2008 Woodie Awards
'Old Men' offers a brilliant end to film season
By Chris Bashore
Issue date: 12/3/07 Section: Entertainment
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Finally, the season for high-quality films has begun. That cold, crisp autumn air compels moviegoers to the theaters for films that stand out amongst the traditional fare. Granted, this summer had some high marks, but ultimately, nothing truly stood out amongst the herd. "Michael Clayton," "Gone, Baby, Gone" and "American Gangster" have helped to save this year from mediocrity. It is this season when the skills of the actors, directors and writers of Hollywood truly shine.
Enter "No Country for Old Men," the newest film brought to us by the Coen brothers. Based on the 2005 book of the same name by Cormac McCarthy, the film is a masterpiece, plain and simple, and is arguably the best film of the year.
While there has been some competition for that title, primarily in the form of the aforementioned films, it is "No Country for Old Men" that works the best. From the opening frame to the closing minutes, the film presents the audience with a philosophical journey that begs the question "what compels people to take the actions that they choose?" Starring Tommy Lee Jones, Josh Brolin, Javier Bardem and Woody Harrelson, this film combines deep characters with sharp dialogue and brilliant direction. Already acclaimed filmmakers, the Coen brothers top anything they have done in the past with this truly remarkable film that is sure to garner serious attention come awards time.
"No Country for Old Men" opens with a beautiful shot of a desolate, wide-open area in West Texas. It is presented like a portrait on a canvas. The local sheriff, Ed Tom Bell (Jones), tells a story of the changing times, how in the past, local law enforcement officials never wore guns; now, today, violence is rampant, requiring the use of such weapons.
Enter Llewelyn Moss (Brolin), a local man out hunting antelope, who stumbles on a drug deal gone wrong. He finds a cache of heroin, several corpses and two million dollars. Moss leaves with the satchel of money in hand, but returns later, only to be ambushed by the people who are after the money. The drug dealers hire Anton Chigurh (Bardem), a stone-faced killer who quickly executes the men who hire him and begins his own search for the satchel of cash. Using a tracking device hidden in the money, Chigurh follows Moss from town to town and hotel to hotel, where only one will come out alive.
Enter "No Country for Old Men," the newest film brought to us by the Coen brothers. Based on the 2005 book of the same name by Cormac McCarthy, the film is a masterpiece, plain and simple, and is arguably the best film of the year.
While there has been some competition for that title, primarily in the form of the aforementioned films, it is "No Country for Old Men" that works the best. From the opening frame to the closing minutes, the film presents the audience with a philosophical journey that begs the question "what compels people to take the actions that they choose?" Starring Tommy Lee Jones, Josh Brolin, Javier Bardem and Woody Harrelson, this film combines deep characters with sharp dialogue and brilliant direction. Already acclaimed filmmakers, the Coen brothers top anything they have done in the past with this truly remarkable film that is sure to garner serious attention come awards time.
"No Country for Old Men" opens with a beautiful shot of a desolate, wide-open area in West Texas. It is presented like a portrait on a canvas. The local sheriff, Ed Tom Bell (Jones), tells a story of the changing times, how in the past, local law enforcement officials never wore guns; now, today, violence is rampant, requiring the use of such weapons.
Enter Llewelyn Moss (Brolin), a local man out hunting antelope, who stumbles on a drug deal gone wrong. He finds a cache of heroin, several corpses and two million dollars. Moss leaves with the satchel of money in hand, but returns later, only to be ambushed by the people who are after the money. The drug dealers hire Anton Chigurh (Bardem), a stone-faced killer who quickly executes the men who hire him and begins his own search for the satchel of cash. Using a tracking device hidden in the money, Chigurh follows Moss from town to town and hotel to hotel, where only one will come out alive.
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Lonnie
posted 12/04/07 @ 11:24 PM EST
This is one of the greatest films I have ever seen. The cinematography was inpecable. The mood, and setting fit so well, this is indeed the work of Genius. (Continued…)
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