The latest Ethan Brothers film makes it way to DVD under the heavy heavy accolades of critics and the nods of the Oscar nominating committees. It's exactly what they are saying the movie is and it is exactly not what the audience is expecting to see. This is no Raising Arizona with humorous quirky twists through out, this is a serious dramatic turn that is more about the creation of their art than it is making an audience pleasing film. Each scene is carefully measured and staged and every look or glance of the ensemble has weight and merit. This is not to say that it is a heavy, ponderous film, but that it is a showcase for young directors on how to make the most of what they have. In many scenes the first thought I had was, 'this is a Quinton Tarentino scene'. And that's not necessarily a bad thing. It means that scenes take time to show you very specific things like boots walking or wind blowing or the expanse of the desert. There is as much story there as there is in what the actors do or say. Many scenes though were almost copies of things Tarentino has done in Kill Bill. The attitude, preciseness, the choice of subject to follow was very Kill Bill except for the sudden switches to other scenes equally in your face.
The performances are perfect. Josh Brolin... who knew the kid from The Goonies could act? You don't even realize it's him until you kind of recognize him from Planet Terror or American Gangster. This is an amazing performance alongside equally good turns from Tommy Lee Jones and the incredibly creepy villain Anton Chigurh as played by Javier Bardem (Love In The Time of Cholera). I believe each and every one of these characters. I don't necessarily like them all or think that they are all capable of doing what they are setting out to do, but I believe them in their world.
And it is violent. It's a game of finding a stash of money at a crime scene and trying to secure it and your family safely away from trouble. Unfortunately that may not be possible and even the kindly sheriff who never had to carry a gun may not be able to help. It's over the top in its gore as much as Kill Bill was, except there is no blatant in your face winking. It is not heroic. It tries to be heroic though, and it places it's characters in heroic situations, but it's all smoke through a key hole as they all race to figure out just where and who has this money.
The ending is not exactly satisfactory. When it ends you kind of don't realize that the stories over. You want to see it end the way your mind has been waiting for it to end. For me, it was a good ending. Most things are resolved and the story of the sheriff is wound down as well. I give it two thumbs way up, but with the caution that it is not a slam bang action adventure of guns and cowboys in the desert. It's a character portrait with a lot of violence and moodiness. It is definitely worth a rent, but it may not be the film advertised on TV. The studios made it seem to be more mainstream than it really is. But it's Cohen Brothers. How mainstream would it be?
I rate this: 4.5 out of 5 stars. Great performances and movie making, but it may not be quite what the general audience was expecting. Well worth it just for Josh Brolin's performance alone.
- Eddie Presley
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I can see why you commend the film. It is well made and has a depth. My problem is that I like happier outcomes. Llewellyn Moss is not entirely a sympathetic character, being indifferent to the suffering of the wounded Mexican. But Courtney Jean does not deserve to die, which is what seems to happen as the film winds up. No doubt, it was a skilful undertaking- and you could say, a morality fable of sorts. Llewelyn should have left the satchel of money! The characterisation is skilled: the characters LOOK right and convincing. For a complete contrast, check Bruce Dern as Tom Buchanan in "The Great Gatsby." Not right for the part at all.
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