Finally getting around to seeing "No Country for Old Men"

I am a big fan of Joel and Ethan Coen's work, but it has taken me to last weekend to see "No Country for Old Men". It finally has showed up on cable, and thanks to our Tivo and Tivo Transfer through my Toast software, I watched it on my laptop. I must say, I wasn't disappointed.

The story (based on Cormac McCarthy's book) is relentless in its movement to a tragedy, and it gives a bleak and empty sense of human nature. In that sense it was very similar to another Coen brother's film, "Blood Simple", but this tale did contain a much more finely defined villain in an unstoppable hit man with a unique tool for blowing off locks and killing his victims.

The performances are universally excellent, with Javier Bardem incredibly creepy as the hit man, but a real treat for me was Josh Brolin as a redneck in way over his head after finding money from a drug deal gone bad. He was both likable and yet so utterly clueless in his lack of understanding of how badly he is mismatched against the forces who are hunting him that you want to jump up and say "Knock it off! They are going to get you!" (That's a compliment!) Tommy Lee Jones was fine too, but his character of a small town sheriff was so familiar for him I felt like it was done with a sort of bored ease that suited the character, but almost didn't seem like acting. Woody Harrelson shows up too, and he gives his small role of a totally unlikable (is there any other kind?) bounty hunter his all.

Some have questioned the ending of the piece, which seems to continue after the loose ends are resolved (or maybe not), but I found that part of it quite satisfying. It had a complete realism that gave it the edge of life, and was totally justified in my mind. The randomness of some of the action in it were very believable.

Anyway, a great movie, well worth a couple of hours, and a good addition to the Coen brother's inventory.