100 All-Time Films (To see the entire list, click here)
Joel & Ethan Coen’s No Country for Old Men (2007)
Arguably, the best film of the 2000’s, there should be no denying the placing of this movie on the list. Some people may say Fargo, but I am convinced that No Country for Old Men is their masterpiece (It may not be my favorite Coen brother film because The Big Lebowski is my number one choice in comedy but all things considered, it is their most amazing achievement). No Country for Old Men is one of the top crime thrillers ever made.
First, Javier Bardem’s performance as the hitman Anton Chigurh is absolutely chilling. Probably the most terrifying villain to come to the screen since Anthony Hopkins’s Hannibal Lecter, the Coen brothers don’t let you get comfortable with any of the characters, especially Chigurh. One heart-pounding scene is Chigurh’s word game with the old man behind the cash register. Just simply flipping a coin has never been so interesting, and nervewracking. We don’t know what sets Chigurh off and his unexacting nature makes him such an interesting character to watch.
This brings me to the dialogue and the script. The Coen brothers have always been master wordsmiths. They create a tight script that dabbles in humor but never breaks away from suspense. It also contains the usual Coen brothers themes of fate and circumstance. What is also brilliant about the script, is what is not said in certain instances. The cat-and-mouse chase between Chigurh and Josh Brolin’s Llewelyn Moss are a battle between two intelligent men and the Coen brothers put the audience in a position of observing actions they may not understand at first until further along in the film.
Finally, you have to discuss the cinematography from the great Roger Deakins, his ninth time collaborating with the Coen brothers. He created a very edgy and dark frame without much stylization. Like western directors of the past such as John Ford and Howard Hughes, he lets the desert landscapes take over.
Definitely one of the best films of the decade, No Country for Old Men will remain one of the first standout films of the 21st century and deservedly makes my list of 100.
