The Coen Brothers have arrived. Simply put this is the finest film of the Coen Brother’s already impressive resume, and features some of the most notable performances by the film’s already accomplished stars. The story is simple, only how its told falls on the bright side of brilliance. There are no fancy special effects, no computer generated wizardry, and a no frills choice of angles. Its simplicity is its beauty.
The cast is led by three inspired performances by Tommy Lee Jones, Josh Brolin and Javier Bardem. It is worth mentioning that each cast member, right down to the bit parts, are acted terrifically, displaying the attention to minute detail. The dialog that each actor was given is realistic, and wholly essential. There are no needless exchanges of witty banter; each line has significance to the story or the character.
The true star of the show was Javier Bardem’s chilling and award-winning portrayal of the hired hit man /serial killer, Anton Chigurh. It evokes memories of Sir Anthony Hopkins’ performance in Silence of the Lambs, only Chigurh doesn’t reason, as he does not see the need. Truly one of the most disturbed and disturbing characters in cinematic history, Bardem never winks once in the performance, perfect. Tommy Lee Jones is at his best as Sheriff Ed Tom Bell, and Josh Brolin has created an interesting and compelling character in Llewelyn Moss, the central protagonist.
It should be mentioned that this film has virtually no musical score, which keeps the tension at a high level throughout the length of the film; there are no auditory queues for dramatic events.
This film did well at on award circuit and in the box office, and the credit is entirely deserved. The Coens have created a masterpiece that will stand up to even the fiercest criticism and come out on the other side shining. If you have not seen this movie, we suggest that you go now and rent or buy it. Go now.
Popularity: 17% [?]
Tue, Mar 11, 2008
DVD, Jake's Picks