Director(s): Joel and Ethan Coen

Screenwriter(s): Joel and Ethan Coen

Based on: The novel, “No Country for Old Men”, written by Cormac McCarthy

Cast: Tommy Lee Jones, Jarvier Bardem, Josh Brolin, Woody Harrelson, Kelly Macdonald, Garret Dillahunt, Tess Harper, Barry Corbin, Stephen Root, Beth Grant, Rodger Boyce

Plot: After a hunter, Llewelyn Moss (Josh Brolin), walks into the aftermath of a gunfight as a result of a drug deal, he finds a huge fortune and takes measures to avoid the deranged hitman, Anton Chigurh (Javier Bardem), after him hired to retrieve the money.

Mini Review: In a setting that should leave audiences anything but interested, The Coen Brothers keep us entertained in this crime thriller about a man who’s too old to deal with the class of criminal that’s out there and a man trying to avoid what’s coming for him. Javier Bardem plays a psychopath and his very errie and maniacal presence stays with you long after viewing. The Coens brilliantly etch a tremendous plot using all of the classic storytelling elements (foreshadowing, irony, characterization, plot points, powerful themes) to slowly and strategically unravel it’s purpose. ‘No Country for Old Men’ is truly a masterpiece (and for that, Coen Brothers, we thank you). Jim’s Rating: 9.8/10

Random Trivia: While on location in Marfa, Texas, ‘There Will Be Blood’ was shooting nearby. One day, while filming a wide shot of the landscape, directors Joel Coen and Ethan Coen had to halt shooting for the day when a gigantic cloud of dark smoke floated conspicuously into view. ‘Paul Thomas Anderson’ was testing the pyrotechnics of an oil derrick set ablaze on the set of his film. The Coens resumed filming the next day, when the smoke finally dissipated. A year and a half later, both films were the leading contenders at the Academy Awards.

***WARNING: THERE ARE SPOILERS OVER YONDER. WATCH THE MOVIE FIRST AND THEN READ AHEAD. OTHERWISE, PROCEED WITH CAUTION!*** (Also, read that entire warning message in a Texas accent.)

Javier Bardem talks about the character…and that…very interesting haircut.

Oscar-Winning Factors: Acting, Screenplay

Acting

Carson tries to talk Anton out of killing him.

Ed Tom Bell’s monologue at the end of the film where he explains a dream that involves his late father.

Acting/Screenplay

Ellis, a retired police officer, gives Ed Tom a lesson about this “new” generation of criminals.

Screenplay

Ed Tom Bell (Tommy Lee Jones) tries to determine how police officers from the past would match up against the criminals that he has to deal with these days.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTI5GBqdMxo

Anton (Javier Bardem) leaves an elderly gas station owner’s life to chance in a coin toss.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0iAezyDzj0M

Carson Wells (Woody Harrelson), another man hired to find the money, finds Llewelyn and warns him about Anton and his nature.

Llewelyn, suspecting that Anton has determined where he is after he finds a tracking device in the briefcase full of money, prepares to defend himself against the hitman.

Nominations & Wins:

• Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role (W) – Javier Bardem
• Achievement in Directing (W) – Joel and Ethan Coen
• Adapted Screenplay (W) – Joel and Ethan Coen
• Achievement in Cinematography (N) – Roger Deakins
• Achievement in Film Editing (N) – Joel and Ethan Coen
• Achievement in Sound Mixing (N) – Skip Lievsay, Craig Berkey, Greg Orloff, Peter F. Kurland
• Achievement in Sound Editing (N) – Skip Lievsay

Source(s): IMDb, The Oscars,