Review by Nathan Chandler for The Mungles on Movies

Copyright 2007 Mungleshow Productions. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

  Provoking an Old West sensibility with modern day atrocities, No Country For Old Men showcases a thrilling cat-and-mouse chase across the fields and small towns of southwest Texas. After stumbling across the bloody aftermath of a drug deal gone awry and two million dollars in cash, blue-collared Llewelyn Moss (Josh Brolin) tries to protect his new fortune and his family from the sadistic and unpredictable madman Anton Chigurh (Javier Bardem). Behind their footsteps, aging Sheriff Bell (Tommy Lee Jones) tries to make sense of this unpredictable pursuit before more brutal violence is spread amongst his quiet county.

Like a great novel that you can't put down, the Coen Brothers deliver a veracious film that makes you not just get caught up in the anxious moments that the story provides, but of the real-life evil that exists outside the theater doors. This is not to make you fearful of every step you take in your everyday life, but to evoke your thinking of the nature of mankind. I know that sounds heavy, but that's what makes this film so brilliant. It entertains you throughout its running time, but challenges you to think beyond what's presented to you.

  The Coen Brothers have always been great at using every element of film to support their real-world themes, whether it's the cinematography of the environment, the cleverness of the dialogue, or the eccentric characters. They are consistently patient with their pace and tone, which allow for moments of anticipation that have you writhing in your seat, but wanting more. All the acting is superb, but Josh Brolin and Javier Bardem steal the show with performances that should garner them Academy Award nominations. You never question the tenacity of Brolin's character as he continually makes one dangerous decision after another and Bardem is so frightful here as a brilliant psychopath, he will be at the top of the list with Darth Vader and Hannibal Lector as one of the greatest movie villains.

  There is some strong language in No Country For Old Men, but it's mainly rated R for its rampant and realistic violence, so if you get queasy easily, you have been forewarned. The violence doesn't exist to just be there, but to show us the horrific impact that comes from the greediness of man. If you are a fan of Hitchcock-like suspense or other Coen brother films like Fargo or Blood Simple, you will not be disappointed. I was caught up in every moment of this film and if you skip out on this one, you will be missing out on one of the best films of the year. I give No Country For Old Men 5 out of 5 coin flips.

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Nathan Chandler is a video producer and editor who lives in the heart of Dallas. He has a knack for making awesome mix CDs and has a vast knowledge for movie trivia. When Nathan isn't writing or producing short films on the side, he is wishing he was on Survivor, rooting for the Cowboys, or making sweet tea runs to Chick-fil-a. You can reach Nathan at his blog. Nathan also co-hosts The Film Alcove Podcast. Check it out!