Rating of
3.5/4
mitchellyoung - wrote on 02/10/13
The Coens really have never directed a film like this, then or since. No Country is a nihilistic neo-western that deals with grave themes of morality and inevitability. The familiar cast of odd supporting characters is there, but the Coens sidestep a lot of their penchant for absurdist comedy in lieu of a more serious and urgent tale of greed and obsession. Javier Bardem is the embodiment of fate itself and crafts a fearsome movie villain for the canon of great villains. Much is made of the film's murky ending, but the gripping ride leading up to the open-ended conclusion is equally as powerful.
