Release Date: March 11th, 2008
Running Time: 122 minutes

The Film

Even though No Country For Old Men has been showered with awards, including the coveted Best Picture Oscar, make no mistake about it—this is a brutal, unforgiving film. Told with a grace and artistic flair that only the Coen Brothers could produce, No County For Old Men simply was the Best Picture of 2007.

At first glance, No Country For Old Men has a deceptively simple plot. Josh Brolin stars as Llewelyn Moss, a man who finds $2 million cash after coming across a drug deal that ended in a massacre. Moss’ first instinct is to send his wife, Carla Jean, away from him to protect her. That’s a good decision because almost immediately he finds himself pursued by Mexican killers. That alone may have been manageable, but then there’s Anton Chigurh (Javier Bardem). Bardem provides one of the most chilling performances in recent memory as the wholly dedicated, soulless killer with a horrendous haircut. Hot on Moss’ trail due to a tracking device in the briefcase, Chigurh wipes out anyone in his way, with weapons ranging from a cattle-gun to a silence shotgun.

While a trail of bodies begins to pile up in Texas, a tired sheriff at the end of his career named Ed Tom Bell (Tommy Lee Jones) tries to figure out what it all means. He realizes Moss is in incredible danger and makes it his mission to try to save him from his inevitable fate. But as more senseless violence ensues, Ed finds himself questioning the state of things in a world turning to a darker age.

Every aspect of No Country For Old Men is near-perfect. The cinematography is simply gorgeous, creating moods only rivaled by There Will Be Blood. The acting is top-notch on all accounts, from Bardem’s terrifying performance to Tommy Lee Jones’ display or sad weariness. Then you have the parts that are just plain cool—I mean, a silenced shotgun? Incredible.

A lot of negative murmurs have come out regarding the ending. I have to admit, stylistically I understand the choices the Coen Brothers made, but I can’t say I really liked them. However, I enjoyed the hell out of 99% of the film and I’m not about to let one scene change my opinion. No Country For Old Men is powerful, classic filmmaking. If you can handle the grisly violence, then you must see this film.

The DVD

The video is presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen and does a fantastic job of displaying the subtleties of the cinematography. The print is clean, the level of detail is marvelous—no problems here.

The audio is offered in English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound with Spanish/French Subtitles and English for the hearing impaired. The entire soundstage is used to create brilliant moments of atmosphere. Every sound effect, from a boot walking through the desert to the horrific gunshots, comes through with excellent clarity.

The Extras

Three featurettes are offered running about 40 minutes.

“The Making of No Country For Old Men” is a look at the entire production and far less of an EPK piece than I expected.

“Working with the Coens” sheds light on the unique brother directing team.

“Diary of a Country Sheriff” explains the themes of the film by examining what Sheriff Bell’s character means to the film.

Trailers are offered as well.

Final Thoughts

No Country For Old Men is a film destined to be a classic. You don’t need to wait twenty years to see that, watch it now and you’ll know that you are experiencing something special.