Erm.......... I went to see this this afternoon.

Technically brilliant, I don't think I could ever call it "engaging" although I would take little persuasion to call it "overlong".

Rather than Charlie Varrick, I was reminded of Psycho - money / motel / weirdo. / blood

The set pieces were excellent - the opening with Brolin discovering the start of the mystery. The film is, by necessity, repetitive - underlining the routine nature of the hitman - Javier Bardem (with the least flattering hair in any film for a long time). The suspense is truly gripping, although there are a couple of major problems that probably don't matter in the book - most of the major characters are not that likeable, so it is hard to sympathise (Kelly Macdonald - as the wide - and Tommy Lee Jones excepted). Lee Jones as the sheriff is underused, but brings a real sense of normality when he is onscreen.

The real Coen moment for me is the mariachi band in Mexico (if it was a mariachi band).

I expected more - but I have seen far worse. if you like being scared - go see it.