No Country for Old Men
A hunter (Josh Brolin) stumbles upon a dead body, $2 million and a stash of heroin in the woods. He absconds with the cash, but brutal thief Anton Chigurh (Javier Bardem) comes looking for it, with a local sheriff (Tommy Lee Jones) on his trail. The roles of hunter and prey blur as the violent pursuits of money and justice collide. Joel and Ethan Coen direct this dark morality tale, which won four Oscars in 2008, including Best Picture.
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» Reviewed by 31 people
Just boring. Pivotal scenes happen offscreen. The villian is completely evil with no good qualities or hope for redemption. It is not clear who the protaganist is. Maybe you'll enjoy this if you find the idea the society has always been as bad as it is now a profound idea.- Julie.Austin
While I completely understand this morality plays' intent, I thought the hype was wildly inflated! The pacing was incredibly slow, the dialog too quiet & mumbled or garbled, the plot points disjointed with scenes that IMHO did not further the story, and the abrupt ending a travesty. I would no longer recommend academy award movies as they must have promoted this snorer to a win. Subjective as movie watching may be, There Will Be Blood was a much better movie!
- GreenVixen
This was definitely a Coen film, I spent half the movie peeking through a tiny space between my fingers. I thought the lack of any sort of soundtrack bizarre at first, but later I was rather thankful for the absence of stringed instruments noting impending doom to the characters. Javier Bardem is scary enough on his own, all he had to do was appear in a scene and my hands were over my face, and I was on the edge of my seat. One E note from a violin, and I probably would have jumped out of my skin. Thank you Coen brothers, for another horrifyingly fascinating trip to the most disturbing parts of the human psyche.
- Implik8
A bleak story, with very effective matching cinematography; this will not be used to promote tourism to Texas. The film is violent and there are some stomach turning moments, but that violence is an integral part of the film. The movie is about the violence in the world and poses the questions whether it is getting worse or has always been with us. The final scene does seem oddly disconnected from the rest of the film and feels as though it could be removed, leaving the penultimate scene in its place as a more effective climax. Overall, a film that fascinated and impressed me, one that I could watch again.
- Pyrowin
Great movie. I have zero complaints about this one. This was one of those rare films where it manages to live up to the hype I'd been hearing. The film takes places in 1980. The story starts off with a man named Llewelyn hunting antelope, when he stumbles onto the aftermath of a Mexican drug deal gone awry. Surveying the scene, he ultimately finds $2 million and takes it home. He soon makes a mistake that leads trouble straight to his door in the form of Anton Chigurh, a ruthless, cunning, and absolutely psychotic hit man. From here, Llewelyn sends away his wife to safety and seeks to give Anton (and his other perusers) the slip, so that he may setup a new life, living rich and in obscurity. Anton nor his competition give up easily. Tommy Lee Jones doesn't have an integral part in this story, but he compliments it, very nicely. I enjoyed every scene with him as the wise ol' backwoods sheriff. It's he who narrates, when narration is needed. It is he who ultimately wraps the story all up in what I felt was a perfect ending for this movie. Side note: There's almost no music in this entire film.
- Rating Pending
While this movie was great from a cinematic standpoint, I felt the ending left much to be desired.
- deke
the movie had great potential but was only OK. there was a certain scene in the movie that made me think "what just happened and where is the story going." in the end it left you with no closure. the good points though are there are some good action scenes and the bad guy was one of the best I've seen.
- BriGy86
This is the movie I have been waiting for the Coens to make for over a decade! My hands-down favorite from them is "Blood Simple," a masterpiece of pure suspense. Since then they've been hit-and-miss (mostly hit), but this film instantly jumped to the top of my list of their best work. This movie takes three vastly-different characters: a straightforward man in over his head, a man nearing the end of a lifetime of honest service, and a man who is the embodiment of pure psychosis. It puts these three men in conflict with one another in ways that will have your teeth and fists clenched for its entire running time. It moves me when I see the Coens doing their best work in one of my favorite genres (the crime/suspense thriller), with a movie that Mr. Hitchcock himself would love. I could drone on, but I hate that! 5 Giant Stars.
- Topaz420 in CA
Dont let the 4 stars fool you. Yes, it was well acted and the cinematography is perfect, but oh man...it just leaves you hanging. For 1 hour and 35 minutes, it keeps you drawn. Then it lets you down. Then it draws you in again. And then, at 1 hour and 58 minutes, buh bye! Thats it. The end. And just like the Sopranos ending, I just dont think Ill understand why.
- Adachi
This is probably the third perfect Coen brothers film, after Raising Arizona and Fargo. A perfect mixture of profound thought, excessive violence and great dialogue. There's quite a lot of humor in the film, as well. Is this the perfect movie? I don't know for sure, but it's close. SPOILER SPACE The Coens do everything right in this film, from beginning to end. Josh Brolin plays a cowboy who discovers some money after a drug deal gone bad. When he goes back to help one of the half-dead men left behind, he gets discovered by a grade A psychotic killer, played to perfection by Javier Bardem. He, along with a fantastically understated Tommy Lee Jones playing a burnt out and frightened sheriff, make this movie. There have been movies like this before, but never filmed to this level of style and craft. Josh Brolin runs and runs, trying to stay a step ahead of Bardem. But Bardem keeps finding him and killing everyone who gets in his way. And everyone else he comes across. I can see why this film garnered so many awards, and without having read the book (yet), I'm sure it ends just like the book did.
- zyr 218383
"No Country for Old Men" is brilliant for the initial hour and a half. Josh Brolin is every bit Cowboy and Javier Bardem is every inch psychopath. Alot of the film's seat-edgery (that's a word) comes from anticipating a face to face between the two. It's this intensity that makes the film brilliant and totally watchable. Then it all turns pretentiously vague, so swept in it's thematic dustpan that it caves on itself...
- TroyJ15
After stumbling on $2 million in cash lying around in the middle of the desert from a drug deal gone bad, simple country-boy and welder Llewelyn finds himself being hunted by hitman Anton Chigurh. Complicating matters is Sheriff Tom Bell trying to figure out what is going on and another hitman, Carson Wells, who was hired by one of the parties to the drug deal lurking around. Although there were some long speeches in this move, overall it was very good. until the last 20 minutes at which point it just seemed to fall apart as the plot dissolved and the move abruptly ended. The acting throughout was very good, with emotion delivered on many different levels. Camera work was very good as well. And the story was nicely done, again. .up until the last 20 minutes. Although I enjoyed most of the movie I walked away feeling frustrated and like I had been cheated of an ending.
- DocsReviews
I had extremely high expectations. I was let down. Still a good movie, but don't believe the hype. Javier's character and performance was masterful, however the ending was trite and expected. Utterly disappointing. After watching Javier on screen for all of 10 minutes into the movie, I already wanted there to be a sequel that followed him exclusively. Still, I give it a 4, but only because of Javier. Brolin I thought was undynamic and flat. Jones was Jones and gave a good performance. Bottom line, Javier will scare the life out of you. Cold and calculating, he will crawl inside your mind just like the people he kills.
- Walter Dalton
No Country for Old Men will not be a popular movie like the Big Lebowski. At the end of the movie, many voices in the crowded theater could be heard in startled exclamation voicing, "What?" That leads me to assume that half the people who see No Country for Old Men will fail to get it. But those who do will recognize that Old Country for Old Men is one of the Coen Brothers' best efforts, and it should have little difficulty garnering several Oscar nominations. Tommy Lee Jones plays the sheriff as though he was born to the role, which of course, he was, but he is terrific here, even though he doesn't have to stretch a lot. Josh Brolin is a real surprise this year. He has had strong supporting roles in Planet Terror and American Gangster, and he carries the lead here with ease. I hope his career rejuvenation continues, because he is a much better actor than I would have previously given him credit for. Javier Bardem is amazingly creepy in this movie as the psychotic headhunter chasing Brolin and the money. The supporting cast is also very good, and everyone plays their characters pretty straight, a departure for the Coen Brothers who usually favor coaxing their actors into a stilted acting style that is the usual signature of their movies. The story is somewhat reminiscent of The Getaway (1972 Steve McQueen vehicle), but while the earlier film drags in places, No Country for Old Men keeps the audience at the edge of their seats from beginning to unexpected end. The sets and shot choices are also beautifully well crafted. In fact, I can't think of a single negative thing to say about No Country for Old Men except for the fact that the movie is ultra-violent and pretty gory, so those with weak stomachs may want to look away from time to time. Still, I would highly recommend this movie to all discerning movie goers, and I hope it wins some of the Oscars it is sure to be nominated for.
- LB in Idaho
A movie about the death of heroism, the tale about the end of the era of men with purpose. This violent, gripping, intense story will keep you glued to its dry, precise dialogues and silent, beautiful photography. A masterpiece, baffling, profound and beautifully sad. The best movie of 2007. Javier Bardem is superb in this movie.
- LyonLamb
"No Country for Old Men" will appeal to a number of people. It is violent; its depressing; its gory; and it dramatizes and, for some, probably romanticizes the life of a psychopathic killer. The cinematography is excellent. A psychopathic killer can't be stopped and the incompetent Texas sheriff seems lost as to how to make any headway in stopping the random killing. Wood Harrelson plays a role that starts off as interesting and ultimately meanders off to the same fate as anyone who happens to come into contact with the ultimate bad guy. The fact that "No Country for Old Men" won various awards says more about the mindset and values of those making the decisions than anything else. It portrays American society as a depressing, money-grubbing, drug infested place where evil triumphs over good. For those who find this scenario entertaining, it will be a great movie you will not want to miss and another hit for the Coen brothers. Wood Harrelson plays a role that starts off as interesting and ultimately meanders off to the same fate as anyone else in the movie who happens to come across the ultimate bad guy in the movie. The fact that "No Country for Old Men" won various awards probably says more about the mindset and values of those making the decisions. It portrays American society as a depressing, money-grubbing, drug infested place where evil triumphs over good. For those who find this scenario entertaining, it will be a great movie you will not want to miss.
- AtTheBeach
An off-putting mix of the best of the Coen brothers' strengths and the worst of their weaknesses. Their strengths lay in the mixture of visual elements to create something new. Only in a Coen brothers movie will the brightest scenes seem dark and gloomy, and the darkest scenes make you see everyting that is happening. This movie highlights their visual abilities to the fullest. You will not SEE a more skillfully-shot movie. However, they are also not the best writers when it comes to converting source material (cf 'O Brother Where Art Thou'). And to that, I have to regretfully say that this movie is probably the worst writing they've done. Just about every other Coen Bothers movie has a number of 'quotable' lines. This one doesn't really have that many....if any. They certainly tried - especially with the coin in the gas station - but none of the dialog felt up to the usual standard. Javier Bardem is as creepy and subtly maniacal as anyone who has been on screen since Anthony Hopkins in "Silence of the Lambs." Watch this movie for the visual feast.
- Luscious Dick
I've been wanting to see this movie for some time. Tommy Lee Jones is one of my favorite actors and the Oscar hype surrounding this movie was high. As I watched the movie, I kept thinking "I really want to like this movie". The acting was great. Everyone gave a very strong performance. The problem I had with this movie was that it dragged and seemed choppy. I liked it, but was very disappointed with the overall flow of the movie. Either direction or editing or both were lacking. The ending was about as anticlimatic as any I've seen. The saving grace was the story itself and the acting. Josh Brolin and Tommy Lee Jones were great. Woody Harrelson didn't bring anything to this movie. Overall, I give it a weak 3 stars.
- frgodbeyjr
Very powerful. What works so well in this film is that they do not use a running soundtrack. Silence truly is golden, and it only serves to heighten the tension. The murderous man played by Javier Bardem is the most convincing killer I have watched on screen in years. His murder weapon was especially frightening and creative. Most of the movie centers on Bardem and Josh Brolin in a cat-and-mouse chase across several states. No Country for Old Men is very suspenseful, and deserving of any and all positive reviews. The runtime was very satisfying, it did not overstay it's welcome. I would watch it again in a heartbeat, although sadly, I expect it to lose some of it's power on home video versus a big screen.
- MCWHAMMER
With 3579 reviews ahead of mine, why write a review? I guess I just want to have my say, too. I waited a long time to see this as I thought there would be too much needless violence. I was right about that, but was surprised that nothing much happened in this movie. The acting was fine, but the story lacked a passion. I didn't care what happened to these characters and that's a key element in a really good film. This one, for me, falls into the same category as "There Must Be Blood": a lot of hype, a lot of nominations and awards, good actors, but in the end, both had boring, long, drawn out stories that never really needed to be told in the first place.
- Southern Belle 1
I'm not sure what else can be said about this film. It is a wonderfully shot and beautifully acted move. Every character is perfectly cast, and Bardem portrays one of the most iconic characters in a film in recent history. Nearly everything about this film is perfect. I have read the book and this is a perfect adaptation. The filmmakers changed what they needed to while still staying perfectly loyal to the overall tone of the novel. While this was not my favorite film of the year (There Will Be Blood), I do think this is the movie that I will revisit more often. This is a film that you must watch. Highly recommended.
- Brody
A pretty good movie, with a very strange ending and I am not sure it deserved an Oscar, I think Juno was better this year.
- Digitalbrian
NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN is the perfect companion piece to the Coen Brothers's FARGO, which also earned five stars from me. You've read the plot synopsis, so you know what the story is "about," but that doesn't really describe this movie. Like FARGO, this movie doesn't insult your intelligence by trying to explain everything. I honestly couldn't predict what was going to happen next, which is a movie trait I hold in high regard. The performances were amazing across the board. I understand why Javier Bardem won an Academy Award for his role as Anton Chigurh, an unstoppable killing force. This is not an action movie in the mold of Jason Stratham or Jet Li, so don't be mislead by the premise, but it is violent. There is a lot of on-screen violence, but what's somehow even more impactful is the off-screen violence that we witness the aftermath of. And whenever Bardem is on the screen there is an unrelenting threat of violence that may or may not appear. Very effective. I don't know that the story's theme is necessarily nihilistic, although I can understand why people would say that. Is it bleak? Sure. In the same way that FARGO was, this time in a hot setting instead of a cold one, the "country" as much a character as the actors. I believe what's often interpreted as nihilistic is actually an objective viewpoint. No judgements seemed to have been passed on any of the characters's actions. As horrible as this sounds, I found myself rooting for Bardem in places, and he was the bad guy. I will add this one to my private stash.
- Firewater
"No Country For Old Men" is a slow motion freefall through an alien attack dream. The alien is a foreign national of unspecified origin. Focused and relentless, his mission directive is two part: Find Llewelyn Moss. Retrieve the money. Ethan Cohen flashes an irony laced smile as he hands the remote to his brother. Taking it, Joel places his right index finger on the large red button marked "engage" and applies gentle pressure as though he needed to savor the moment. A faint click is heard as the button loses resistance. The brothers react with yelps and high fives. "Next stop, the bank," Ethan says pulling out a cigar. "Yeah," Joel replies as he stuffs the remote into his brother's pocket. "The bank" Of course that isn't how this high tension thriller came to be, but it may as well have. The Cohen brothers created an antagonist as lethal and relentless any alien predator in the business. The only difference is, instead of calling it "Android," they named it Anton Chigurh. Over time you night not remember the name, but the character is unforgettable. With all these reviews, you know everything there is to know about "No Country For Old Men". It's just that I enjoyed this film much that felt compelled to say something. I especially liked that there was no miracle ending. I didn't want things to go down like they did but the Cohen's know what they're doing. It was a good call. If you haven't seen this film yet, then the only question is what are you waiting for? I hope my thoughts are Helpful ~~~Wingz
- Wingz
This movie could have so much better. Most of the film was so perfect, then... I don't know what happened. I didn't read the book so maybe it had to end like that, but there must have been a way to handle it better. Did they intentionally try to piss a lot of people off or did it just happen to turn out that way? Even so I did still like the movie a lot. I just wish I could have given it 5 stars. It was 5 all the way up to the last 20 minutes or so. Anyway it is still worth seeing. If you like Tommy Lee Jones see The three Burials of Melquiades Estrada. It's 5 stars all the way through.
- couchdog53
There are actually three wonderfully acted and beautifuly interwoven stories here. The first is about a guy who comes upon some dead bodies and a satchel of cash. As he takes the money, he doesn't know that a psychopathic killer is already looking for it. Story two is about the killer, who will likely make it into the pantheon of movie psycho-killers (along with Anthony Hopkins' Hannibal Lecter and Charlize Theron's Aileen Wuornos in Monster). The third story is about a wise but tired country sheriff, played by Tommy Lee Jones, who is having trouble making sense of how the world has changed - hence the title of the movie. As he says, "Anytime you quit hearing 'sir' and 'maam', the end is pretty much in sight." That's one of the many lines I expect will be quoted from the movie. The Coen brothers did a wonderful job directing and every actor gave a stellar performance. I would have given this movie five stars, if not for the unsatisfactory ending, but don't let that stop you from seeing it.
- GS Chicago
A hunter (Josh Brolin) finds a suitcase of cash and finds himself caught in a game of cat-and-mouse with a cold blooded killer (Javier Bardem). Meanwhile, a Texas sheriff (Tommy Lee Jones) is hot on the trail, putting together the pieces and counting the bodies. The Coen Brothers have once again made mainstream cool with this story that deftly intertwines the fate of its three main characters. The truth is it is hard to give an accurate analysis of the movie with a single viewing. Like most Coen Brothers films, No Country for Old Men is one that will require multiple viewings to catch all of the nuances that flow throughout. On the surface there is the chase... good guy/ bad guy theme. Under that you start to delve into character motivations and all three characters are incredibly intense... incredibly deep and fully fleshed out... made all the more real by the great dialogue that holds the film together. Still deeper, and you begin to see hints of metaphor. The nature of good and evil, greed, and how the times they are a-changin'. This movie is definitely worth a look for one of the most brilliantly evil villains to hit the screen since Hannibal Lecter. Javier Bardem's portrayal of Anton Chigurh was the performance that Tommy Lee Jones only wishes he could have given for Two-Face... but I digress. It won him an Oscar and for good reason. To see the decision making go across his face as he contemplates the future of the person standing before him is just awesome. Finally, the Coen Brothers have established themselves as a driving, decisive force in Hollywood. So much so, that I feel compelled to capitalize the word "brothers". Brilliant, deep, violent... I loved it! 5 stars and an air compressor.
- Freakin Meow
No Country for Old Men is incredibly faithful to the spirit of McCarthy's novel. It centers thematically on a west Texas sheriff's impotence, his inability to make a difference any longer, he's lost in a world that he can no longer understand. The plot centers around the events that lead him to this desolation, punctuated by incredible performances by Javier Bardem and Josh Brolin. It's a violent epic that seems to be outside of the Coen Brothers normal realm of topics, but they make the story very much their own with graphic scenes that are cinematically understated. Deakins cinematography is perfect as usual, beautiful landscapes and creative obscured views of violent images, the kind of images that make you want to turn away but you can't. The Coen bros. have returned to topics that they are the masters of, the moralization of a violent world, characters lost in a world they can't comprehend, situations they don't understand. A brilliant film, one of the best of '07.
- Dlukenelson
The Coen brothers are at it again. They have created a movie that you have to inhale the entire 116 minutes before realizing what you have seen. Very good performances all around. A movie that will be talked about and will have many interpretations. Go see for yourself. "What's the most you ever lost on a coin toss?"
- Cleve1212
2008 Academy Awards: Best Picture. I assure you there is reason for the attention this movie has received, and its awards are deserved. The acting is perfect! The tone is dark and gritty, and the story (like the novel) can be seen on many levels. On one, it is a social commentary on the moral decline of our society. The movie gives you a lot to think about. That aside it is enjoyable and thrilling on the surface as well. The dialog is often concise but piercing and effective. The pace does move slowly but it works in sync with the anxiety to see what happens next and seldom did I feel impatient with it (despite the length). I can't say enough about the acting in the movie. Javier Bardem (in this role) will be remembered as one of the greatest ruthless killers of all time. He is unaffected and cold as a killing 'machine'. There are moments of cinematic magic where certain lines are ingrained on you and our culture forever. Like Arnold Schwarzeneggerâs "Iâll be Back" or "Hasta La vista, Baby". Well just like the unforgettable lines "Go ahead, make my day" OR "You've gotta ask yourself, do I feel lucky? Well, do ya, punk?" Javier Bardem's line will go up with the best! "CALL IT." This is simply one of the best scenes/moments on film; up there with "Here's Johnny!" There are many more memorable quotes in the movie as well, as you will see. Bardem's character (Anton Chigurh) is simply going to be remembered as one of the best bad guys since Hannibal Lecter. The rest of the cast is phenomenal as well. Josh Brolin and Tommy Lee Jones's deliver at the top of their game. The film shows enough of what needs to be shown and edits out a lot of what is left for you to just believe. It is really on the mark in every way. This is a must see. Hope this is Helpful!
- Phatz
Adapted from the popular 2003 novel of the same name by Cormac McCarthy, No Country for Old Men manages to ground us in harsh reality with its disturbing observation of the decline of American civility, while at the same time tickling us with a humorous depiction of death and meaningless violence. We sense the Coen Brothers (directors) rubbing their hands together in grim satisfaction as at one moment we're wincing in fear, yet in the very next, we're wallowing in dark, gallows humor... our moral compasses spinning wildly in all directions. Can criminals have principles? Can violence, greed, and apathy ever lead to good? These are the moral ambiguities we're left to face. As with almost every Coen Brothers film The Ladykillers and Intolerable Cruelty excluded there's more happening in this story than meets the eye. Sure, the thrill-seekers, gore-hounds and gun-nuts will find plenty to like, but there are also plenty of juicy undertones and subjective creativity in there as well. Some even claim to see Biblical references to the Christian Holy Trinity. Expect this one to be fresh on voters' mind come Oscar time. It's that good.
- Frank W