No Country For Old Men

The Coen brothers used to be the darling of the critics producing a string of films of remarkably consistent quality from Blood Simple through to The Man Who Wasn't There via the likes of Millers Crossing, Fargo, The Big Lebowski and O Brother Where Art Thou. Then things begin to slip with with the mixed reaction to Intolerable Cruelty and totally collapsed with the frankly bad remake of The Ladykillers. Well, they're back and back on form with this adaptation of the Corman McCarthy's novel.

The plot follows hunter Llewellyn Moss (Josh Brolin) who stumbles upon a suitcase full of money at a drugs deal gone bad in the Texas desert. He is pursued by fatalistic psychopath Anton Chigurh (Javier Baardem) who is in turn pursued by world weary sheriff Ed Tom Bell (Tommy Lee Jones). Its part modern Western, part noir, part chase/road movie and, as it turns out, a perfect fit for the Coens.

It's shot with both an eye for detail and an eye for the grand picture which almost makes a character out of the starkly beautiful barren Texas landscape. It both is and isn't very violent - it actually leaves most to the imagination with almost all the worst scenes happening off screen, but it does display a certain gory-ness - delighting in the intricate details of wonds being treated, etc... - which might not be to everybody's taste.

The script is as sharp as the Coen's best - infused with a dry Texas humour and witticisms that take on an almost lyrical quality in the mouth of Jones. And the acting is superb - it is much to the credit of Brolin and Kelly MacDonald as his wife that they are able to live with their co-stars, because Baardem and Jones produce two of the most memorable characters of recent years. Baardem is a versatile actor who can shift roles and genres at ease with usually consistent results (Goya's Ghost being the exception that proves the rule). Here he gives us a cold blooded killer with the genuine chill factor of a Hannibal Lecter before all the naff sequels. In fact, the only thing more frightening than the man is his haircut. His oscar nomination is well-deserved.

You suspect that Jones would also have been nominated had the academy not decided to go with his turn in In the Valley of Elah instead. It is the perfect match of actor and part in a beautifully understated performance that conveys the sense of a man increasingly feeling out of step with the world around him.

Overall - 4.5/5 It might be a bit gory for some tastes, but if not is well worth checking out for some superb performances, great script and a compelling whole. The brothers Coen are back on their game!