JohnDoe
Bryn
BrentonNo Country for Old Men (2007) - Trailer Included
December 17th 2007 00:01
Dusty Noir Enlightenment
Coming Soon: To be released on January 24th 2008
Special thanks to the wonderful people at Paramount Pictures for the invite to this advanced screening.
No Country for Old Men Poster - Released january 24 2008
Based on Novel by: Cormack McCarthy
Starring: Javier Bardem, Tommy Lee Jones, Josh Brolin, Kelly MacDonald, Garret Dillahunt, Woody Harrelson, Barry Corbin
The cinematically gifted storytellers known as the Coen Brothers return to their former glory with a lone-star meditation on declining cultural morality. Based on the original novel of the same name by Cormac McCarthy, No Country for Old Men is a deceptive and divinely engineered daylight Noir set against the backdrop of a modern day western.
It’s the story of 2 million dollars in a stolen briefcase from a drug deal gone bad. The welder on a hunting expedition (Josh Brolin) who finds it, the psychopathic hit-man (Javier Bardem) who ruthlessly tracks him and the seasoned Texas Sheriff Tommy Lee Jones who struggles to comprehend the maelstrom of violence and greed that represent contemporary times.
The film opens with the arrested maniac Anton Chigurh being put in the back of a police car on the barren country road under enigmatic but inferred gruesome circumstances. Cut to the station and in the foreground the arresting officer tells his tale on the phone. In the background the brutal killer frees his cuffed hands. In the blurring of a lens exploding with the chain linked strangulation of the deputy.
This begins a daisy chain of events that link 3 central characters. Llewelyn Moss flees with the cash. Anton is on a bloody rampage of violence. Sheriff Ed Tom Bell tries to make sense of it all.
Javier unleashes the rage
John Doe Says:
Inventively scripted, beautifully shot with authentic characters, No Country for Old Men pulls you into its lariat spinning yarns with cunning wit. The action scenes are swift and gruesomely honest, calculatedly abrupt.
Writer/Directors Joel and Ethan Coen match the Miller’s Crossing, Man Who Wasn’t There and Blood Simple perfection here. Letting us soak in the daunting doom and tumbleweed dust bowl atmosphere emanating from each panel.
The disciplined pace allows the audience to contemplate the loaded dialogue that twangs with regional dialect. The modulated sound editing punctuates moments and manipulates the meaning of others.
Opulent in character, the script surprises and engages as it should. Carefully hiding the contemplative sub text within the husk of a slow burn thriller, it is the understanding of character and astonishing choices to omit key plot points that satisfies.
Every line and thespian gesture seems to carry metaphorical baggage to be chewed over like good tobbacy later. The performances are appropriately dense in silent strength and it’s refreshing that all three pivotal parts are penned with survivalist wisdom. These are no dummies, self aware and more importantly attuned to the repercussions of their actions. Be it murder, theft or investigation.
The malevolent Javier Bardem (Perdita Durango, Live Flesh, Sea Inside) doesn’t need words to frighten with this inherently violent being. Unstoppable, a whirl wind of carnage, the eyes so cold and calculating you can see his detached submission to barbaric tendencies. Graced with a spiritual body language the part of Anton is an instant nominee for any villainous hall of fame. The androgynous hair cut adding to the discomfort.
The ever reliable Tommy Lee Jones’ (Natural Born Killers, Heaven and Earth, Executioners Song, Three Burials) usual persona is given added dimension with the whimsical and prophetic lines of the role. Reminiscent of his own superb turn in Three Burials.
Ex Goonies member Josh Brolin (Flirting with Disaster, Dead Girl) breaths a sympathetic life into his man of few words and we understand his motives every step of the way. His audition tape for the part was shot by Robert Rodriguez and Directed by Quentin Tarantino.
Sexy Scottish imp Kelly MacDonald (Trainspotting) does a convincing Texan accent and as the wife of in over his head Llewelyn there is an innocent charm.
Totally worthy of being mentioned alongside the best of the Coen Brothers filmography, John Doe fell in love with this films look and tone almost instantly. The skilful storytelling and transcendental cinematography took JD to another geocentric universe and successfully dazzled and enriched.
Watch the trailer
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Comment by Cibbuano
20/20 Filmsight
Science News
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
I'm going to watch it several more times, as I bet you will, too. And I'm going to track down that book.
Watching a good Coens' movie is humbling... such precise perfection in every stage of the filmmaking process.
Comment by Dustin
I just had the opportunity to interview Roger Deakins, the coen bros cinematographer, it was pretty interesting, he's an interesting man. It should be posted on Monday, if you want to see it go to here, InDigest Magazine
Comment by Spennies
Record Reviews
Bet Shrink
The Dissident
Film Reviewer
Let me know if anyone is interested and I will track it down and post the link on my site.
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
I feel the same way, I wish I didn't know what happened just so i could watch it again. I think the second viewing will give the film a totally new life though.
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
What a pity I couldn't make it to the screening but I will definitely it when it comes out.
Tracy
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Interviewing Roger Deakins is a major score, I'm jealous . I haven't read the article yet, but rest assured I will..
Great to see you
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
I would love to play the coin toss game, can you put that link up?
Totally agree the cinematography was sublime and had a retro atmosphere that was reminiscent of Peckinpah's Bring Me The head of Alfredo Garcia.
Thanks for the visit, hope to see you again
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Cib and I were keeping an eye out for you even though we don't know what you look like. We walked up to complete strangers and asked "Are you Tracy?
Appreciate the kind words
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
It will happen though...but that sounds like a threat, rather than a promise which is my intention.
Byee
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Comment by KylieW
Celebrity Obsession
Though I would have gone to see it even if it was a load of shite......I love Josh Brolin. And yet he's so rarely used. Can people not see
he's hothis brilliance?Comment by Spennies
Record Reviews
Bet Shrink
The Dissident
Film Reviewer
I will be posting a review of the new movie Awake shortly, so feel free to drop by and good post on this movie.
Comment by Anonymous
Thanks so much for this review. Between you and Cibby and Bryn. I gotta see it!
Mis
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
It was something like that, maybe we will meet for Cloverfield next week?
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Josh has never been cooler or more effective in a film....make sure you come back and tell us what you think once you've seen it.
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
I just went over and played the game through your site.....good fun.
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
Yes, I will be at Cloverfield next week..
Tracy
Comment by D. Armenta
The Florida Keys and Everglades
The Black Sheep Chronicles
What constitutes bad manners?
The male mystique
Debate Fan
My god, Javier Bardem looks like he could join the ranks of Truly Scary Cinema Killers...
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
I'm sure you will dig it, but I hope expectations aren't so high they can't be reached
Javier is a great combination of menacing unpredictability.
Fantastic to see you, hope all is well in 2008.
Comment by D. Armenta
The Florida Keys and Everglades
The Black Sheep Chronicles
What constitutes bad manners?
The male mystique
Debate Fan
Hope the same for you and your trekkieluv...