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Amazon.co.uk Review
The Coen brothers make their finest thriller since Fargo with a restrained adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's novel. Not that there aren't moments of intense violence, but No Country for Old Men is their quietest, most existential film yet. In this modern-day Western, Llewelyn Moss (Josh Brolin) is a Vietnam veteran who needs a break. One morning while hunting antelope, he spies several trucks surrounded by dead bodies (both human and canine). In examining the site, he finds a case filled with $2 million. Moss takes it with him, tells his wife (Kelly Macdonald) he's going away for awhile, and hits the road until he can determine his next move. On the way from El Paso to Mexico, he discovers he's being followed by ex-special ops agent Chigurh (an eerily calm Javier Bardem). Chigurh's weapon of choice is a cattle gun, and he uses it on everyone who gets in his way--or loses a coin toss (as far as he's concerned, bad luck is grounds for death). Just as Sheriff Bell (Tommy Lee Jones), a World War II veteran, is on Moss's trail, Chigurh's former colleague, Wells (Woody Harrelson), is on his. For most of the movie, Moss remains one step ahead of his nemesis. Both men are clever and resourceful--except Moss has a conscious, Chigurh does not (he is, as McCarthy puts it, "a prophet of destruction"). At times, the film plays like an old horror movie, with Chigurh as its lumbering Frankenstein monster. Like the taciturn terminator, No Country for Old Men doesn't move quickly, but the tension never dissipates. This minimalist masterwork represents Joel and Ethan Coen and their entire cast, particularly Brolin and Jones, at the peak of their powers. --Kathleen C. Fennessy
Amazon.co.uk
No Country for Old Men is Joel and Ethan Coen’s most gripping and accomplished film to date. DVD special features include a look at the Coen Brothers’ film-making process, showing how they assembled and shot one of the most compelling thrillers of the year, as well as shedding new light on the complex characters and celebrated creators of the film. Bonus features on this disc:
- The Making of No Country for Old Men
- Working with the Coens
- Diary of a Country Sheriff
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
82 of 94 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I think (though I don't want to speak for anybody else) that the main reason some people don't like this movie is because it defies traditional moral and movie logic - there really is no moral compass here. What happens to every character is almost totally random, good deeds often results in terrible consequences and and bad deeds can go ahead unhindered - in this sense it is much truer to life, but it makes disturbing cinema where we are so conditioned to see heroes be pushed to their limits but ultimately triumph and evil doers be punished by those who suffered most at their hands. Themes of chance and determination/fate and the crossing over of unavoidable lines of force or action are the themes of this film it seems - made most vivid in the coin toss scene with the shop assistant.
The abrupt ending threw me for a loop the first time as well - annoyed me and frustrated me.... but hell it also made me think about what I'd seen and that's something not many movies do - sending you off with a friendly cinematic, cathartic pat on the back. And the more I thought about it the more it seemed right, to tie everything up neatly at the end would undermine the very idea of movie itself.
Be prepared to think about it a bit.
The abrupt ending threw me for a loop the first time as well - annoyed me and frustrated me.... but hell it also made me think about what I'd seen and that's something not many movies do - sending you off with a friendly cinematic, cathartic pat on the back. And the more I thought about it the more it seemed right, to tie everything up neatly at the end would undermine the very idea of movie itself.
Be prepared to think about it a bit.
55 of 68 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This Oscar winning film is based on an unusual 2005 novel by American author Cormac McCarthy and is very faithful to the book. Beautifully brought to life with stunning cinematography, inventive direction, some great set pieces and, for the most part, realistic acting. I say for the most part because the main villain, played by Javier Bardem (who also won an Oscar) is like a malevolent phantom; a creature of pure evil, more like the Devil than a person. His nightmarish performance is the best part of the movie - every time he is on screen he chills and fascinates in equal measure.
The film is a modern day Western, set in 1980 on the US / Mexico border with a plot so simple it's not worth mentioning. The action is viewed from the perspectives of the three main characters; the psycho Bardem, a world-weary (and philosophising) Sheriff played by Tommy Lee Jones, and a man who gets himself into a heap of trouble, played by Josh Brolin. Although told at a slow pace, the first 2 thirds are very compelling, mostly due to the well-worked set-pieces and the ever-menacing presence of Bardem. The movie does however become ever more strange with a somewhat modernist attention to detail on small things, while the big events get glossed over. By the final third, it has become so interiorised that the action is threatening to cease at any moment. And in fact that's what it does. The film ends when you least expect it to. This has infuriated and baffled many, but, in restrospect, I feel it finishes at just the right time. It's in keeping with the real themes of the movie, which are not spelled out, (and it wouldn't be right for me to spell them out either).
If I had to compare this film to other Coen Bros films; the first two thirds are like Blood Simple and Fargo whereas the final third is more like Barton Fink (i.e a bad dream!). Not everybody's cup of tea, for sure, but like I said, I loved it.
The film is a modern day Western, set in 1980 on the US / Mexico border with a plot so simple it's not worth mentioning. The action is viewed from the perspectives of the three main characters; the psycho Bardem, a world-weary (and philosophising) Sheriff played by Tommy Lee Jones, and a man who gets himself into a heap of trouble, played by Josh Brolin. Although told at a slow pace, the first 2 thirds are very compelling, mostly due to the well-worked set-pieces and the ever-menacing presence of Bardem. The movie does however become ever more strange with a somewhat modernist attention to detail on small things, while the big events get glossed over. By the final third, it has become so interiorised that the action is threatening to cease at any moment. And in fact that's what it does. The film ends when you least expect it to. This has infuriated and baffled many, but, in restrospect, I feel it finishes at just the right time. It's in keeping with the real themes of the movie, which are not spelled out, (and it wouldn't be right for me to spell them out either).
If I had to compare this film to other Coen Bros films; the first two thirds are like Blood Simple and Fargo whereas the final third is more like Barton Fink (i.e a bad dream!). Not everybody's cup of tea, for sure, but like I said, I loved it.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Blu-ray
The Coen brothers' No Country For Old Men is good as a cinematic and visual experience with a simplistic story line. For the most part the movie draws you into the characters. If you're into action/shooter movies then you get some of that in this.
However, the ending is a big let down.
After doing so well with the rest of the story line and script, the ending feels as if a dog came along and ate what should have been the ending.
There's no sense of resolution, everything is just up in the air, making the previous hour and forty five minutes seem like a moot point. A shame really because this is quite a good movie and has won many awards... when you watch it just don't expect anything particular.
However, the ending is a big let down.
After doing so well with the rest of the story line and script, the ending feels as if a dog came along and ate what should have been the ending.
There's no sense of resolution, everything is just up in the air, making the previous hour and forty five minutes seem like a moot point. A shame really because this is quite a good movie and has won many awards... when you watch it just don't expect anything particular.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Different
An interesting story. Not quite what I was expecting from the reviews I had read. But still entertaining and diverting, taking up a couple of hours on a rainy afternoon.
Published 26 days ago by CP
No Country For Old Men
A chilling film, beautifully cast, acted and directed, with superb photography, but let down badly by a totally unsatisfactory and unfulfilling ending.
Published 2 months ago by popcorn pete
Absolutely amazing film top class
What a film, I love films and this is one of those films that keeps you guessing ,it creates dread and menace in spade loads and the acting , casting and filming is brilliant . Read more
Published 4 months ago by A. Woodhouse
fantastic but not as good as the book..also i'm confused ??
I have been a fan of the Coen bros for years and think this is one of their best but having said that Cormac Mc Carthys book is superb so it's hard to imagine it going too wrong. Read more
Published 5 months ago by N. Armstrong
It makes you think
I am late to this film and I had no idea what it was about. I imagined it might be a bit Jack Lemony or Last of the Summer Wine, going by the title, but imagine my surprise etc... Read more
Published 8 months ago by balvenie
No Country For Old Men
The Coen brothers dont do conventional. Although they didnt write the story this film has all their hallmarks and they certainly have put their stamp on the book (Which i havent... Read more
Published 9 months ago by Jim Jim
Great film but...
I think this is a brilliant film apart from the ending. It is too abrupt. It wrongfoots and disorientates the audience. The focus and the perspective shifts in ways I don't like. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Mr. D. Fraser
No more thanks.
I should be amused at all those writing here as though this films deep and hidden message, not only represents a esoteric formulae for all of violent American ills, and also an... Read more
Published 9 months ago by P. G. Croft
love it or hate it !
i admit i do not watch the hyped films i watched this film by accident one night and within the first 20 minutes i was hooked the physchopath just draws you into it !! Read more
Published 9 months ago by J. Powell
re no country for old men
i have already submitted a review reguarding this film, as i said great film but film is freezing in parts this is only the second time i have had trouble i know it only cost 3 97... Read more
Published 10 months ago by stephen bowness
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