Wednesday, November 28, 2007
No Country for Old Men
If you are at all interested in film, you must see this one. It's masterful.
Now, I'm not entirely objective about the Coen brothers. I knew Joel back in the day, and though I haven't seen him in years (ever since I left New York), I'll always think of him as a friend. I've long been a fan of his work--ever since his thing at NYU film school was fading to black. I've always appreciated his sensibility (naturally, he's born in December, like me.) I loved Blood Simple, Miller's Crossing, Barton Fink, Fargo and enjoyed the others. I don't think he and his brother could make an uninteresting movie.
But this one is the Coen's best yet. And not just because their adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's powerful novel is faithful in both spirit and craft, though it is. Not just because the cinematography is gorgeous but not self-conscious. Not just because the acting is superb. Not just because, though the story is suffused with pain of various kinds, there is humor, always, because that's the way they see things. And it's a fine way.
And despite the blood and gore and unrelenting tension, all of which there is plenty, I never felt any of it was gratuitous.
But y'all really should see for yourself.
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4 comments:
That "born in december" comment makes me want to flip coins and kill people.
I can't wait! It's here at the theatres now and I'd wanted to read the book first. I guess I'm too late.
Amen sister. I loved it too!
:)
I had forgotten that they made Fargo, too, no wonder "No Country for Old Men" reminded me of that, doh!
This was a bleak and intense film, especially considering that there was no reliance on music for effect, I kept marvelling at that throughout the movie. However, I felt quite depressed when I left the theater, and I realized how much I had come to expect a "happy ending" at least on some level. There were quite a few anti-climaxes in this film which I found disturbing. But overall I really liked it, because it is so different from your usual hollywood fare, it touched something deeper within.
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