ROTTEN TOMATOES: Cannes: Coen Brothers Are Back With "No Country For Old Men"

Cannes: Coen Brothers Are Back With "No Country For Old Men"

by Jen Yamato | May 18, 2007

Good news for fans of "The Big Lebowski," "Blood Simple," and "Fargo": the Coen Brothers have returned to form with "No Country For Old Men," which debuted today at Cannes.

Genuinely amazing debuts have been somewhat rare in the first few days of the Cannes Film Festival, but "No Country For Old Men," a cross-border crime thriller starring Javier Bardem, James Brolin, and Tommy Lee Jones created an audible buzz in the Debussy theater lobby as members of the press spilled out of the aisles after tonight's press screening.

Going into the screening it seemed few people knew much about the film, aside from the fact that it was the first full length feature film from writer-directors Joel and Ethan Coen since 2004's misfire "The Ladykillers." Adding more fuel for doubt was the fact that the duo have detoured in recent years from crime/thriller/dramas they've excelled in with earlier movies like "Blood Simple," "Miller's Crossing," and "Fargo."

Rest assured, though -- not only does "No Country" deliver another excellent Coen Brothers film, it also delves thematically deeper than your average crime thriller with its sprawling saga of a drug deal gone wrong, a bag of cash, a hunter on the run (Brolin), and the philosophizing psychopath on his trail (Bardem). Both men are impassive lone wolf types hurtling towards a Western-style duel, though one packs firepower to protect his stolen stash and wife while the other is driven by a singular sort of assassin's destiny, leaving some lives to a coin toss while holding others to a code of honor. Driving parallel to their deadly pas-de-deux is the comically observed investigations of an aging local sheriff (Jones) who remains always a half-step behind, consumed with his own self-conscious musings on being an old-school sheriff in an increasingly dangerous, murderous world.

Based on Cormac McCarthy's novel of the same name, "No Country For Old Men" packs plenty of bloody action and suspense, though more notably it's infused with the Coen touch of dark humor and wordplay. Miramax will release the flick November 21.

Check out the rest of our Cannes 2007 coverage here, including our daily photo blog adventures!!

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(1-11 of 11 posts) | Reply

A Lapse In Reason writes:
on May 18 2007 02:50 PM

Does anyone know if there is a trailer out yet?

(Reply to this)

arendr writes:
on May 18 2007 03:28 PM

Cool! It's been a while since we've had a good Coen brother's film.

(Reply to this)

skasforfags writes:
on May 19 2007 09:48 AM

The book was pretty good, from which this is based, so I am psyched.

(Reply to this)

unbreakable_samurai writes:
on May 19 2007 10:33 AM

I love the Coen Brother's, and this sounds pretty damn sweet, so I'm overjoyed to hear that the initial reaction was good for it.

(Reply to this)

rt_hire_me writes:
on May 19 2007 10:57 PM

In reply to this comment (#865993)
Raising Arizona is the funniest movie ever made. Ever. If this is going to be another bloodbath my wife can't watch, I'm going to be ticked.

(Reply to this)

Jen Yamato writes:
on May 20 2007 06:30 AM

In reply to this comment (#865994)
Interesting AKA there...

Since I'm about as squeamish as they come when a gun, a knife, or a hard look comes onscreen, I was a bit terrified going into "No Country..." There's an opening sequence that's quite chilling, and graphic, and mesmerizing, not to mention lots of subsequent gunplay and blood and the like. And yet, I loved it! If you're wife's a fraidy cat like me tell her to pm me and I'll spill all the scary details so she knows when to cover her eyes!

Now, if only "Death Proof" would be that simple...

(Reply to this)

MadmanCody writes:
on May 20 2007 09:08 AM

there is plenty of pg-13 rated movies coming out this year, that aren't too intense for you. i feel bad being a 19 year old saying this.

(Reply to this)

thinkblue_2258 writes:
on May 21 2007 07:02 AM

The Coen Brothers are the ultimate film geniuses. They rock. The Big Lebowski is the greatest movie ever made. The others were awesome too but the Big Lebowski is a real gem. God bless the Coens for getting back in the game. I've been going through major withdrawl. November 21st can't get here soon enough. But hey, the Dude abides.

(Reply to this)

frogleg writes:
on May 24 2007 05:44 AM

In reply to this comment (#865997)
The Big Lebowski FTW!

(Reply to this)

frogleg writes:
on May 24 2007 05:46 AM

In reply to this comment (#865995)
I never would have guessed you were a gore-pansy, Jen.
There's really only one scene in Death Proof that's hard on the squeamish... or did that change with the extended cut? I was under the impression that was mostly lap dance & talking.

(Reply to this)

Jen Yamato writes:
on Jun 17 2007 08:34 AM

In reply to this comment (#865999)
Frogleg, I am probably the biggest pansy in the RT world. You're right, one scene in Death Proof was particularly hard to watch. I will say the extended lap dance scene is riveting. I didn't mind the talkiness and preferred the second half, though each one has its own charm.

(Reply to this)

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