I just got back from seeing an Independent Film Festival of Boston screening of No Country For Old Men. This is an excellent and interesting film, full of moody West Texas landscape, carefully observant characters, and naturally flowing silence and dialogue. Plus exceptional graphic violence, mayhem and the painful consequences thereof. A Fargo Western.
Josh Brolin was at the screening to answer a few questions about the film, the Coen Brothers and Cormac McCarthy. He was affable and friendly enough, but the obligatory sycophancy took away from the scene – I would have been happier if he hadn’t been there. In person he’s a slick-haired leather-jacket wearing Dennis Quaid-looking Hollywood star type, and seeing him like this served no function beyond destroying the immaculate character the previous two hours had created. Questions answered about the Goonies: Nada. Q&A time spent on hair and makeup: 42 minutes. He’s an excellent actor, and aware of that fact.
Additional points for the dude at the back name dropping working on Pink Panther 2 (with a straight face).
[...] . There was a massive crowd in the Coolidge lobby, unfortunately all there to see the premiere of No Country For Old Men. Overall I think CNHB’s first starring roll and the spicy lasagna went over better [...]