Movie Man
When film critic Will Pfeifer isn’t watching movies, he’s reading about movies, talking about movies, thinking about movies or dreaming about movies. Now he shares that unhealthy obsession with you. From Hollywood hits to Japanese obscurities, from Oscar night to the summer season, he’s got movies on the brain — and on this blog.

‘No Country’ on DVD

March 17th, 2008 at 04:36pm Will Pfeifer

nocount2.jpg

This week’s Movie Man column focuses on the DVD release of NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN, the Coen brothers movie that nabbed a fistful of Oscars last month, including Best Picture and Best Supporting Actor (for Javier Bardem, the nasty-looking customer seen above).

You can read the full column at this link, but here’s a short excerpt:

“A lot of people didn’t like (the film’s) ending or just didn’t know what to make of it. It took me by surprise — it’s not how you expect a movie featuring an air hammer-toting assassin to end — but I think it works. “No Country for Old Men” starts out like a down-and-dirty pulp adventure, but it deepens as it goes, becoming a thoughtful, intelligent (though still exciting) meditation on justice, fortune and fate.”

So, what did you folks think of it? And while we’re on the subject of the Coen brothers, what’s your favorite Coen film. Mine’s THE HUDSUCKER PROXY, but I know there are bound to be some BIG LEBOWSKI fans lurking out there, right? Speak up in the comments section.

Entry Filed under: DVD reviews, Oscars

10 Comments Add your own

  • 1. hokumboy  |  March 17th, 2008 at 5:51 pm

    Although not the best they’ve ever done, it’s an excellent film.
    Asking me to pick my favorite Coen Brothers film is like asking me which one of my kids I love the most.
    There’s no clear answer

  • 2. Johnny Bacardi  |  March 17th, 2008 at 9:17 pm

    Not having read the book, I was one of the heathen infidels that felt a bit cheated when those of us who had been thinking that we were leading up to some sort of final confrontation between Chigurh and Moss at that motel. The whole freaking film was leading up to that point, then suddenly we get the rug yanked out from under us, and the rest of the film, while certainly well done (and in the case of Tommy Lee Jones’ character entering the motel room after the fact) and very suspenseful, just seemed anticlimactic. Frankly, I was pissed. Of course, I didn’t know that this was in the book as well. Knowing that now, and after reflection realizing how much I enjoyed everything about the lead-up, I think it’s overall a very good film, maybe not as good overall as Miller’s Crossing, Fargo, Lebowski, and yes, Hudsucker Proxy…but especially after the unwatchable Ladykillers and barely watchable Intolerable Cruelty, it’s a wonderful return to form- outstanding performances, clever script and dialogue, and remarkable cinematography. But that ending, or lack of same, still grates when I think about it.

    Favorite Coens? I used to pop right up and say Miller’s Crossing, but these days it’s #3 behind Fargo and Hudsucker, a flick that gets better every time I see it. Old Men is probably #5 with me right now.

  • 3. Johnny Bacardi  |  March 17th, 2008 at 9:21 pm

    I was one of the heathen infidels that felt a bit cheated when those of us who had been thinking that we were leading up to some sort of final confrontation didn’t get anything of the sort.

    Sorry, left off the end of the sentence. Hand/brain coordination is off.

  • 4. cinesven  |  March 18th, 2008 at 12:12 am

    Miller’s Crossing. The best gangster film to come out in 1990. And yes I know Goodfellas came out that year too.

  • 5. John N  |  March 18th, 2008 at 8:03 am

    Maybe it’s because it’s the first Coen brothers movie I saw in the theater, but I still love RAISING ARIZONA the best. Like all their great movies, it has humor, quotable lines, oddball characters, fun camerawork, great cinematography, and a cast that looked like they were having a great time working on it.

  • 6. Adam  |  March 18th, 2008 at 10:06 pm

    I’m one for The Big Lebowski, that\’s my favorite.

  • 7. hokumboy  |  March 19th, 2008 at 8:25 am

    Did we all miss this?????

    http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/lifestyle/q/chi-0316_lebowski_n_rmar16,0,6463122.story

  • 8. elDizzle  |  March 19th, 2008 at 8:43 am

    I loved No Country For Old Men and thought the ending was right. Anton was an evil, evil person, and he figured if whatever you did throughout your life, led you to cross his path, you did not deserve to live. The best he could give you, if it just happened to be a chance crossing, was a coin flip. Brutal.

    Since it hasn’t been mentioned yet, I’m going to throw O Brother Where Art Thou up for one of my favorite Coen brothers movies.

  • 9. Will Pfeifer  |  March 19th, 2008 at 9:26 am

    After HUDSUCKER, I’d probably pick RAISING ARIZONA as a Coen favorite, then maybe MILLER’S CROSSING or even BARTON FINK. And though no one mentions it much, I thought THE MAN WHO WASN’T THERE was amazing on several levels.

    Hokumboy — Coincidentally, the new issue of Entertainment Weekly (with SNL on the cover) has an article about a writer’s obession with LEBOWSKI

  • 10. The Rose  |  March 19th, 2008 at 10:06 am

    MM….first met you at a shadowy bar called the Black Buzzard. The whiskey was good, the conversation better. What a night that was! I hope you remember. Glad to stumble on to this and catch up. I hope someday we will meet again to discuss movies, comics and life.

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