Review of No Country for Old Men (2007) by Alvaro A — 16 Jan 2014
A flawless movie. Impossible to fault. The Coen brothers can make classic movies in their sleep. This one by all accounts shouldn't be as great as it is; the plot setup is familiar, the presentation is minimalist, the violence is pervasive, savage, and gory, and the (non)ending has the potential to infuriate even the film's biggest fans.
It all works. The "familiar" plot setup is played for maximum terror and suspense. The minimalist presentation and slow pace allow for indescribable beauty to seep in; it's a thriller that plays like a tone poem.
The violence? Truly disturbing, not in a fun way, but a way that makes us contemplate the world in which we live and how this kind of stuff can happen. And the infamous ending, one of the most controversial in movie history, is perfect; it reveals that the movie was actually about more than it appeared to be about, and on closer inspection, leaves the film feeling quietly haunting rather than viscerally rousing.
Javier Bardem is shit-your-pants scary, Brolin is a badass, and Jones is his usual witty, likable self. I started my review with this and it's really all I can think to say... No Country for Old Men is a perfect movie.
This review of No Country for Old Men (2007) was written by Alvaro A on 16 Jan 2014.
No Country for Old Men has generally received very positive reviews.
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