No Country for Old Men (2007)

Director: Joel Coen

Cast: Tommy Lee Jones as Ed Tom Bell, Javier Bardem as Anton Chigurh, Josh Brolin as Llewelyn Moss, Woody Harrelson as Carson Wells, Kelly Macdonald as Carla Jean Moss, Garret Dillahunt as Wendell, Tess Harper as Loretta Bell, Barry Corbin as Ellis, Stephen Root as Man who hires Wells, Rodger Boyce as El Paso Sheriff, Beth Grant as Carla Jean's Mother, Ana Reeder as Poolside Woman, Kit Gwin as Sheriff Bell's Secretary, Zach Hopkins as Strangled Deputy, Chip Love as Man in Ford

"You don't have to do this," repeated words in this lingering film,
which really does not feel like a typical Coen Brothers film to me.
Fargo, had its quirky character and its grotesque moments, but this
film is all about a subdued natured intermixed with quick action. For
what I expected, I got some of it, but also a bit more of a subdued air
and timing than I expected. It would do things in spurts, action at the
beginning then a lull and more thunder. It worked great for keeping one
on edge, which Brolin did, excellently in the lead role lying awake
thinking too hard. Jones too was good in a strong supporting role as a
close to retirement sheriff who is on the outside shaking his head at
the carnage and mayhem unleashed by the simple finding and taking of a
satchel full of money.

The real gem and glue of the film though is Javier Bardem's menacing
character who has his own brand of justice, which is extremely harsh
and well insane. Even the one who claims to know him cannot even begin
to stop or even slow him down. Bardem whom I have not had the pleasure
of seeing in anything before is gold and like no other before looks to
have the supporting actor award locked up in this performance. His
presence is felt, even when he does not show up. That is something I
have not seen in film well since probably The Third Man and Orson
Welles' character Harry Lime.

I cannot really describe the film that well so I will suffice to say
that is best modern western tale I have seen since The Three Burials of
Melquiades, which also happened to have Tommy Lee Jones and was
directed by him to boot. Another thing I noted was the lack of strong
score. The filmmakers just seemed to let the sounds of the creaking
boots and the desert landscape speak for the film. It felt natural and
a bit menacing.