionally unstable drug dealers who are more than a little depressed about its disappearance. The drug dealer(s) find out who has the money and the chase is on.
Great performances, especially by Bardem, who is terrific and truly scary as the psychopathic drug dealer and killer, lift this film several notches above the ordinary effort in this genre. Bardem's performance is the best understated expression of pure evil since Dustin Hoffman received dental care from Lawrence Olivier in Marathon Man.
Tommy Lee Jones turns in another solid performance as the competent but world weary sheriff, who knows what's coming but is unable to stop it.
There is significant graphic violence. The violence is necessary to the plot and character development, so cannot be labeled gratuitous, but be warned it occurs early and often.
Unfortunately, the movie is hurt by a totally unsatisfying ending.