Synopsis:
After a hunter stumbles across $2 million in cash at the scene of a drug deal gone wrong he is forced to flee from home or be killed by the gangsters trying to get it. Unfortunately for the hunter, the ruthlessly bizarre Anton has also been hired to track down the money.
Ill be honest and say I
went into this with my expectations low. Maybe it's my slight
contrary nature, but when I see a film doing critically well I have
to just think to myself “It can't be that good”. But with No
Country For Old Men, it really is THAT good. From the start, straight
through to finish. It's almost unbelievably perfect, impossible to
fault. As I watched, engrossed in every bit of dialogue, I was nearly
pinching myself trying to figure out how a film could get it so
right. But then the worst thing happened... It ended.
So I'm not lying when I
say it was great from start to finish, but the problem is it finished
too soon! The back of the DVD case even says “heart stopping final
moment”. I was waiting eagerly throughout the whole film for what
could possibly be the greatest scene in cinema history and bam...
nothing. Instead, it fell completely flat and just ended. At least I
was justified by saying “It can't be that good”, but I was so let
down, I don't even want to take credit. I mean I like Tommy Lee Jones
talking as much as the next guy, and yes it was a great line to end
on, but it should have come after a final showdown with arguably the
greatest bad guy of all time.
With all the tense and
engrossing scenes that came before it I'm just baffled that it ends
this way. I mean I'm sure the book ends this way and the Coen
Brothers have done it unbelievable justice (as only they can), but
this is MY review! And I was loving every second of it, only for the
carpet to swept out from underneath me, my head striking a cold dark
place.
Unfortunately because
of this ending I find it hard to look back at the overwhelming
greatness of the rest of the film. The story... Perfect. The
acting... Perfect. Every scene... Perfect. Anton, the psychopathic,
yet frighteningly efficient hit man juxtaposes brilliantly with the
fleeing rough-cut Llewelyn, a man equally as efficient when it comes
to survival. The two are equal, yet opposite. Proving to be a perfect
match for each other, their rivalry forcing the film along
brilliantly. Then of course my gripe. We the viewers never get that
final showdown, only a taste of it earlier on in the film. Tommy lee
Jones' Ed switches in as protagonist over Llewelyn towards the end, a
bit of a momentum stopper if I'm honest. In all fairness though I
loved the character and absolutely started to get behind him. But,
just as I do, believing he will be the one to topple Anton (or vice
versa, either would have been acceptable in my books) the film
fizzles to a close. No resolution, no nothing. Just like this
review...
Overview:
Without a shadow of a
doubt one of the greatest films ever made, and if you don't mind a
completely open ended finish, and could see something different in
the way it was handled, this is one for you. But if you want to see
brilliantly portrayed characters get their final jaw dropping, heart
racing showdown, you're not going to get it here and will walk away
disappointed, much like I did. In my eyes making it a complete
tragedy. Credit where it's due though, will probably watch it again,
even if it is only to see Anton run through countless people with his
cattle gun.
Rating:
This is a tough one... it was a great film, but I personally hated the ending... so I'll give it two ratings.
Film = ★★★★★
Ending = ★★
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