Written & Directed By: Joel & Ethan Coen (The Coen Brothers)
Based On The Book By: Cormac McCarthy
Edited By: Joel Coen & Ethan Coen as Roderick Jaynes
Cinematography By: Roger Deakins
Cast: Tommy Lee Jones, Josh Brolin, Javier Bardem, Kelly McDonald, Woody Harrelson, Stephen Root, Barry Corbin, Garret Dillahunt
This movie works on so many levels. It's hard to describe. I will try the best i can but i suggest it's better to understand by watching it without knowing too many details. Though i can imagine by now you have heard or seen quite a bit of it.
The film is a modern day philosophical western dressed up as a crime thriller. Much is said in the movie by looks and actions. it's like watching a well choreographed silent movie with a little sound. There is no score so at times scenes feel as bare as the country wasteland, The characters reside in. Not so much dialogue. It's brutally violent without a moments notice. In fact it is so quiet sometimes that when sound comes back into the film especially when the guns get pulled out and used just the shots are so loud now that it's been quiet they startle.
There are many scenes like the one in FARGO where Marge the sheriff has lunch with a old high school friend. A scene that doesn't furthur the plot along, but they give insight not only into the characters, but the philosophy of the film. The ending is not action oriented. It's more calm and particularly non-eventful everytime you think the movie is going to end it keeps going. That is not a complaint. In fact i greatly appreciate it.
This film is a different kind for the coen brothers who are already great filmmakers. Here they take material that they didn't originate and add part of their own spin and voice into it. They up their game and change up the style somewhat yet still allow for moments of quirky humor. Which is their trademark but this film is more realistic and brutal then their previous work.
The camerawork while beautiful and catching the landscape. Is not as structured and distracting as it can be like in previous films they have made.
The film has no true star. This film is more of an ensemble inthe truest sense. the character you won't forget is Javier Bardem's character who is Scary likea human terminator who doesn't let anyone even the people who hire him stand in the way of him finishing his mission. He will not stop until the job is completely done. He seems tohave no moral code. He even has a memorable bullet removing scene that rivals the terminator's where the terminator has to do his own self surgery on his eye.
The other actors create full three dimensional characters that are memorable but low key. Like woody harrelson's character this film reminds you how good a actor he can be if given the right role and material. It's rare to see him in a dramatic role of waht you think will be a savior. Unfortunately he is another soul dragged into the quicksand of trouble. Tommy Lee Jones is his gruff self whil making his character noteworthy. This is one of the few times Josh Brolin has really had a chance to sink his teeth into a role. That at first looks heroic but as the film goes on reveals more of a dark side that even he didn't see coming. It was a role Heath Ledger almost was in but decided to turn it down to get some rest formhis hectic schedule.
A big theme of the movie is fate and greed. This is a film that belongs in your film library. It seems slow at first but as the story goes and the more you get to learn about it. You will be on the edge of your seat.
GRADE: A
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