Shouting Grounds

**spoiler alert**

So after No Country won Best Adapted, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Picture, I figured I needed to give it a day in court. After all, I love the Coens’ other movies. I was really happy to see them get top-flight recognition…they deserve it. While both Fargo and O Brother got them best writing Oscars, they hadn’t yet been recognized for their directorial efforts.

So…the movie. From the trailers and commercials I knew Javier Bardem was going to somekind of creepy badass…that gets setup in the first 5 minutes. He’s a creepy cold-blooded mother fucker to be sure. He needs a car so he kills a guy with a compressed air piston. Who the fuck does that? That’s some awesome shit.

The cinematography is entrancing. This movie already feels like quite a departure from the other Coen movies I’ve seen, save perhaps O Brother. Even then, this movie has a far more serious tone in every aspect. In a particular scene, Josh Brolin is chased through the desert by mexican drug runners, the camera work is fantastic and really pulls you into the story. Speaking of Brolin, he’s come a long way since Goonies and Hollow Man. Although in a smaller part, he was great in Planet Terror last year. And Tommy Lee Jones…what can you say? His acting seems so automatic, so effortless.

Another great scene, Bardem has a conversation with the owner of a gas station, and while there’s no plot points or direct action, the scene is so charged with a feeling of dread… His mannerisms, the way he questioned the shopkeep…terrifying in such an abstract way. Fantastic direction.

So by now, you’re saying, “MJS, how much kleenex did you go through up to this point…as you’re obviously wanking over this movie.” I’m just trying to call it as I see it…and so far it’s pretty goddamn well made. While this movie feels different than O Brother, the Big Lebowski or Fargo, there are still some Coen-feeling moments sprinkled in.

After seeing what Bardem is capable of, Josh Brolin’s character is shown to have similar tactical ability, and the stage is carefully set for what should be a great showdown between the two. Each shows so much thought and purpose in everything they do.

Note: Woody Harrelson can really wear a cowboy hat. Make of that what you will.

I’m going to stop pointing out particular scenes…this movie is extremely well crafted. Makers of shit movies everywhere should take notes, this is how it’s done. Great from top to bottom, in all facets of cinema. Go see it. Take your friends.

This entry was posted on Monday, February 25th, 2008 at 8:53 pm and is filed under Film review. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.