(no spoilers ahead)
“The Coen Brothers at the peak of their powers. ‘No Country For Old Men’ is a classic in the making” – Rolling Stone
“The Coen Brothers’ best film in ages” – Newsweek
“Nearly defines the essence of movies.” – Chicago Sun Times
“No Country For Old Men is flawless. It’s one hell of a film.” -Roger Ebert
As you know, and my blog title demonstrates, I am a big fan of the Coen Brothers. When I read reviews like the ones above for their latest film, “No County For Old Men,” I jumped for joy! A new Lebowski, perhaps? Or maybe, as this seems like one of their more violent films, a Fargo-esque favorite in the making? Or maybe it will just be weird and delightful like ‘Oh Brother Whereart Thou’…
Well apparently, I’m alone on this, but I did not like it. Well, it’s not that I didn’t *like* it, it’s just that it’s definitely not one of my favorite CB films. But the critics won’t stop talking about what a CLASSIC this movie is. Really?
Has anyone else seen this yet? I’d love to hear some other opinions. SB claimed to really like it, but when pressed, he admitted it didn’t stack up to the others.
I’ve tried to write a long review of what I think, but it didn’t work because my computer ate it.
Suffice to say that I loved this movie. I reviewed it at Exit133 last Wednesday. I’ve seen it twice now and I think that I saw the Coen’s touches a lot more on the 2nd viewing.
Alas, you don’t get to read the 4 paragraphs I wrote on why I like it so much… too bad.
Aaack! I’m sorry about those 4 paragraphs! I hate it when that happens.
Erik, you are not helping. You loved it, too! Enough to see it twice!
I read your Exit 133 review ( http://www.exit133.com/2440/no-country-for-old-men-at-the-grand ) and I agree on all points. I just was not blown away. Maybe I need to read the book. I guess. Or maybe I need to see it again? I just didn’t find this movie to be as awesome as all other CBs movies or as awesome as all the critics say. As far as the crime triliogy, I liked Blood Simple and Fargo WAY MORE than this one.
hmm. I actually loved the movie, but I think it was a perfect melding of Cormac McCarthy and the Coen Bros. I haven’t read No Country for Old Men, but the movie felt like McCarthy’s other books with an Coen interpretation. I think this movie was missing some of the humour that Fargo and Blood Simple had, there were moments when I laughed out loud, but not like other CB movies.
It was more mysterious and moody than Fargo and Blood Simple, because that is exactly how McCarthy writes… It was a little bit more raw than their “noir” films are but there was a TON of thought put in to the aeshetic of the imagery which I thought was stunning. It was somewhere between the “noir” and the “crime” movies of the Coen brothers,and it did lack the quirky comedy bits that makes so many CB movies fantastic.
I will stop babbling now.
Did you see “The Man Who Wasn’t There”? It’s so bleak it makes a slate tile seem lush. While there is humor, it’s so dark and so subtle that to call it comedy is to call Twain a ditherer with the pen. I’m just sayin’ the Coens don’t always do more comedy than they do clever.
Did not like it, Jenny. Husband enjoyed it. I found it disturbing and upsetting; it toyed with me psychologically. It is the stuff that nightmares are made of.
serror! Thanks for your in depth commentary. Unrelated question: Where do you live? I thought you were local-ish, but you just wrote ‘humour’ lke some kind of Canadian or something.
Ed: I recall liking, or at least appreciating ‘The Man Who Wasn’t There’. You are right, the Coen’s aren’t always funny, but there is usually an element of quirkyness that was totally missing from this movie.
Kate: I’m with you, Kate. Like I said, I just don’t get all the critical gushing.
I loved the man who wasnt there, but mostly for the bungalow they lived in. heh jk. sorta.
I want to see this one really badly but life keeps getting in the way! I’ve seen 3D Beowulf twice tho! once w/kids and once w/dh.
I’ll be interested to hear what you think. You will probably like it, especially if you go in not expecting the usual Coen Brothers quirkiness.