The past, present and future? No Country for Old Men leaves that and much more open to interpretation. (Miramax)
No Country for Old Men picked up an armful of Oscars last month pleasing art house fans but leaving others scratching their heads. (This year's Oscar ceremony, honoring a host of smaller indie films, was the lowest rated Oscar show in years signalling to Hollywood that mainstream audiences weren't thrilled with the artier selections.) Critics embraced No Country for Old Men but many people left the theater baffled by the film's less than conclusive ending. The film comes out on DVD today providing the film's fans with another opportunity to enjoy the Coens' meticulous filmmaking style, and skeptics the opportunity to give the film a second chance. I have always found that the Coens' films get better with each viewing so I suggest giving the film another shot if you felt frustrated by the ending. I own all their films on DVD and laser laser disc (yes I still have a huge collection of those dinosaurs!) precisely because I find new things in them every time I watch them. For anyone who missed the film completely, it serves up a bleak and brutal adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's novel about a drug deal gone wrong, a found stash of stolen money, and an unstoppable killer. The film stars Tommy Lee Jones, Josh Brolin and Oscar-winner Javier Bardem.The DVD offers three Bonus Features: The Making of No Country for Old Men (about translating the book to the screen); Working with the Coens (about how the brothers work together); and Diary of a Country Sheriff (Tommy Lee Jone on his character of Sheriff Bell). But you're lucky to get any extras from the laconic Coens, who tend to reveal little of themselves or their craft. The Coens are probably the only filmmakers who ever released a director's cut in which their revised version was shorter than their original release, that was for the re-release of Blood Simple.
Read my review of No Country for Old Men and enjoy some of the thoughtful comments posted by readers.
