"NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN"
Starring Tommy Lee Jones, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin
Released: Nov. 21, 2007

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ONCE AGAIN THE Coen brothers, Joel and Ethan, have released another instant classic. This time, it's “No Country For Old Men.” The thriller mixes witty dialogue, suspense, and an undertone about ethics in America, creating an excellent film, one of the best released this year.

Llewelyn Moss (Josh Brolin) is a West Texas welder, who when out hunting one day comes across a drug deal gone wrong. He finds bodies and bags of drugs, but no money. After following the trail further, he comes across $2 million and more bodies.

The next day, Anton Chigurh (Javier Bardem) recovers Moss’ truck at the scene of the deal and realizes the money is nowhere to be found. Meanwhile Moss, sensing trouble, leaves town in an effort to protect his wife.

What ensues is a deadly game of hide-and-go-seek, with Moss hopping from one motel to another and Chigurh hot on his trail.

While all this is happening, Sheriff Ed Tom Bell (Tommy Lee Jones) is trying to help Moss’ wife, Carla Jean (Kelly Macdonald), to safety while still trying to track down Chigurh.

Apart from the frequent gunfights, “No Country for Old Men” has a stellar dialogue that is somehow able to make scenes involving a serial killer hilarious.

Because of Chigurh’s practical inability to think like most other humans, his conversations usually have odd results. For instance, Chigurh is baffled when the owner of a trailer park refuses to tell him information about one of the park’s residents. Witty dialogue is a staple of a quality Coen film, and “No Country for Old Men” lives up to the standard very well.

Another humorous aspect of the film is the secondary characters. While the main characters are primarily serious, those with less pivotal roles are over the top and have memorable personalities, resulting in colorful scenes. A prime example of this is Carla Jean’s mother (Beth Grant) and her shouting match with a taxi-cab driver.

By the end of the film, the audience has a firm connection with the protagonist Moss. Not only do you cringe when Chigurh comes close to finding him, you share his frustration at his own shortcomings.

Many questions arise from “No Country for Old Men,” especially about morality, greed, and human nature. While on the surface it is obvious that the killer Chigurh lacks morals, when looked at deeper the character of Moss himself is questionable as well. Moss is willing to risk his life, the lives of loved ones, and the lives of others over something as temporary as money.

Also, Moss and Chigurh are not the only ones battling it out for the money. Many other characters, including those from the drug deal at the start of the film, are willing to risk their lives to become rich.

"No Country for Old Men" ranks with the best of the Coen Brother’s films, including “Fargo,” the 1996 classic about a kidnapping gone bad. “Fargo” and other Coen masterpieces such as “Raising Arizona” (1987) and “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” (2000) combine violence and humor into the signature style on display so masterfully in "No Country."

While the ambiguous ending left something to be desired, this cannot take back from how great the rest of the movie is. On the surface, “No Country for Old Men” is a captivating action-thriller with witty dialogue, but below the surface the film has a strong internal message about valuing others and their well being over money.

"No Country for Old Men" is currently playing at the Goodrich Savoy 16 Theatres, 232 W. Burwash, Savoy, and Boardman's Art Theatre, 126 W. Church St., Champaign.

"NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN" AT A GLANCE

• Starring: Tommy Lee Jones, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, Kelly Macdonald, Woody Harrelson
• Directed by: Ethan Coen & Joel Coen
• Written by: Ethan Coen & Joel Coen (screenplay), based on the novel by Cormac McCarthy
• Genre: Crime/Drama/Thriller
• Rated: R for violence and language
• Runtime: 122 minutes
• Summary: A hapless trailer resident (Josh Brolin) stumbles across $2 million from a drug deal gone bad. A remorseless killer (Javier Bardem) tracks him down, pursued in turn by an obsessed lawman (Tommy Lee Jones).
• Now showing: Goodrich Savoy 16, Boardman's Art Theatre
• Showtimes: Click here
• External sites: IMDb entry, official site
• Gargoyle A&E Hitlist: Click here