Member review

No Country for Old Men is a tense and gripping modern western thriller. Based on the novel by Cormac McCarthy, this unique film keeps the audience on their feet with dramatic turns, sudden shocks and a constant looming dread. The Coen Brothers come back with a bang with this interesting and meaningful look on law and society through this gothic tale of questionable morals with various opposing characters. The film follows welder and Vietnam veteran Llewelyn Moss, who comes across a drug deal gone wrong whilst out hunting. After running with the $2 million left behind, he unleashes the unforgiving hitman Anton Chigurh, chasing down his every move, leaving a bloody trail behind him. Following this trail is local sheriff Ed Tom Bell, close behind the path of destruction but in the end, he wasn't close enough, and is left reflecting on the state of his country. The absence of soundtrack/score allows us as the audience to reflect and interpret on what we are seeing with less input from the Coens (not that they are completely absent). This creates higher levels of immersion, allowing us to enter the story and wonder what we would do and question the characters’ actions and choices, such as when Llewelyn first finds the money or whenever Chigurh flips the coin. The characters are consistently interesting to observe throughout the story, judging their actions in moments of tension-filled danger, even if they are not always likeable. Whilst I may have a personal distaste for the enigmatic ending, leaving us with no clear closure to the fates of any of our main characters (except the Sheriff), I can certainly appreciate the powerful imprint it leaves for the audience when the credits roll, especially after Bell’s conversation about the state of society and his dream. The acting only supports this, especially with Javier Bardem’s ease through the sinister Chigurh and Tommy Lee Jones’ concerned collection in Ed Tom Bell. In the end, No Country for Old Men is an interesting look at the world through a gripping modern western. It may feel long or the characters may get annoying at times but its ability to make you critically think and reflect are respectable and make this film something worthy of dedicating time to.