Strange, beautiful, gripping, funny, violent, melancholic and Lynchian are just some of the words that describe this latest effort from Joel and Ethan Coen.Buoyed by an eclectic cast (Josh Brolin, Tommy Lee Jones, Javier Bardem, Kelly Macdonald and Woody Harrelson to name a few) who all excel, littered with great dialogue and yet more stunning cinematography from Roger Deakins, this was the best surprise film at the London Film Festival since School of Rock.
Brolin stumbles upon the remains of a drug deal gone wrong in the Texan desert (a “goat fuck” as Jones’s sheriff describes it) – he leaves the drugs and takes the money, and so makes himself and everyone he comes into contact with marked men.
Tailed by the sheriff and Bardem’s psychopathic ‘cleaner’ (who has an arsenal that will make Guns & Ammo readers weep), who in turn is being tailed by Harrelson’s rival ‘cleaner’, Brolin is put under increasing pressure – and firepower – but refuses to break.
The film is at its best when Bardem is on screen, dealing death (or not, depending on his whim) – rarely has a screen killer been this threatening.
The numerous shoot-outs are tense, and had the audience sinking lower and lower into their seats in a desperate bid to dodge the bullets.
This being the Coens, a happy ending is unlikely. This is not only their best work for many years, but also quite possibly their best yet.
Score: 8.5/10
For more info, go to:
No Country For Old Men
IMDb
2 comments:
Loved this film, if loved is the right word - unbelievably atmospheric, at points the tension was almost unbearable. Javier Bardem was spine chillingly brilliant.
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