To film Cormac McCarthy’s best-selling, Mexican border drug deal snafu novel No Country for Old Men, Joel and Ethan Coen needed just the right star. Instead they got his son, Josh. D’oh!

How could Josh Brolin plausibly be a Vietnam vet? Simple: set the story in 1980 instead of the present day. A quick huddle with production designer Jess Gonchor and, bingo, we’re a period picture.

Har har. They’re just kidding.

• No Country for Old Men: in theatres November 9th, 2007.