No Country For Old Men (2007)

What I just saw could easily be classified as cinematic achievement. The striking performances by Josh Brolin, Javier Bardem, and Tommy Lee Jones are certainly worthy of praise. But is this film about murder, millons, cat and mouse? Or a film of morality--no matter how skewed?

Llewellen Moss (Josh Brolin) is a simple man. During a hunting trip, he stumbles upon dead bodies, $2 million dollars and a stash of drugs in the plains of Texas. He absconds with the money and unwittingly crosses the path of psychotic serial killer Anton Chigurh (Javier Bardem). Chigurh wants his money and will allow nothing and no one to come between him and it. Also in the pursuit is aging local sheriff Ed Tom Bell (Tommy Lee Jones) who's trying to save Llewellen from himself.

Though unfamiliar with Joel and Ethan Coen's body of work, No Country For Old Men is a striking, flawless drama which succeeds on many levels.

The trio of Brolin, Bardem and Jones perfectly execute their roles. Bardem is chilling as Chigurh. Perplexing and deranged, Chigurh will find a place in cinematic history for complexity of character. Bardem is to Chigurh as Hopkins is to Lector. He's one creepy bastard! Josh Brolin provides a tremendous performance of desperation in the anti-hero Moss. Having a vested interest in Moss you, too, want to save him from himself. Jones is the ultimate in understated lead here and provides the unorthodox narrative for the film. His dialogue, squinted gaze and shrug of the shoulder is remarkable.

In the unconventional story-telling, No Country For Old Men finds its brilliance {or source of frustration}. The Coen brothers know when to hold their cards. In return, the audience is asked to wield their own imaginings of events.

No matter what you decide- cat and mouse or morality- there is no denying No Country For Old Men is a bleak, violent piece of masterful film-making.