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Nov. 30, 2007 I The Clarion ARTS & LIFE Page 11 Movie Review: No Country for Old Men Black Friday by Aaron Palmer Editor-In-Chief After a short losing streak, the Coen brothers return to the directing chair with what’s being called the best film of their career (which is a task in and of its own). No Country For Old Men, adapted from Cormac McCarthy’s novel did not need much to bring its story to the screen. Exceptionally cast and shot against the vast, open plains of south Texas, the Coen brothers have pulled off something so grandiose that its simplicity defers the reaction until hours after viewing. The film opens on Josh Brolin’s character hunting elk from a cliff only to miss, which foreshadows his progressive downfall. On his way to look for the animal, he stumbles across a drug deal gone horrible. A massacre is left where he finds a truckload of heroin and 2 million cash. He walks with the cash, reversing his role as the hunted by one of the most haunting characters to ever grace the screen. Anton Chigur, the remorseless hunter not only comes across disturbing, but highly unsettling. His first appearance sets his tone as he strangles a cop while staring at the ceiling. He somewhat depicts the angel of death while he gives many of the characters a chance a chance to repent before escorting them gruesomely into the next world. This process seems to give him some sort of sense of moral accomplishment that only makes sense to him while other characters simply beg. Through this intense thriller. the tones of morality, humanity, age and youth lost shde across without forcefulness. Tommy Lee Jones (of whom I am typically not a fan) gives an Oscar worthy performance as the detective a few steps behind the case. He struggles with the fact that times are changing as it is represented in his worn face. The film closes with an anti- hollywood ending in a speech from Jones that sums up its entire moral undertone. It was these last two minutes that sent my mind spiiming back across the whole two hours appreciating it even more, unfortunately interrupted by a clueless patron next to me who said “what, no closure?” The atypical relationships in the film between the hunter and the hunted, the detective and age and people and morality are beautifully created, naturally and as exposed as the bare landscape. What the Coen Brothers have created here is different than their famous quirky characters in the remote parts of Americana. They have found their place in their own realm between Hollywood and indie- filmmaking. No Country For Old Men is an uncomfortable story for the chases and blood on screen as well as the emotions and struggles dealing with life and death off screen. It lies in the smaller characters and overlooked dialogue, what is important in this exciting, yet sad and poignant story. continued from pg. 1 one if we don’t find it now. The rest of the month is then spent in search of that perfect gift. There are solutions to this madness. Ifyou buy your gifts throughout the year, than the chaos is avoided and no one will need to fight over the last iPhone. It also won’t seem nearly as bad if you spend your money over a period of time instead of wiping your account clean in one month. These are mere suggestions though. How does one win against the advertising industry? One does not. It takes a cue for others to follow. Join The Clarion\ We need Arts & Life reporters to review music, movies and more.
Brevard College Student Newspaper
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Nov. 30, 2007, edition 1
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