Film Review: No Country for Old Men

Based on the acclaimed novel by Pulitzer Prize winner Cormac McCarthy

Plot: The story begins when Llewelyn Moss (Josh Brolin) finds a pickup truck surrounded by a sentry of dead men. A load of heroin and two million dollars in cash are still in the back. When Moss takes the money, he sets off a chain reaction of catastrophic violence that not even the law – in the person of aging, disillusioned Sheriff Bell (Tommy Lee Jones) – can contain. As Moss tries to evade his pursuers – in particular a mysterious mastermind who flips coins for human lives (Javier Bardem) – the film simultaneously strips down the American crime drama and broadens its concerns to encompass themes as ancient as the Bible and as bloodily contemporary as this morning’s headlines.

Easily one of the best films of 2007. To join my fellow filmstalkers on our ongoing analysis and debate of this film, please follow the link here:

http://www.filmstalker.co.uk/archives/2008/01/brolin_defends_poor_no_country.html

With sterling performances from Josh Brolin, Tommy Lee Jones, and Kelly Macdonald, but Javier Bardem was absolutely amazing! I’m reserving my biggest kudos to the Coen Brothers whose direction of this film was just brilliant, and their Director Guild Award rightfully deserved.

No Country for Old Men: 4/5

Film Review: Sweeney Todd

Plot:  Based on Stephen Sondheim’s hit Broadway musical which tells the infamous story of Benjamin Barker, a.k.a Sweeney Todd, who sets up a barber shop down in London which is the basis for a sinister partnership with his fellow tenant, Mrs. Lovett.…(read more…)

Sondheim’s score soars as always and just can’t help crooning Pretty Women and Not While I’m Around but not quite sure if it really did work in this film version by Burton. Vocally, it was an obvious struggle for the actors, but still quite enjoyed Depp, Rickman and Bonham-Carter’s acting. In my humble opinon, as a musical adapted into film it fell flat.

Sweeney Todd: 3.5/5