Just saw "No Country for Old Men"

[Taverner]

Meh - it was OK. Pretty much a straight up crime drama, depressing and violent.

Granted, better than the last two Coen Brothers movies - but still not something I'd recommend.

Although the tension in the "Friendo" scene was pretty good. Other than that, pretty much a waste.

[rockymountaindem]

1. You can't just say "meh". You have to call it, friendo.

I thought the book and the movie were both bad.

[Taverner]

2. What was the point of the whole thing?

I don't get it...

[rockymountaindem]

3. I think the point was that a whole new breed of criminal scared the pants off the grizzled old cop

But it was a lot of meandering to make that one point.

[Taverner]

5. That was it???

Jeez, and I thought their movie "Man who wasn't there" was pointless

[av8rdave]

24. Actually, I think that was just one story line

The cop being scared wasn't news. If you read the book, he basically says in the beginning that he won't face "a true prophet of destruction." Of course, the choice of words is pretty profound: "A man would have to put his soul at hazard..."

I believe a great deal of the film has to do with chance and happenstance - the seemingly random confluence of events and probability that cause any event, good or evil, to actually occur. The film also touched on how unaware most of us are about how chance, coincidence and probability dictate even the most major things in our lives (to include our demise). The last scene involving Chigurh directly was when the sheriff walked into the hotel room where Lewellyn was murdered. The sheriff never understood the significance of the coin on the floor. Obviously, it was used to remove the vent cover, but it was likely flipped as well, determining the sheriff's fate.

Intriguing story, along with beautiful cinematography. One of my favorites.

That being said, the book was better.

[jobycom]

29. That's my take on it, too.

And much shorter than I usually explain it. :thumbsup:

Never read the book, so I can neither confirm nor deny your last point. I think the movie is about as perfect as a movie can be, though, except perhaps in having the Coen's normal aversion to any emotional climax.

[slay]

40. Great point about the coin

also love your "Republicans are people too" pic.. :rofl:

[EastTennesseeDem]

8. Anton Chigurh is Death.

Virtually everything in the movie revolves around this point. Some consider it ingenious, others consider it pretentious.

[EastTennesseeDem]

32. I should add that I am of the former mindset.

[SteppingRazor]

13. Once you realize who the protagonist of the tale is, it makes more sense. n/t

[Taverner]

14. Anton Chigurh?

That didn't clear much up for me...

[Orrex]

41. Nope.

It's Bell.

[slay]

44. Indeed.

My dad got it at the end - at first he didn't get how the movie kept going after what happened to Lewellen, but then at the final scene in the house he got it going - Oh wow, it was really about him. Then we watched it again. :evilgrin:

[zonkers]

55. " Anton Chigurh is not a psychopath; he is death." If you watch the film closely there are

subtle details which indicate this. I had read a good article about this. Could not find it but found this at....http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_was_the_meaning_of_the_end_of_No_Country_for_Old_Men

......

Anton Chigurh is not a psychopath; he is death. The sheriff understood this near the end and when he saw him in the reflection of the blown out lock, he knew he was there but survived because he was not willing to face death. His fear of death leads to guilt for allowing others to die.

Chigurh kills anyone who "sees" him and believes he is not a ghost. When the accountant asks Chigurh "are you going to kill me?" he answers "that depends do you see me?". After the car accident near the end, the 2 boys agree they never saw him.

Moss thought if he ditched the transponder he could not be found. Woody Harrelson's character lets him know this is not the case and that death is inevitable if he continues down the path he is taking. As a hired killer, they "worked" together previously. Moss's continued greed and attempts to save himself also led to his wife's death.

[Orrex]

59. Loved the book, loved the film, but I have to say that interpretation doesn't thrill me

Chigurh-as-Death is simply too facile and obvious IMO. Considering McCarthy's body of work and his particular interest in conflicts being resolved by a coin toss (or the equivalent), it seems more likely that Chigurh is several things at once, of which one of them may be an agent of Death.

But to name him specifically as the Grim Reaper is a bit limiting, rather like trying to pigeonhole the Judge from Blood Meridian.

[Forkboy]

4. It was anything but straight up, imo.

In fact, it's one of the deepest movies I've seen this decade. Layered, thoughtful, and it assumes the audience is intelligent (as opposed to most movies which assume the opposite). It's study on both the nature of violence and the nature of fate, both of which can be totally unpredictable. Each character is a metaphor in a way. Tommy Lee Jones character is a metaphor for the old ways, a time when things were simpler. Chigurh is a metaphor for fate, or chance, and how our lives are basically at the whim of both. He also represents the new way that the Tommy Lee Jones character can't wrap his head around. Is it violence for the fun of it, is it for a reason? Both? Neither? TLJ's character doesn't know, and doesn't understand it. At the end of the movie he realizes he's out of his depth with this new breed of criminal (the movie is set in Texas 1980, just as drug running was taking off in a major way). He's the Old Man in the title, and he realizes his country is no longer for him, he no longer fits in with what it's becoming.

I wish even a fraction of the movies put out these days were as deep as this was.

[Taverner]

6. I dunno - I don't buy the premise for one

The drugrunners of the 80's and 90's were just like the bootleggers of old.

Violent people are violent - they always have been and always will be

I don't think this country has changed in so much as its reporting has

[cemaphonic]

18. Actually, this is adressed (I think - it definitely is in the book)

His hermit (uncle?) points this out to him, and I think it comes up once or twice in his internal monologues. He's just lucky to have been sheriff of a quiet peaceful town, and he romanticizes the past.

[jobycom]

34. One meaning not often discussed is the Star Trek interpretation.

The undiscovered country, or the use of the word "country" to mean everything from what lies beyond death (as in Hamlet) or the past (Star Trek), or even the idea of country being the place where a person truly belongs (John Le Carre, for instance). Country isn't a place, it's a realm of existence.

It isn't that the 80s were worse than other times, it was that Tommy Lee Jones was old, and no longer belonged in the country that produced Chigurh. Chigurh wasn't unique, Jones was just not able to understand it anymore--the unknown motives, the brutal violence, the constant danger. The world had moved past him. His dream at the end makes that almost explicit, as he realizes that like those before him, he had to leave the country that he no longer belonged to.

[redqueen]

16. Yep... it was anything but straight up.

Nice analysis... I agree with the poster upthread who said Chigurh's character represented death, though.

[PVnRT]

21. One part confused me, towards the beginning

Chigurh kills the two people on the highway, then appears to get arrested by Jones, taken to the station, where he kills the deputy and presumably escapes. I know at the end, Jones says, basically, he's done, but I could never quite figure out when the arrest takes place in relation to the rest of the film.

I probably need to watch again, only seen it once.

[Orrex]

33. I think you may have misinterpreted the scene

I don't believe that Bell (Jones) arrests Chigurh (Bardem). IIRC Chigurh is arrested by the deputy and taken to the station, where he quickly kills the deputy and escapes.

[slay]

42. Loved your take on it Forkboy

I agree 100%. I was blown away - even more so upon multiple viewings. Showed it to my 76 year old dad - and he loved it too. I pick up something new every time I watch this movie - as is the case with most Coen Bros flicks.

[Forkboy]

57. The ending totally threw me the first time I watched it.

It was the second viewing that made it all fall into place for me. I liked it the first time through, but I didn't get the part about the dream at the end. It kept eating at me for a week so I watched it again, and then it all made sense. :)

[blogslut]

7. I can't say I loved it

I can only say I was haunted by it.

Amazing movie.

[GreenPartyVoter]

9. I didn't care for it although I did feel sad when Brolin's character died. I did find him to be

interesting.

[joeybee12]

10. I agree...nothing special, pretty lame and predicatable...

..same old Coens Bros over-rated crap.

[Taverner]

11. Usually I love the Coen Brothers - Big Lebowski was pure GENIUS

[redqueen]

17. Lebowski is a great flick...

but it's essentially just a take on The Big Sleep.

[joeybee12]

19. Actually, the only one I cared for was Miller's Crossing...

...everything else I've been bored by.

[Patiod]

30. I loved Blood Simple

and thought it was so original at the time.

No Country For Old Men is tarnished by how much I don't get and don't like Cormac McCarthy's work, I think because I don't have the Y chromosome that helps readers appreciate his books.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

12. It's been on TV and it has grown on me the past two viewings.

I was considerably "meh" when I first saw it. I still think it pales in comparision to either "Fargo" or "The Big Lebowski", which are the Coens at their finest. But the thing about the Coens is that their movies do grow on you after seeing them. I remember feeling intially disappointed after seeing both "The Big Lebowski" and "O Brother Where Art Thou", only to really grow to enjoy them upon repeat viewing.

One thing I do like about NCFOM is its mood--silent, desolate, barren...it helps build the suspense throughout the movie. It was quite similar to the mood in "Blood Simple" which was their first film.

[gratuitous]

15. "Meh" was my initial reaction to Fargo

As well as The Big Lebowski and Miller's Crossing. Fargo and The Big Lebowski definitely grew on me with subsequent viewings. I've only seen Miller's Crossing the one time, and I saw The Ladykillers only in the theater. I'm willing to give them both another viewing, as well as Intolerable Cruelty. Barton Fink continues to elude me for some reason. Loved O Brother Where Art Thou and Raising Arizona from the get-go.

One thing about Coen Brothers movies is that there seems to always be something else to see, unlike about 95% of the popular dreck steaming out of Hollywood's dream factory.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

22. Fargo struck me from the get-go

For whatever reason, the ending really left an impression on me.

The Big Lebowski was a disappointment when I first saw it. Perhaps because I was sad about what happened with Donny. But after about 2 viewings I had a much better appreciation for the movie. Dozens of viewings later it is just as classic.

[gratuitous]

23. Yeah, Donny's death was sad

But since it was Steve Buscemi, you just get used to seeing him die in revolting ways in Coen Brothers movies. The John Goodman character was one I definitely didn't care for at first viewing, but I've gotten to like him better and better. Someday, I'm going to get to use the line "Shut the fuck up, Donny" in real life.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

52. It's funny how everyone's initial reaction to Lebowski is negative...

....and then how quickly it then becomes someone's favorite picture. Personally, it's my third favorite film of all time, and the best comedy ever.

[jakeXT]

20. Meh was my reaction, too. When watching the bts I was surprised that the girl was from Scotland

and played a Texan.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0531808/

[applegrove]

25. Psychopaths do force people to make choices but not in that way.

They force people to choose between to things that will greatly deminish one's life once they have you boxed into a corner. Like in Sophie's choice. Just an fyi.

[kwassa]

26. It is a great piece of film-making.

If one were to compare this against Tarentino's violent films, this is far more real and terrifying.

Javier Bardem was truly frightening.

At the same time, I just saw the original "Terminator" film from 1984 last night, and was struck by the similarities of the story, though the acting was stagey by comparison. Arnold played the role that Bardem now had.

[Aviation Pro]

27. Chigurh.exe

[slay]

28. No Country For Old Men was a cinematic masterpiece IMO

It did win the Oscar for Best Picture ya know. No other movie would have the balls to have so much time with no talking - just setting the scene, and beautifully I might add. No other movie would have the main character Llewelyn Moss - well you know - I don't want to spoil - but with so much of the movie left to go. No other movie would have to balls to make it REALLY about Tommy Lee Jones character despite everything else that goes on in the movie. It's a deep movie on many levels that I didn't fully appreciate until after multiple viewings. Maybe you should try watching it again - or perhaps you are just not a Coen Bros fan. :shrug: BTW - The Big Lebowski is my favorite movie of all time and I'm a HUGE Coen Bros fan. :evilgrin:


‘No Country’ is the big winner with 4 awards
Coen brothers’ film takes best picture, best supporting actor, among others

LOS ANGELES - The Coen brothers completed their journey from the fringes to Hollywood’s mainstream on Sunday, their crime saga “No Country for Old Men” winning four Academy Awards, including best picture, in a ceremony that also featured a strong international flavor.

more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23323817/

[smoochpooch]

35. I enjoyed it but thought There Will be Blood should have won best picture. n/t

[slay]

37. You know - I still haven't see There Will Be Blood - think I'll watch it tonight

got it awhile ago, heard it was great - just never found the time to watch it. thnx for the reminder. although, being a HUGE Coen Bros fan, i doubt i'd choose it over No Country, but i'll give it a fair chance.. :)

[EastTennesseeDem]

39. I thought No Country was better

But the climax of There Will Be Blood is truly astonishing.

I'm trying to think of another actor who could have done what Daniel Day-Lewis did there.

[Stardust]

43. There's definitely one movie that had " the balls to have so much time with no

talking." I didn't get to watch much of it but I loved the opening scenes with the sparse (or was it non-existent) dialog. Was it up for Best Picture? Really???

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

51. TWBB was a one man acting show, but not a great movie

The movie itself left something to be desired. Some of the scenes were just so campy, specifically when Plainview gets baptized and the final scene in the bowling alley. They didn't fit the otherwise dreary, plodding tone.

[Orrex]

31. Bardem's performance alone makes it one of the best films of the past 20 years

The film is so rich that it defies a quick dismissal. Structurally, it does things that simply don't happen in 99.99% of films: the apparent protagonist dies; his execution isn't shown, despite a long build-up to it; the antagonist escapes; the actual protagonist isn't revealed until quite late in the film.

In addition, the film plays brilliantly against expectation when Carson Wells is killed. Typically, his character would be a sort of savior in a white hat, swooping in to rescue Moss. Instead, Chigurh kills him effortlessly and relatively soon after Wells is introduced as a force to be reckoned with.

And all of the above refers simply to the story itself, for which the credit must be given to McCarthy, of course. Beyond that, the film is beautifully shot, exquisitely paced, and masterfully choreographed.

[slay]

38. Spot on review Orrex!

You should write movie reviews for your local paper - for such a short one you hit all the major points that make this movie a masterpiece. I've never read any novels by Cormac McCarthy, but have The Road as my next book to read. Gonna read No Country also at some point. Again - great summary of why this movie rules. :evilgrin:

[armyowalgreens]

36. It told a a very well written story of a ruthless killer and those that get in his way.

The acting was superb. The cinematography was awesome.

It was an excellent film.

[old mark]

45. I enjoyed the acting - my wife, who loves violence in movies,

saw it twice, laughed all the way through it.

mark

[TK421]

46. I enjoyed it....a bit long in parts, really slow-moving

almost fell asleep until Anton killed someone...that woke me up and kept me awake for awhile

[travelingtypist]

47. Hated this movie. Hated it. HATED IT.

I'm supposed to enjoy people being killed by a guy with an air compressor?

:puke:

[slay]

48. Um.. ok.. why don't you tell us how you really feel?

And you obviously missed the whole point of the movie. Read some of the other comments in this thread and you'll see what I mean. Also, hate is a strong word and bad for the soul. Peace.

[travelingtypist]

49. I didn't miss anything.

The "hero" dies, the guy killing people walks away.

Absolutely pointless.

Tough to come up with a snarky-yet-not-too-insulting comment about being "lectured" about how I feel about a movie. I must be tired.

:eyes:

[slay]

50. You are indeed entitled to your own opinion

But what you describe is NOT the point of the movie. You obviously did not read the other comments in this thread and seem like quite an angry person who I no longer wish to discuss this with. Good day.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

53. "The "hero" dies, the guy killing people walks away."

Sometimes, that's life.

[Forkboy]

58. It's quite clear that you missed a lot.

You must have been tired that night as well.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

54. Liked it a lot, maybe not best picture worthy though

It was also hard to watch Bardem in "Vicki Cristina Barcelona" after this.

[Paladin]

56. Outstanding Movie; Worthy Of Winning Best Picture. (n/t)