Pretentious claptrap

Rating: 1/10 (26 October 2010)

It takes a special talent to turn what should be a thrilling chase movie into something quite as dire as this offering by the Coen Brothers. The pace is as leaden and lifeless as Andy Warhol's film of the Empire State Building and the rambling story line leaves one with a sense of bafflement about what the directors were trying to achieve. When the psychopathic Chigurh pursues Llewellen Moss leaving a trail of murder and bodies one would think this would spark a major manhunt alert. But does this happen in the Coen's version of Hicksville USA? Hell no! The most that Tommy Lee Jones' sheriff can muster is a brief visit to a crime scene before settling down to read the paper over coffee and doughnuts in the local diner. What, no search helicopters? No roadblocks manned by State Troopers? The local police can not even manage a warning put out over the local radio and TV stations. The basic story line of this film is remarkably similar to Sam Raimi's 1999 film "A Simple Plan." But whereas that had a tight and believable script with many twists and turns this only has what Billy Connolly would call "The Big Mamba" - Miles and Miles of Bless All. No Country for Old Men? More like No Country For any self respecting cinema goer.