TORONTO—Javier Bardem says inspiration for his latest role – a sociopath in the new Coen brothers' flick that premiered this weekend at the Toronto International Film Festival – came from an unlikely source: his hair.
Bardem, an Academy Award nominee, stars in "No Country for Old Men," a new thriller from Joel and Ethan Coen. He plays Anton Chigurh, a stilly sociopath killer chasing money from a botched heroine deal. The movie is set in 1980 near the Rio Grande.
In his attempts to retrieve the briefcase of money, Chigurh eliminates anyone in his path at whim.
While the angry character seems a stark contrast to the heavily accented Spanish-born actor, Bardem found a bit of help slipping into the role from his haircut, a bowl-shaped coiffure reminiscent of the Beatles Era.
"I found it in the hair... the haircut," says Bardem.
"I saw [the image of Chigurh] and thought this guy is out of sync, this guy is a frame behind the people in normal life."
Breaking out of the stereotypical Coen Brothers style, No Country displays a great deal of violence, which some will find too much for the big screen. Yet Bardem drew praise for this portrayal.
The film also stars Josh Brolin, Kelly McDonald, and Tommy Lee Jones. It is due for North American release on Nov. 9.
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