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Rating: The latest film by the Cohen brothers, which triumphed at the Oscars, is a very clear and sharp work, like drinking a glass of ice water.
The film tells the story of three men: a ruthless killer, a policeman trying to catch him, and an innocent Texas "cowboy" who finds the money the killer is looking for, hoping to use it to live happily with his wife.
This money belongs to a drug multinational that probably hired the killer to recover it from a gang of criminals who had stolen it.
Even though the plot feels somewhat familiar, the Cohens manage to intertwine the stories well, thoroughly analyzing each character: the killer in his restlessness, the "cowboy" in his innocence (as he takes the money to live happily with his wife), and the sadness of the policeman who finds himself confronted with a painful reality that is the film's center. In fact, being older, the policeman understands that the world is not made for him, that his is no country for old men, indeed.
Furthermore, the film is directed very well, with shots reminiscent of classic thrillers of the past, from Hitchcock to De Palma, with a use of reflections that is nothing short of brilliant.
The cinematography is perfectly dark and gray, giving the film the right dark and at times distressing tone. The glue between the characters is precisely this state of worry and anxiety that each character has.
First and foremost, the killer must come to terms with his violent "work," sometimes questioning if it's right to execute an innocent. He relies, in fact, on a coin to decide the fate of some "marginal" victims who are not the real target.
The policeman and the cowboy are concerned about their present and consequently their future; the former because he knows his time is coming to an end and thus does not know what his future will be like; the latter because he finds himself fighting to provide his wife with a better life than the one spent in a camper.
The actors are all excellent, but certainly, Javier Bardem stands out for his perfect portrayal (awarded with an Oscar) of a very, very restless person.
The ending is perhaps the least successful part, but for a film so masterfully directed, acted, and written, it's a minor flaw.
Oscars for Best Adapted Screenplay, Direction, Best Picture, and Best Supporting Actor Javier Bardem are well-deserved.
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