No Country For Old Men (2007)
How a coin toss changed cinema.
Presentation:
Coen Brother's masterpiece. Javier Bardem is unrecognizable as a tour de force as one of the great villains conceived, completely overshadowing it's talented cast. The plot is sharp with a truly inevitable force with philosophically meaningful themes and ideas. The cinematography from Deakins speaks volumes about specificity and simplicity. Even without a soundtrack, the film will keep you on the edge of your seat the entire time, immersing you in some of the most tense scenes in cinema. This might be what peak storytelling look like for any modern film.
Story:
So many well presented themes and tropes. You have the infallible cat and mouse mechanic that never disappoints in a rich southern setting with moral ambiguity among realistically motivated characters. Bardem is a believable psychopath that subverts the audience, as you even begin to consider his philosophy on fate. I would say at some point you may even agree with him despite wanting him to fall. This may be close to a perfect film.
Conclusion:
Gritty realism, determinism, this smart script never holds your hands and expects you to put the pieces together. One of the best films in this list, daringly compelling with basically no flaws.
Recommendations
A visually impressive war film shot in one take.