No Country for Old Men (Coen Brothers, 2007) is an American neo-Western crime thriller based on the 2005 novel of the same name. Set in West Texas during 1980, the film follows three main characters: Llewelyn Moss, a war veteran who stumbles upon a bag containing $2 million at the scene of a drug deal gone wrong; Anton Chigurh, a psychopathic hitman who is hunting down the whereabouts of the money; and Ed Tom Bell, the local sheriff tasked with investigating the crime.
The film is widely regarded as one of the greatest within directorial duo, Joel and Ethan Coen’s filmography. The gripping neo-Western narrative from multiple perspectives in tandem with a showcase of stunning cinematography courtesy of Roger Deakins culminates in an enthralling viewing experience. Despite the film excelling in characterising each of the three main characters, particularly Chigurh, it is also filled with pensive sequences with little to no dialogue. This convention typical of the Western genre serves to create an apt level of suspense and tension, further immersing the viewer into the world of the film. The film’s underlying themes are also particularly ambiguous, which can be seen most notably within Chigurh’s enigmatic motivations. He often leaves the fate of his victims up to a coin flip, perhaps implying that he is driven by nihilism. The film does not shy away from its depiction of graphic violence, with an early scene of Chigurh strangling a man with a pair of handcuffs immediately establishing the brutal tone of the film.
Upon watching the film for the first time, I was initially disillusioned by the ending, finding it particularly unsatisfying. However, I found the film generally, alongside the ending to be much more encapsulating upon second viewing – its subversive brilliance was truly cemented. However, I did still feel slightly disengaged during the scenes involving Sheriff Ed Tom Bell, finding his character to be the least compelling.
Overall, I would rate No Country For Old Men ★★★★.
Otis Morley’s A-Level Film Studies Blog 