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English Language Cinema in Madrid - No Country For Old Men

English Language Cinema in Madrid - No Country For Old Men

Jake Hansen
The four-time Oscar award winning film, No Country for Old Men, has drawn unprecedented publicity. In....

No Country For Old Men

Movie Review: No Country for Old Men
Cine Yelmo Ideal
Calle Dr. Cortezo, 6
Metro Sol/Tirso de Molina

by Jake Hansen

The four-time Oscar award winning film, No Country for Old Men, has drawn unprecedented publicity. In Spain, it was lauded because of the outstanding performance by Javier Bardem, best supporting actor. Internationally, there was the incredible hype surrounding “the next” film from the legendary Cohen Brothers. Media frenzy aside, I personally found the real draw to be the screen-play adaptation from the American author, Cormac McCarthy.

Quite simply, the film doesn’t disappoint. With outstanding cinematography, clever dialogue, and acting which is dead aligned for ever emotion in every scene – it deserves all four Oscars.

No Country for Old Men begins with Llewellyn Moss (Josh Brolin) hunting in the lonely desert landscapes when he happens upon a drug deal gone awry. He discovers two million dollars in a satchel with no one alive to stop him from taking it. The story unfolds to show the lengths one man will go to to keep what he believes fate has given him.

Amazingly, the Coen Brothers manage to reflect the subtlety and depth of McCarthy’s writing. While enduring most action films is a daunting task due to their lack of character development. In every scene, no matter how graphic, one can see significant character shifts and emotional twists. Also, the Brothers Coen have added details usually reserved for literature. Leaving the bombast of Hollywood behind, understated objects like crumpled refuse, black scuff marks on the floor, and blood-socked socks masterfully move the narrative forward.

And what of Javier Bardem as Anton Chigurh? Phenomenal. He wholly encompasses the disturbing character of a psychotic killer condemned by fate to live a life of solitude, killing all humans who lay eyes on him. Most intriguing in Bardem’s performance was the emotional distance he maintains. In his eyes there is never a flicker of compassion nor hint of humanity.

And, alas, to the neigh-sayers. I’ve heard much flapping that the movie didn’t have a point other than the story of the money and the graphic killing. I won’t attempt to impose my interpretation of the meaning of the film; however, I will say, when Tommy Lee Jones speaks, please pay attention. His monologues drive the story of the film and with every ensuing scene his words shed more light on the actions of the desperate characters involved.