No Country for Old Men: Review By justincase

A brilliant film with extraordinary writing/dialogue plays out on screen with stunning visuals and great direction.

The BIG problem was the ending.

I know this is the big complaint here. You either love it or you hate it...

Bottom line is this...

...sometimes the "Hollywood Ending" is the payoff. The satisfaction of a resolution that ties up certain loose ends can be the great capping desert to a wonderful 7-course meal. Without it, it's just a great meal without the ultimate crowning crescendo.

*** SPOILER ***

Why could Jones not have sparked that murderous sumbitch and trotted off with the dinero?

For MOST of the running time, this is a compelling and fascinating film. It is rich, and satisfying... then... dropped on the floor and shattered like a raw egg. SPLAT.

While I give this thing 4.5 start across the board, the OVERALL gets only a 4, solely because of the ending.

This thing was HEADED to a 5-star rating (story WOULD HAVE been a 5, as would have directing), but there was no way to, directorially, help that crap).

So disappointing...

Enjoy the first hour and a half... once you reach that point, it's all down-hill from there.