Caffeinated Clint
By Ashley Hillard
This one – one of the best films not just of the last few years, but quite potentially, of all time – probably needs no introduction, so let’s keep the summary as short as Verne Troyer :
Llewelyn Moss (Josh Brolin, finally escaping the dens of cinematic hell – hello “Into the Blue”!) comes across a drug deal gone violently wrong. With everyone dead and two million dollars left up for grabs, Moss takes the money and runs. This sets Anton Chigurh (Javier Bardem) on Moss’ trail, killing everyone in his path to get Moss and get the money.
Tommy Lee Jones plays the ‘good’ Sheriff Ed Tom Bell, who hunts Chigurh as he hunts Moss (get all that?). Caught up in the mix is Moss’ wife, Carla Jean Moss (Kelly MacDonald). She stays by Llewelyn’s side as he tries to keep her out of the mess he has made by taking the money. As Bell chases Moss and then Chigurh, the story spins into an interesting and dark tale about changing times and greed.
Oh, and yeah… have a sick bag on hand; even a plastic grocery bag will do.
Thank you Joel and Ethan Coen for helping usher the Western back into style. Though not set in the 1800’s, this film has all the grit and lawlessness found in the classic gunslinger jaunts, with solid characters set against a rural country back drop. As the viewer winds through the story it is not always clear who is good, who is evil and who you should root for – but that’s a good thing; it only adds to the mystery and appeal of the rather un-Hollywood production. Excellent use of visuals help to tell this story that could not have been told any better – hence its favourable reception at the Kodak theatre a year ago.
Extras
The ‘Jam-packed’ 3-disc Collector’s Edition DVD includes a bevy of great extras, beginning with a very interesting making-of, a featurette on the director’s, and a diary of a real country sheriff.
The second disc includes Josh Brolin’s unauthorized behind-the-scenes piece; a q & a with Joel and Ethan Coen, Roger Deakins and the sound and production design crews; The Charlie Rose episode featuring Joel and Ethan Coen, Josh Brolin and Javier Bardem; EW.com featuring “Just A Minute…With Javier Bardem”; Variety Screening Series Q & A and an Instore Appearance with Javier Bardem and Josh Brolin. As if that weren’t enough there is also an ABC “Popcorn” video, Channel 4 News – Joel and Ethan Coen appearance and several more intereviews. Disc three is a digital copy to take with you when you travel.
