The Right Country for this Old Man

Rating: 10/10 (27 January 2008)

This is a terrific movie, which has almost everything going for it: great performances, mesmerizing characters, suspense, gore, humor, philosophy, great cinematics. Josh Brolin is perfect as everyman given opportunity to rise above his lot in life, Javier Barden is the best conscienceless assassin seen in years, Tommy Lee Jones as the aging sheriff tired of his job and humanity in general, and even Woody Harrelson as a cock-sure tracker given his comeuppance.
The story weaves a web around these characters, who are developed well enough for one to care about them, and, while not overly complex, demands your full attention. We are rooting for Moss to carry off his scheme to keep the money. We want to see Barden get his. We want Jones to do it. In this the Coen brothers do not let us have our way. They opt for an ending more consistent with some other classics that allow us to wonder.
I will take a chance and make a few odd connections that most reviewers here seem to have missed. I think the Coens borrow from some other great movies in putting together this wonderful pic: Clearly, the Peckinpah influence of the Getaway (Steve McQueen and Ali McGraw) is overwhelming. In fact, the hotel in El Paso appears to be the very same one as that used in the Getaway (presided over by Dub Taylor then). And then it's out the window and into a beige pickup on the way to the border, just like the Getaway. The oft hidden bag of money is also a Getaway touch, as are the gun store visit and the fire outside the drugstore.
The Terminator is present in many scenes and themes regarding the relentless assassin. Even the girl's mother contributing to tipping off the baddies about the whereabouts of the hero is right out of T1. See also the murder of the young cop in the station, and the hijacking of several cars, including a police cruiser.
Of course, Scarface contributes the drug premise and one motel room massacre. And there is even a bit of Easy Rider in the windy desert dope scenes. Several nods to Crash: trying to save the injured person in a vehicle, and several well done auto collisions.
With the Coen brother's skill and this cast, it is all woven into a unique and great movie. I accept the ending, but would have preferred another ... no biggie.