WTF happend in "No Country for Old Men"

[Off The Glass]

Please someone, anyone, explain to me what happend in "No Country for Old Men".

I mean i watched it... i know what happend but the ending left me confused. The ending made me think maybe the movie is crap!

Ive been searching the net and read that tommy lee jones is that killer guy the whole time (like a fight club type thing)... is that right? couldnt be.

[fatboy11]

Please someone, anyone, explain to me what happend in "No Country for Old Men".

I mean i watched it... i know what happend but the ending left me confused. The ending made me think maybe the movie is crap!

Ive been searching the net and read that tommy lee jones is that killer guy the whole time (like a fight club type thing)... is that right? couldnt be.Nope.

It is what it is. What you saw is exactly what happened. The movie just ended. :confusedshrug:

Awesome movie.

[johndeeregreen]

Like I said, it's a hour and forty-five minutes of brilliant filmmaking followed by ten minutes of the Coen brothers getting bored making it and deciding to just abruptly end it.

[Randy]

Like I said, it's a hour and forty-five minutes of brilliant filmmaking followed by ten minutes of the Coen brothers getting bored making it and deciding to just abruptly end it.

Wrong. It's based on a novel. The Coen brothers did not "get bored", are you kidding me?




The ending rocked, there was no big relief. There was no lame payoff with Tommy Lee shooting Anton in the head and saying "Welcome to Odessa, mother****er!".

Everyone walked out of the theater quiet because no one is able to relax: Anton is still out there.

[jbot]

i gotta see this.

[RIP CITY]

I hated the ending. Still a good movie, but I felt cheated. What's the point of following the story when there is no ending?? I have a feeling that after the Sopranos thing, there will be a new movement of movies, and shows with no ending because like most things, it's a copycat genre.

[Frank Foley]

Does Anton kill the wife? I know it's left open-ended, but it seems as if his outlook has changed after their meeting (paying the kid for his shirt, not acting pissed at the dude who T-bones his car, not killing the kids). Her response to the coin flip clearly got through to him on some level.

[RIP CITY]

It was based on a book that was released around 2005... They did not copy the Sopranos...


That last part really wasn't a comment on this movie, just something that came to mind when I was posting. I haven't read the book, but I heard about it before I watched the movie. Still think there will be some copycats out there who will try to replicate the Sopranos, and now with this movie having a big following we'll probably see some more no-ending movies/tv going around. I could be wrong, but I wouldn't be surprised.

[johndeeregreen]

Wrong. It's based on a novel. The Coen brothers did not "get bored", are you kidding me?
I haven't read the book, but unless it's 300 pages of great stuff with a five page climax and resolve, then the Coen brothers did just decide "yeahhhh, we pumped an hour and a half of fantastic filmmaking into this, let's just wrap this up in about ten minutes or so, get it over with."


The ending rocked, there was no big relief. There was no lame payoff with Tommy Lee shooting Anton in the head and saying "Welcome to Odessa, mother****er!".
Didn't need to be that at all. The premise of the ending is fine. But the way it was annotated was terrible.

[ElKuKuy]

A couple weeks ago someone posted a link so we can watch I Am Legend on line.

Does anyone know a link to watch No Country.....???

[Kebab Stall]

A couple weeks ago someone posted a link so we can watch I Am Legend on line.

Does anyone know a link to watch No Country.....???
Go to watch-movies.net, that's where I watched it.

[Rameek]

I never read the book. To me its 2 stories in one. The last criminal investigation either gave Sheriff Bell an epiphany or helped him realize he was out dated it was time to retire. I didnt have a problem with the ending.

Of course he killed Carla. He didnt kill the boys because they possibly just saw him leave that house where he killed her and then he gets in an accident in broad daylight in a residential area with the same kids as witnesses.

What bothered me was why didnt Carson take the money and go? Why go back to the hotel where Anton was especially when you know he's crazy?

Good Movie

[ConanRulesNBC]

I liked the way it ended. Great movie, easily my favorite movie of 2007.

[Thorpesaurous]

I went to see it a second time and a lot of stuff cleared for me. Knowing the story, and not feeling obliged to follow it, I was able to hone in more on the minutea of the dialogue. Especially since the movie has NO music. It doesn't really give you any pace. So as it was wrapping up, everytime they cut to something, it felt like more was going to happen. Especially the closing speach. Being able to see that, knowing that was it, really helped wrap it up in my head.

Loved it.

[Kujo]

We assume that he killed her. After all, when he came out, he checked his shoes if they had anything on them (maybe he was checking for blood?). Plus, he's not one to go back on his word. He said that he'd kill her, and he made a long journey to her house... Why wouldn't he?

If you're a killer on the run, the last thing on your mind is killing the guy that hit your car. It was a bad wreck and the other driver seemed to be unconscious and possibly dead too. He also had no beef with the kids...

Yeah, I think when he checked his shoes, which would have been for blood (we learn this is a pet peeve of his in the movie), that pretty much confirmed he killed his wife.

Great film. The Coen's brothers finest work since "Fargo". Javier Bardem deserves an oscar for his performance. One of the best villains in recent memory.

[GOBB]

What you saw is what happened basically... The killer got away. He was never caught... What, you thought real life has happy endings or endings at all? Sometimes, things just don't end. That's it.

Thats the movie in a nutshell....thats the message the guy in the wheelchair relayed to dude.

[SCY]

Ive been searching the net and read that tommy lee jones is that killer guy the whole time (like a fight club type thing)... is that right? couldnt be.

:oldlol: I'm pretty sure I read this thread, how the hell did I miss that?

[kenuffff]

its a modern lit book , the movie is an exact copy of the book, in the book tommy lee jones' character is the main narrator, thats why you may get confused in the movie, he is the main character its about good and evil, and the ambiguity, he is coming to terms with what he did in the war, and saving the guy and girl is his way of trying to find redemption. the "bad guy" is actually a picture of morality, he lives by certain rules and does not deviate from them , the "good guy" is actually bad he has a chance to save his wife but decides not to over greed, he has countless attempts to save himself "redemption" but passes it for temptation ie money so he falls...basically its about the duality of man. with the "bad guy" representing a perfect man albeit he is perfectly evil

[Amigo]

Great movie. The ending reminded me of "The Mist" in the way it's not what you expect or hope to happen. Very "anti-Hollywood" endings.

[KempSonics]

I thought the movie was overrated but still solid. When I saw it the theater was packed and it seemed like no one liked it.

[ZeN]

A couple weeks ago someone posted a link so we can watch I Am Legend on line.

Does anyone know a link to watch No Country.....???



http://www.ovguide.com/movies-tv.html


Thats all youll need...

[Hawker]

I just watched this movie and just completely zoned out on the dialogue for the first time.

So I just went back over the last 20 min and I still didnt get much out of it. Just that everything you do is going to have a consequence and things dont always have a perfect ending.

Decent movie although not my taste. I was hoping that Anton wouldnt have killed that girl but looks like he did.

[Doomsday Dallas]

I just watched this movie and just completely zoned out on the dialogue for the first time.



I did the same.... Pay attention.

[Hawker]

I did the same.... Pay attention.

I did but my skills in analyzing/taking-things-out-of-context-and-making-an-assumption are not that great so I still dont fully understand it.

[Doomsday Dallas]

I did but my skills in analyzing/taking-things-out-of-context-and-making-an-assumption are not that great so I still dont fully understand it.

:roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll:

I felt the same way.

I asked the same question on this OCL once.... and I got an answer.

Listen to the first scene.... Tommy Lee Jones has something to say.

[Day La Ghetto]

Okay so the norm didn't happen at the end and showed a different meaning at the end. That still dosen't make it a great film. Theres still the rest of the movie which could of been written by an average joe with no skills. A killer hunting down a guy with his money , award winning material :rolleyes: It seems like alot of people agree with me and even more don't , i still don't understand it..

[Hawker]

Ok...I just went over the first scene again and he says, "you cant help but compare yourself against the old timers..." Perhaps he was quitting b/c he could no longer match up to the old timers or never did match up to them so he quit. Something like that.

[Doomsday Dallas]

Ok...I just went over the first scene again and he says, "you cant help but compare yourself against the old timers..." Perhaps he was quitting b/c he could no longer match up to the old timers or never did match up to them so he quit. Something like that.

:roll:

The Title says it all.

[fatboy11]

I don't understand why people bash the movie for it's ending when its based off a book.........

Bash the book.

[GOBB]

I don't understand why people bash the movie for it's ending when its based off a book.........

Bash the book.

Because peope dont read the books that movies are made from. And they are used to the traditional way a movie ends. You understand clearly why people bash the movie.

[fatboy11]

Because peope dont read the books that movies are made from. And they are used to the traditional way a movie ends. You understand clearly why people bash the movie.Even without the book, no, I don't understand.

I don't even understand what was wrong with the ending. The movie just ended. What's the big deal?

Are people that dumb that they have to have it explained to them what happened to the bad guy, what happened to TLJ, etc.?

I thought the ending was awesome and a bit refreshing.

Sidenote: I never realized the movie didn't have music when I watched it.

[GOBB]

Even without the book, no, I don't understand.

Yes you do.


I don't even understand what was wrong with the ending. The movie just ended. What's the big deal?

Because it ended with the sheriff talkin where most people didnt even listen. And then it cuts off, credits roll and people sit there puzzled.


Are people that dumb that they have to have it explained to them what happened to the bad guy, what happened to TLJ, etc.?

Yea, they are! They're the main ones making a big stink over the endin lol


I thought the ending was awesome and a bit refreshing.

Me too. I dug it. Its definately not a movie for everyone i think.


Sidenote: I never realized the movie didn't have music when I watched it.

:oldlol: Now that you mentioned it...it didnt friend-o.

[poorlilrich]

This movie was good but very unfulfilling


For some reason I blanked out when he was yapping to his wife and before I knew it, the credits began to roll... disappointing ass movie with great action and lots of blood


Even though it had the same kinda abstract ending, There Will Be Blood was a considerably better movie

[geeWiz15]

I saw it with a group and barely focused and I think I missed a lot. I'm going to read the book and watch it again and then decide how I feel, because if there is one thing I got from my first viewing, it's that there's a lot of subtle meaning going on in the movie that I just altogether missed because I wasn't focusing.

[GOBB]

I saw it with a group and barely focused and I think I missed a lot. I'm going to read the book and watch it again and then decide how I feel, because if there is one thing I got from my first viewing, it's that there's a lot of subtle meaning going on in the movie that I just altogether missed because I wasn't focusing.

Getting a handome?

[glidedrxlr22]

I finally saw it last night. I enjoyed it. I was a little puzzled by the ending, but I accepted it. Wish they could've shown the scene where Lewellin gets taken out.....it might've had some good dialogue. By the way what kind of gun was Anton using? That was some serious firepower.

[fatboy11]

This movie was good but very unfulfilling


For some reason I blanked out when he was yapping to his wife and before I knew it, the credits began to roll... disappointing ass movie with great action and lots of blood


Even though it had the same kinda abstract ending, There Will Be Blood was a considerably better movieI did the same. Wasn't really paying attention at the end.

I just bought it yesterday so I'm eager to watch it again....

[Hawker]

I finally saw it last night. I enjoyed it. I was a little puzzled by the ending, but I accepted it. Wish they could've shown the scene where Lewellin gets taken out.....it might've had some good dialogue. By the way what kind of gun was Anton using? That was some serious firepower.

A silenced shotgun and highly compressed oxygen.

[GOBB]

A silenced shotgun and highly compressed oxygen.

Shotgun and Tech 9 with a bad ass silencer.

He only killed 1 mofo with that compressed oxygen/cattle gun.

[Kebab Stall]

Shotgun and Tech 9 with a bad ass silencer.

He only killed 1 mofo with that compressed oxygen/cattle gun.
He used that compressed oxygen to blow the lock out on a door a few times.

[i seen hippos]

Giving a handome?

Why do you always pick on that kid?

[GOBB]

He used that compressed oxygen to blow the lock out on a door a few times.

Oh no, I'm scared of a flying lock hitting me in my face! GOBB is no Lewellen! :D


Why do you always pick on that kid?

Why do you alwyas exagerrate? You did this last time...you seem to think GOBB = TMOGE. F*cking ******. And how is getting handome = picking on him? You cant even explain but your BS reason will be worth laughs.

[Kebab Stall]

Oh no, I'm scared of a flying lock hitting me in my face! GOBB is no Lewellen! :D
Just sayin' that he also used the canister for that aswell.

[i seen hippos]

Oh no, I'm scared of a flying lock hitting me in my face! GOBB is no Lewellen! :D



Why do you alwyas exagerrate? You did this last time...you seem to think GOBB = TMOGE. F*cking ******. And how is getting handome = picking on him? You cant even explain but your BS reason will be worth laughs.

Dude, I edited the quote so it says giving handome. It was a joke.

I'm not even gonna get into this. You made the mistake. Game over.

[GOBB]

Dude, I edited the quote so it says giving handome. It was a joke.

I'm not even gonna get into this. You made the mistake. Game over.

I tried to bait you into a back and forth. Was gonna wreck you like Sirguh

[i seen hippos]

I tried to bait you into a back and forth. Was gonna wreck you like Sirguh

Shut up. You're a handicap who didn't pay attention and now looks silly.

You can't wreck me. You'll be doing your mumbo jumbo like usual and I'll be throwing wskjfnsafodajfkasdfhiasdfhasdasduj.basd back at you...you'll give up and I will win by default.

Hooker.

[GOBB]

Shut up. You're a handicap who didn't pay attention and now looks silly.

You can't wreck me. You'll be doing your mumbo jumbo like usual and I'll be throwing wskjfnsafodajfkasdfhiasdfhasdasduj.basd back at you...you'll give up and I will win by default.

Hooker.

*sigh* You don't know what you're talking about do you?

[DeuceWallaces]

Just watched it. Great movie, but I can't believe everyone thought this was easily Best Picture. I thought There Will Be Blood was definitely better, and wasn't filled with rehashed themes like the Coen brothers keep using.

[bigdog13]

Great direction
Great acting
terrible story. It is the most simple story of stolen money. big f- ing deal. they have made that movie 43,000 times.
and even a worst ending

[GOBB]

Great direction
Great acting
terrible story. It is the most simple story of stolen money. big f- ing deal. they have made that movie 43,000 times.
and even a worst ending

Yeah screw stolen money, should have made it about e-thugs and someone taking it offline. We never seen that before! :rolleyes:

[i seen hippos]

Yeah screw stolen money, should have made it about e-thugs and someone taking it offline. We never seen that before! :rolleyes:

I'll e-**** you up, ma****a!

[RedBlackAttack]

I'm a little late on this thread, but I thought this movie was absolute genius and one of the best (if not THE best) films I have ever seen.

There are a lot of theories about the end of the movie.




**SPOILER**




Forgive me if I am repeating what may have already been said, but the ending was very deep and you had to be paying close attention to the movie (and it doesn't hurt to see it more than once) to understand what was happening.

Tommy Lee Jones' character Ed Tom knew he was 'up against it' throughout the entire film. He was 10 steps behind Anton Chigurh the entire time. With the changing climate and the introduction of drugs being smuggled across the Mexican border, it brought a new breed of criminal that he had not seen nor could he match up against.

I had several questions about the scene at the end where they show Chigurh behind the door of the crime scene where Lewelyn was killed and then Ed Tom goes in and there is no Chigurh.

After further viewing, I think it was either a case of one of two things:

Ed Tom goes to the hotel room and sees the lock blown out (a sure sign of Chigurh). He walks in, goes through the kitchen and checks the window. It is locked, showing that Chigurh had not escaped through the window.

There is another room, off to the left, which was dark. Ed Tom did not check that room. Instead, he sat on the bed, thought about things and then left. That was his 'retirement,' so to speak. He decided that Chigurh was too much for him and he did not check the darkened room (where Chigurh would have surely killed him).

Why did Chigurh just not kill him? I can't say. It seems that he allowed fate to decide who lived and who died. Maybe he didn't think Ed Tom was meant to die just then. :confusedshrug:

This theory may have been reaffirmed by the Sheriff's story at the end. He talked about riding a horse in the dark when someone passes him and goes on ahead IN THE DARK. As he approached where the person in the dream supposedly was, he woke up. Instead of opting for the unknown, he chose to wake from his dream... go into the light rather than the dark, so to speak.


The other theory which may be possible is that, when Ed Tom approached the hotel room, the flash of Chigurh behind the door with the shotgun was what Ed Tom was fearing (ie: it was a flash of what was in his mind just as he was about to enter the room).

Both theories are possible... I have to watch it again to make my final decision on that.


I have no doubt, though, that Ed Tom's dream at the end was an analogy for his decision to retire instead of pursuing a man that he 'didn't understand' and would no doubt be killed by. His riding 'in the dark' was surely his pursuit of Chigurh. His waking up into the light was surely symbolism for his decision to get out of a very dark world and retire.


Chigurh's car crash scene...

It was pretty clear that Chigurh represented death throughout the movie. Many people died in very odd ways. It was just happenstance, most of the time, where people happened to come into contact with Chigurh and were killed (this was really about fate vs. free will).

When Chigurh got into the accident and walked away, it was symbolic that death is ever present. He kept on going just like death will always be with us, no matter what. It is the black cloud that follows us where ever we go. It can't be killed or done away with.


Anyway... I thought the movie was absolutely incredible and Javier Bardem (who played Anton Chigurh) was awesome. That was the most realistically scary character in film history, imo.

Anyone have any thoughts/questions about my interpretations?

[Gundress]

This film is a lot like real life. There were no protagonists (even if there were, we may consider them more of an anti-hero than anything) in the film, nor were there any antagonists.

Its obvious what happened to the character. The Title said it all.

[ClutchCityReturns]

Anyone have any thoughts/questions about my interpretations?

I think you're one of only a few people in this whole thread who actually watched the movie and listened to what was being said, not just waiting for everything to be shoved in your face. I guess I don't understand why someone would rent or go see a movie like this, and then fail to pay attention.

Anyway, I'm with you on your theories and observations, but I'm not going to say it's one of the best movies ever. But don't let that indicate that I didn't like it. I saw it 3 times in the past 3 weeks (theater with family, theater with friends, DVD with girlfriend).

It's up there with Gone Baby Gone and Into The Wild for best of the year, in my opinion. Haven't seen There Will Be Blood, but now that I think about it I'll try and rent it tomorrow.

[bballnoob]

Liked your interpretation of the hotel scene RBA. That part, not the ending, was what really confused me.

[Doomsday Dallas]

I'm a little late on this thread, but I thought this movie was absolute genius and one of the best (if not THE best) films I have ever seen.

There are a lot of theories about the end of the movie.




**SPOILER**




Forgive me if I am repeating what may have already been said, but the ending was very deep and you had to be paying close attention to the movie (and it doesn't hurt to see it more than once) to understand what was happening.

Tommy Lee Jones' character Ed Tom knew he was 'up against it' throughout the entire film. He was 10 steps behind Anton Chigurh the entire time. With the changing climate and the introduction of drugs being smuggled across the Mexican border, it brought a new breed of criminal that he had not seen nor could he match up against.

I had several questions about the scene at the end where they show Chigurh behind the door of the crime scene where Lewelyn was killed and then Ed Tom goes in and there is no Chigurh.

After further viewing, I think it was either a case of one of two things:

Ed Tom goes to the hotel room and sees the lock blown out (a sure sign of Chigurh). He walks in, goes through the kitchen and checks the window. It is locked, showing that Chigurh had not escaped through the window.

There is another room, off to the left, which was dark. Ed Tom did not check that room. Instead, he sat on the bed, thought about things and then left. That was his 'retirement,' so to speak. He decided that Chigurh was too much for him and he did not check the darkened room (where Chigurh would have surely killed him).

Why did Chigurh just not kill him? I can't say. It seems that he allowed fate to decide who lived and who died. Maybe he didn't think Ed Tom was meant to die just then. :confusedshrug:

This theory may have been reaffirmed by the Sheriff's story at the end. He talked about riding a horse in the dark when someone passes him and goes on ahead IN THE DARK. As he approached where the person in the dream supposedly was, he woke up. Instead of opting for the unknown, he chose to wake from his dream... go into the light rather than the dark, so to speak.


The other theory which may be possible is that, when Ed Tom approached the hotel room, the flash of Chigurh behind the door with the shotgun was what Ed Tom was fearing (ie: it was a flash of what was in his mind just as he was about to enter the room).

Both theories are possible... I have to watch it again to make my final decision on that.


I have no doubt, though, that Ed Tom's dream at the end was an analogy for his decision to retire instead of pursuing a man that he 'didn't understand' and would no doubt be killed by. His riding 'in the dark' was surely his pursuit of Chigurh. His waking up into the light was surely symbolism for his decision to get out of a very dark world and retire.


Chigurh's car crash scene...

It was pretty clear that Chigurh represented death throughout the movie. Many people died in very odd ways. It was just happenstance, most of the time, where people happened to come into contact with Chigurh and were killed (this was really about fate vs. free will).

When Chigurh got into the accident and walked away, it was symbolic that death is ever present. He kept on going just like death will always be with us, no matter what. It is the black cloud that follows us where ever we go. It can't be killed or done away with.


Anyway... I thought the movie was absolutely incredible and Javier Bardem (who played Anton Chigurh) was awesome. That was the most realistically scary character in film history, imo.

Anyone have any thoughts/questions about my interpretations?

He knew he was the room when he ironically saw the dime on the
ground (I think it was heads too.)... I think he felt like it wouldn't
make a diference if he captured or killed the bad guy, because evil
will still persist in ways he can't imagine (or is too old to fight).

Also, I have only seen the movie once, so some of the key parts
of the dialogue I can't really remember very well.

But I do remember a conversation about Vanity towards the end of the
movie... And I think (I could be wrong)... that perticular conversation
about vanity is refering to the audience. It would be vain for
the audience to be upset if they didn't get the ending they wanted...
just like in the real world, We are all vain for wanting it (life) to
end the way we want / on our terms...
But Life never does (or our general life stories) end the way we want
or had visulized, and we are vain for be being upset at this fact.





Also, Did anyone notice that Josh Brolin's character died when he
decided to commit adultery?

[gts]

see i thought the dime on the ground was showing us that the killer had already decided if the sheriff lived or died, he hid behind the door and when the sherriff went into the bathroom he slid out of the hotel room and into the night

[Doomsday Dallas]

see i thought the dime on the ground was showing us that the killer had already decided if the sheriff lived or died, he hid behind the door and when the sherriff went into the bathroom he slid out of the hotel room and into the night

I guess there are so many ways to interpret the movie, that it
makes it a masterpiece.

I tend to feel hate and love towards those kinds of movies,
which this movie accomplished on a whole new level.

[RidonKs]

I don't think Chigurh was even in the room at the same time as Bell. Hell, the place was already taped off as a crime scene, was it not? It doesn't make much sense for Chigurh to be back, especially when (I'm pretty sure) he doesn't even know who Bell is.

Not to mention in that scene where Bell goes to the room, as soon as he walks into the room, he closes the door immediately, and there's no sign of Chigurh. I'm pretty sure it was either as RBA said, what was going through Bell's mind, or it was a sort of display of the good vs the evil in the flashes between Bell and Chigurh's faces, or perhaps it represented the sort of evil you can meet at any given turn over the course your life.

All I'm fairly certain about is that Chigurh was never even near that hotel room at the same time that Bell was. I'm not absolutely positive about that, but yeah, pretty sure.

[Gundress]

Lol at some of my friends thought that all of a sudden that movie want do something different at the ending because of The Sopranos did at the final season cause it works. They all want you think, you decide it, your opinions.

[GOBB]

I don't think Chigurh was even in the room at the same time as Bell. Hell, the place was already taped off as a crime scene, was it not? It doesn't make much sense for Chigurh to be back, especially when (I'm pretty sure) he doesn't even know who Bell is.

He could have been there to look for the money. The vent was taken off and the change was sitting on the ground. Also the door was popped off from the lock. The place was taped off and I bet the lock was still attatched. Until Chirguh arrived and looked for the bag of money. Then the sheriff arrived.

:confusedshrug:

[ClutchCityReturns]

Also, Did anyone notice that Josh Brolin's character died when he
decided to commit adultery?

He never committed adultery. The slut was dead in the pool, just where he left her. They never went to her room for beer or anything.

Of course, they didn't explicitly SHOW that he didn't, so if you really want to believe it happened then nobody can stop you. The movie did not suggest it though.

[Randy]

He never committed adultery. The slut was dead in the pool, just where he left her. They never went to her room for beer or anything.

Of course, they didn't explicitly SHOW that he didn't, so if you really want to believe it happened then nobody can stop you. The movie did not suggest it though.

In the novel, the woman invites Moss back into her room but he declines. He was faithful the whole time.

[gts]

Not to mention in that scene where Bell goes to the room, as soon as he walks into the room, he closes the door immediatelyno he swings it open and opens up all the way, creating that great hiding place we all loved as a kid... he was behind the door most likely

[GOBB]

So Lewellyn's wifes mother not only gave up the hotel/motel but the room he stayed in? Or it wouldnt be difficult to find out where he was staying, room that is.

I cant get over the silencers he put on all them damn guns. Scary.

[Doomsday Dallas]

In the novel, the woman invites Moss back into her room but he declines. He was faithful the whole time.

So what is the relevance of that hot little woman?

She is a temptress... She had to represent something.

[i seen hippos]

As Gobb said, he had to have entered the room because the lock was blown off. I just think he got caught in there right when Bell walked in. He was the one who looked in the vents at the other motel so it was obviously him who looked in this one as well. The only question I think we should be asking is why he didn't kill Bell. I've only watched that scene once so far, but if the camera does focus on a dime, then maybe he did flip it to see if he would kill Bell...or maybe it was there from when he was killing man with girlish name.


So what is the relevance of that hot little woman?

She is a temptress... She had to represent something.

real good guys who do the right thing die too perhaps.

[RidonKs]

no he swings it open and opens up all the way, creating that great hiding place we all loved as a kid... he was behind the door most likely
It shows him swing open the door from inside the room, and it's pretty clear that there was no one actually behind it. So unless they wanted us to believe that Chigurh was that fast in getting out from behind the door and into some other hidden place (was there even another hidden place that he could've been?), then I highly doubt Chigurh was there at all. It's possible, but it just seems unlikely.


He could have been there to look for the money. The vent was taken off and the change was sitting on the ground. Also the door was popped off from the lock. The place was taped off and I bet the lock was still attatched. Until Chirguh arrived and looked for the bag of money. Then the sheriff arrived.
I get what you're saying. I just don't think he was there at the same time Bell was, for the reasons above.

I'm about 3/4 through the book (which isn't that great of a read when you already know the plot -- except for the Bell excerpts), so maybe it'll answer those questions within the next chapter or two. Or maybe it'll leave me hanging just like the movie did. :ohwell:

[GOBB]

I'm going to pop it in and watch it again to see. What reason would Chriguh have to kill Bell for? Maybe he didnt want to when hiding (if say he was in the room)? I dont think dude killed cats just for no reasons. He usually killed folks who met him. If Bell found him I'm sure he would have got toasted.

I dunno...i gotta see because I dont know if he was in there or there was some kind of hidden message with the flashing back and forth lol

[Randy]

So what is the relevance of that hot little woman?

She is a temptress... She had to represent something.

Yeah, like hippos said, good people die too. Moss went back to give the Mexican some water, was faithful to his wife, etc. but he still caught the wrath of evil. Can't stop what's coming, no matter how noble/loyal/nice you are.

[RidonKs]

I dunno...i gotta see because I dont know if he was in there or there was some kind of hidden message with the flashing back and forth lol
I really do think RBA's theory that it's what Bell was most frightened of to open the door is probably correct. During the flashes back and forth, watch the closeup on Bell's face. They really drive home just how worried he looks. At least, that's what it looked like to me.

[i seen hippos]

Also, whether Chigurh (that's how you spell it Gobb:) ) was there or not, Bell was pissing his pants and he later quits.

The one coward in the movie lives along with the gas station guy who was very timid. The tough guys like Moss and Wells (Harrelson) get owned by the Mexicans and Chigurh.

Kind of punches heroes in the jaw for a 10 count. The heroes in fictional tales don't exist in real life. Cowards usually do remain safe.

I'm gonna watch this again tonight as well.

[Gundress]

I'm going to pop it in and watch it again to see. What reason would Chriguh have to kill Bell for? Maybe he didnt want to when hiding (if say he was in the room)? I dont think dude killed cats just for no reasons. He usually killed folks who met him. If Bell found him I'm sure he would have got toasted.

I dunno...i gotta see because I dont know if he was in there or there was some kind of hidden message with the flashing back and forth lol

Whoa, wait a min. you said that you don't think Chriguh killed cats just for no reason right? and he usually killed folks who met him right? Why would he stop the car where a guy thought Chriguh was a cop and the guy didn't know who Chriguh was?

[GOBB]

I really do think RBA's theory that it's what Bell was most frightened of to open the door is probably correct. During the flashes back and forth, watch the closeup on Bell's face. They really drive home just how worried he looks. At least, that's what it looked like to me.

Yeah I'm leaning towards your/rba theory here now. I was kinda lost on it

[GOBB]

Whoa, wait a min. you said that you don't think Chriguh killed cats just for no reason right? and he usually killed folks who met him right? Why would he stop the car where a guy thought Chriguh was a cop and the guy didn't know who Chriguh was?

Well he killed dude so he could change from the cop car to a pedestrian car. The only way that would have been possible is to get a car. Since the guy who he pulled over saw him/positive identified him. He basically sealed his fate. :confusedshrug:

I'm going by Woody Harrison character saying he killed folks who saw him/came into contact with him (I'm sure he said something along those lines). It was when he was talkin to Llewellyn in the hospitol.

[GOBB]

Also, whether Chigurh (that's how you spell it Gobb:) ) was there or not, Bell was pissing his pants and he later quits.

The one coward in the movie lives along with the gas station guy who was very timid. The tough guys like Moss and Wells (Harrelson) get owned by the Mexicans and Chigurh.

Kind of punches heroes in the jaw for a 10 count. The heroes in fictional tales don't exist in real life. Cowards usually do remain safe.

I'm gonna watch this again tonight as well.

:oldlol:

So many different f*cking ways to look at this movie. I'm getting dizzy.

I need a basketball game to watch. Its so simple. :rockon:

[Gundress]

To many people need closure in their movies. It's just taste more than anything else.

When I saw this, at the end, someone said "What?" out loud in the theater.

I think a lot of Americans just want to many things answered for them. That's why really crappy movies tend to make so much money at the box office.

It doesn't mean some people are smarter than others, but the reaction to the end of an increduibly great movie should clue some of you in on why Hollywood makes the kind of movies it does.

People don't like to have to think.

[RidonKs]

Interesting article that I just came across. It's just one person's opinion, but it's a good read.


My old pal Cooper and I went to No Country for Old Men last night. He's a big Cormac McCarthy fan, and I'm not, but I do love the Coen Brothers so I've been very curious to see what they do with the book as there aren't many opportunities to really dissect their screenplays. Their version of No Country for Old Men is a much better expression of the book than McCarthy's. I find McCarthy's style torturous, and No Country for Old Men to be a hollow pedantic screed about how the world has gone to Hell which, if it had been written in 1980 (when the film takes place), it would have been more of a prophetic statement of where we were headed than the flaccid retread of thematic material that has been beaten to death in the last two decades. However, after seeing the film a second time, I think the Coen Brothers did a fantastic job of salvaging the material and delivering something that should be considered as a highlight of their oeuvre.

[Significant spoilers ahead. If you've not read the book or seen the film, this might be an entry to pass.]


Much of the public displeasure of the film stems from the ending, and on first viewing, I was in that camp. I didn't care for Sheriff Bell's final monologue and I felt it was out of place with the rest of the film (hell, the scene with his brother Ellis didn't help either). But, having read the book and seen the film again, I think the ending works really well. But only if you know that Sheriff Bell is the protagonist.

In the book, you can't mistake this fact. The Coen Brothers utilize nearly every scene and every line of dialogue from the book (though, they do some very good editing and trimming that corrects some of McCarthy's tendency to go on and on and on), however they have to do something with the inordinate number of first person monologues that belong to the Sheriff. They work in narrative fiction, but they are death in cinematic storytelling, and the Coens wisely translate the essence of those into the scenes with Ed Tom and his deputy, Wendell. As a result, we have the initial voice-over of Ed Tom setting the scene and the final scene with his wife at breakfast, and they're easily mistaken as a framing device. As Ed Tom is a secondary character in the body of the film (he is just an observer, as he is in the book where the structure of his commentary makes for an easier link to the thematic thrust of the story), the audience can't be faulted with seeing this as a cat and mouse story between Chigurh and Moss. And, as Moss is the first character we spend any significant time with, it's a natural reaction to see him as the protagonist (especially as he is directly in conflict with Chigurh). So, when Moss leaves the story and there's still twenty more minutes of film to unspool, we can't help but scramble to figure out what we're supposed to hang on to.

It's not that the Coens are ****ing with us, it's that they had some tough decisions to make about how to present the material. It's not the story of a guy who finds a satchel of cash and tries to run from the Devil. While they do an excellent job of making that story fascinating to watch (more so than McCarthy does, I think), it's a little noir tale of Bad Decisions and Men Who Think They Know Something About Evil But Don't. It's the presence of Ed Tom and his decision to NOT face Chigurh that gives the story its dramatic heft, and while that's all there in the book, McCarthy bludgeons the reader with so much puritanical nihilism and bankrupt machismo that it gets lost.

I find it fascinating that McCarthy populates his world with characters that are, essentially, the Devil (Chigurh is the Preacher from Blood Meridian with a different set of killing tools) and doesn't allow for any sort of mysticism or hopeful idealism that God may still be part of this Universe. I think you can read God as being behind the car full of joyriders who smacks Chigurh as he is leaving Carla Jean's house, but even then the author's overwhelming sense of nihilistic fatality only allows the scene to happen so that we can see the Devil turning even God's effort to move him along as another opportunity to seduce innocents into his game (the kids finding Chigurh's forgotten gun on the seat of the car).

[Incidentally, the fact that the Coens leave out this detail--the gun on the seat--in the film removes nearly all of the reason to have it there, and I'm not entirely sure why they kept it. Well, maybe as an echo of Moss' encounter with the young men as he crosses the border into Mexico (both ask for and pay for an article of clothing in their respective scenes), though Cooper pointed out that it is the exchange of blood money (in both instances the bills are clearly marked with blood) that is symbolic of the perpetuation of the Devil's violence.]

But, mysticism. Todd Alcott wisely notes that every Coen Brothers' film has a moment where magic intercedes, where you can't explain what happens without resorting to an extraordinary explanation. It happens in No Country for Old Men when Ed Tom goes back to the hotel room at the Desert Sands. There's a close-up shot of the lock on the room, and the cylinder has been removed by the air gun. If you look closely, you can see a wisp of white smoke hiding out of the hole much like a serpent waiting to strike. And Ed Tom hesitates. And Chigurh waits inside, his silenced shotgun ready. The Sheriff enters, steps out of the lighted half of the room and into darkness, looks in the bathroom, and sits down on the bed. Where he decides to NOT look in the closet. That wisp of smoke is part of the Other World, and as Ed Tom crosses the threshold, he steps into an In-Between place where his next choice will be to either play with the Devil (to look upon him, essentially, and everyone who does dies; remember the guy in the office building who Chigurh asks: "Do you see me?") or not. Chigurh is clearly in the room, and Ed Tom clearly doesn't find him. And there isn't anywhere to hide. Unless . . .

There are three people who are able to walk away from the Devil's enticement to play: the gas station owner, Carla Jean, and the Sheriff. The gas station owner who has been "putting it up his entire life" is just a guy who "inconvenieces" the Devil and is asked to pay for it. But, because there isn't any overt reason for him to come into contact with Evil, the Devil allows him the coin toss. Eventually, the guy realizes what is at stake (and it's a lovely bit of minimalism where the realization is nothing more than an extra flutter in his voice and a hesitation in his mannerism). The Coens cut Chigurh's big speech at the end of the scene, replacing it with a great line about the lucky coin ("Don't put it in your pocket where it will mix with the others and become just a coin"), and while the speech ("Anything can be an instrument . . . And then one day there's an accounting. And after that nothing is the same . . .") is a solid piece of exposition, it's too obviously the author speaking through his character, and it's really only there to support the second coin toss later.

The one with Carla Jean. Cooper and I split on this one. I think the scene is much better because she doesn't choose, and he disagrees with me. And, actually, now that I'm thinking about it, this also supports why the Coens cut the section with the hitchhiker. Cooper argues that the hitchhiker is the flaw that brings Moss down--it is the moment of weakness where Moss reveals that he doesn't have the fortitude to play with the Devil (as Wells tells him: "You think you're cut out for this, but you're not."). No one really does in McCarthy's world, after all. Moss is tempted by the girl, and transgresses with her (this is the "you ****, you die" moment, if you will). I think this just confuses the story, and with the decision to make Carla Jean as strong as she is, as resolute as she is to NOT be tainted by the Devil, we have to believe that she knows that the Devil is lying to her about Moss. We can't know that Moss is an ******* who stepped out on her, we have to know that her belief in her man is completely warranted, that her man is as honest and true and completely dedicated to her as she thinks he is, and that the only reason he didn't take Chigurh's deal to save her is because he meant to kill the Devil first. We have to be party to this belief in order for her refusal to call the coin toss to work. And for the Devil to be shaken by the fact that he has to kill a true innocent. He has to kill her because he gave his word, but he takes no joy in that. None at all. That's not part of the game. So, even though she doesn't make it, I think she survives her encounter with Evil.

And then there is Ed Tom Bell, the erstewhile narrator and protagonist of the story. After his decision to not stand up to Evil, he visits Ellis, his only remaining family who might understand the crisis he just went through. Ellis tells him that he can't change what is coming and to think otherwise is nothing but vanity. Ed Tom is caught up by a sense of failure, a sense that, by not standing up to Chigurh, he is less of a man ("I always thought when I got older that God would sort of come into my life in some way. He didn't. I don't blame him. If I was him, I'd have the same opinion about me that he does."). He is a Lawman, after all, like his daddy and granddaddy, and I can guess that both died in the line of duty, trying to preserve the Old Ways. Ed Tom says, in the beginning, that he never fails to like hearing the stories about the old timers and I'm sure they're all heroic stories about when men were MEN and they stood up to the Tides of Darkness. Ellis knows the score ("All the time you spend trying to get back what's been took from you, there's more going out the door. After a while, you just try and get a tourniquet on it."), and ultimately Ed Tom realizes that it is going to be okay. Not for the world. But for him.

And the final scene, where he tells his wife about the dream of his father? That's when he realizes that, in the end, when he dies a quiet death in his bed of natural causes, his father will be waiting for him, out there in the darkness, with the fire--the light that goes on forever. Ed Tom still gets to go to Heaven, and the only way to get there in McCarthy's world is to refuse the Devil's lure, to give up on the nihilistic world and its violence and walk away. Is it peace? Is a life worth having lived? I don't know. Neither does Ed Tom. But his daddy is waiting for him, and that's good enough.

http://markteppo.livejournal.com/60472.html

[bballnoob]

Maybe I wasn't paying attention but how did the mexicans find Moss' wife and mother in law to tail? Also how did Wells and Anton find Moss so quickly in the hospital?

[ClutchCityReturns]

I dont think dude killed cats just for no reasons.

I think the fact that he rolled down the window just to shoot the bird on the bridge was a testament to the exact opposite.

Who knows?

[Jackass18]

I cant get over the silencers he put on all them damn guns. Scary.

Yeah, that made his character all the more creepy.

As for the hotel scene, I think Anton had already left. It's in Bell's mind that Anton is still there and is going to kill him, as well.

[GOBB]

I think the fact that he rolled down the window just to shoot the bird on the bridge was a testament to the exact opposite.

Who knows?

Yeah but he didnt kill it...just scared it. :roll:

But i dont wanna meet dude to find out...lets just say that.

[RedBlackAttack]

Yeah but he didnt kill it...just scared it. :roll:

But i dont wanna meet dude to find out...lets just say that.
I just watched the movie again with my brother.

As far as the bird goes, I am still unsure. Maybe it was a superstition thing with passing a blackbird on a bridge. :oldlol:

I do know that, in the final scene of the movie, when Ed Tom is giving his recounting of the dream, there is a statue of a bird on the end table next to Ed that looks exactly like the bird that Chigurh shot at. In a movie as deep as this one, I doubt ANYTHING that is in a scene and is as obvious as the bird statue is that it was a coincidence. There is some significance. I just still haven't quite figured it out yet.

Maybe the 'close call' with Chigurh that the bird had represents how close Ed Tom was to having the same fate with Chigurh (hence the statue of the bird next to him). I really don't know. The more times I watch the movie, the more questions I have.


What is up with the swapping of the shirts by both Lewellyn and Chigurh? After Lewellyn is badly injured and is about to cross the border into Mexico, he give a kid a $100 for his jacket.

After Chigurh gets into the car accident, he buys a kid's shirt for $100 to use as a sling. Coincidence? No way. But what does it mean?



As for the scene in the hotel room that everyone has been discussing...

Chigurh was absolutely NOT behind the door. Ed Tom throws open the door when he enters the room and it bangs off of the wall. There is no way Chigurh was standing behind it. There is no way it could have touched the wall.

There WAS a closet that Ed Tom didn't check, but after this last viewing, I really don't think Chirgurh was in there. It was just a wide open closet.

I'm going to go with my original idea that Chigurh had already come into the room and taken the money long before Ed Tom showed up. The shot of Chigurh inside the room was a flash into the mind of Ed Tom, showing his true fear.

I don't think Chigurh was in the room at the same time as Ed Tom. It seems out of Chigurh's nature to allow someone to live, anyway... especially someone that is chasing him.

I think the closeup of the vent and the dime which Chigurh used to open the vent was the symbolism of how 'fate' played a role in Ed Tom living. The dime was facing heads up... which was a sign of being a 'lucky' coin. I believe the 'unlucky' version of Ed Tom busting into the room would be Chigurh standing there and gunning him down. Luckily for Ed Tom, Chigurh was long gone and the coin showed his luck by being 'heads up'.


When I think back on it, there were two characters that came into direct contact with Chigurh and lived. One was the gas station clerk who survived the coin toss. The other was the woman that refused to tell Chigurh where Lewellyn worked.

Despite the claim that the clerk was a coward, I disagree. While he was certainly afraid, who wouldn't be in the face of death? But, even after he knew that his life was on the line, he stood his ground and even challenged Chigurh on whether he 'married into' the gas station.

While he didn't overtly confront Chigurh, he didn't allow him to completely dominate him either. He never begged for his life (which we know Chigurh hates). He didn't try to run, either. He stood his ground and accepted what was in front of him (death). That EARNED him the coin flip, imo.

The lady that refused to tell Chigurh where Lewellyn worked was pretty aggressive (all of Chigurh's other victims seemed passive... like the guy that allowed him to blow his brains out with the cattle thing). While a toilet did flush, noting that there was someone else in a back room, when had something like that ever stopped Chigurh from killing someone?

He allowed her to live because she stood her ground, faced death, and didn't flinch. I truly believe that, had she given up Lewellyn's workplace, he would have killed her.... because that would have shown weakness.


Those were the only two characters who survived a direct confrontation with Chigurh and they both stood in front of him and didn't beg for their lives. They accepted their fate and that allowed both to live.


EDIT: I forgot about the two kids on the bikes at the end. They also had direct contact with Chigurh. Was the $100 that he gave them symbolism for him buying their soles? That makes 4 people that came into direct contact with Chigurh and survived.


Well.... I have seen the movie a lot of times and it seems that the more questions that I have seem to figure out, the more questions pop up.



This is a true cinematic masterpiece. :bowdown:

[i seen hippos]

One scene I've been thinking about is when Moss gets picked up by the black man and he says something like "you shouldn't be doing this...even someone as young as you." Moss goes "Doing what?" and the black man says "Hitchhiking."

This might seem far out there, but there has to be a reason this little scene was added. I think the black man really meant stealing and getting himself into really big trouble rather than just hitchhiking. I also think the black man represents God or at least goodness in contrast to Chigurh's devil/evilness.

I thought this the first time I watched it and when I saw it again last night, I felt the same way.

Now why would God play such a minor role and be so subtle when evil is going around killing everyone in its path to get to Moss? Perhaps that's how the Coen's or McCarthy (don't know if this scene is in the book) view society. A lot of evil and only small hints of God or goodness.

Also the man specifically says "someone as young as you." Bell is too old for this job so he quits. Maybe this represents that while Moss is young enough to sustain himself in most situations (or too young to know any better), this case is far beyond even someone with his personality and skill. This isn't even the country for young men.

Just a thought.

[RidonKs]

I'm going to go with my original idea that Chigurh had already come into the room and taken the money long before Ed Tom showed up. The shot of Chigurh inside the room was a flash into the mind of Ed Tom, showing his true fear.
I just reached that part in the book, and Chigurh did go into the hotel room slightly before Bell got there. He did his thing with the vent, and then left just as Bell was getting close to the hotel. He went back to his car before Bell got there, and (I think) sat there and watched Bell go into the hotel room. Then he drove away, although the book is a little hazy on the details of when he actually did drive away. Since the movie doesn't explicitly contradict any of this, I think it's safe to say that's how the Coen's wanted the plot to play out in the movie too.


One scene I've been thinking about is when Moss gets picked up by the black man and he says something like "you shouldn't be doing this...even someone as young as you." Moss goes "Doing what?" and the black man says "Hitchhiking."
That's where the movie diverges from the book. Moss actually picks up a hitchhiker on his way to El Paso, a young girl who's on her way to California. They have a few lengthy conversations that have a lot to do with the themes of the story, and they stop at a hotel on the way. That's when the Mexicans track them down, kill them both, and then the Chigurh and Bell scene plays out.

Interesting theories from both of you concerning the bird and the black man. Something to think about when I give it another watch at some point this summer.


Those were the only two characters who survived a direct confrontation with Chigurh and they both stood in front of him and didn't beg for their lives. They accepted their fate and that allowed both to live.
Didn't Moss' wife accept her fate as well by refusing to call the toss at the end. What did she say, "it's not up to the coin, it's up to you" or something like that? I think it's pretty safe to say that she didn't make it, so I don't think it really has much to do with bravery. Although with her, it's an entirely different scenario (with the promise Chigurh made to Moss), but it's a different situation for everyone.


This is a true cinematic masterpiece.
We can agree on that one.

[ClutchCityReturns]

After Chigurh gets into the car accident, he buys a kid's shirt for $100 to use as a sling. Coincidence? No way. But what does it mean?

Some other things to consider about those scenes...

When Chigurh is in the car accident, the kids on the bike rush to his aid and when he offers the money for the shirt, the kid says "well heck, mister...I'll give you my shirt."

When Moss encounters the kids by the US/Mexico border, they ask if he was in a car accident and he says he was. So as far as they knew, he was actually in an accident and was as innocent a victim as Chigurh was in his case. However, Moss had to barter with them to get the kid's jacket, and when he asked for the beer they still tried to syphon more money out of him.

Two very similar situations, yet each man is treated quite differently.

I'm not sure, but this may be some kind of symbolism as well. Perhaps it's representing the fact that whether you're a good guy or a bad guy, it doesn't really make any difference. Everybody runs into tough situations and everyone catches breaks.

I don't know...maybe someone else can make more sense of it.

[RedBlackAttack]

One scene I've been thinking about is when Moss gets picked up by the black man and he says something like "you shouldn't be doing this...even someone as young as you." Moss goes "Doing what?" and the black man says "Hitchhiking."

This might seem far out there, but there has to be a reason this little scene was added. I think the black man really meant stealing and getting himself into really big trouble rather than just hitchhiking. I also think the black man represents God or at least goodness in contrast to Chigurh's devil/evilness.

I thought this the first time I watched it and when I saw it again last night, I felt the same way.

Now why would God play such a minor role and be so subtle when evil is going around killing everyone in its path to get to Moss? Perhaps that's how the Coen's or McCarthy (don't know if this scene is in the book) view society. A lot of evil and only small hints of God or goodness.

Also the man specifically says "someone as young as you." Bell is too old for this job so he quits. Maybe this represents that while Moss is young enough to sustain himself in most situations (or too young to know any better), this case is far beyond even someone with his personality and skill. This isn't even the country for young men.

Just a thought.
Very interesting post. I hadn't given that scene much thought, but you make a good case. I am of the opinion that NOTHING in this movie was an accident. Your theory makes sense within the theme of the movie AND the timing.

Perhaps it was a message from God when there was still time for Lewellyn to get away with his life? If he had just left the money in the hotel room, maybe Chigurh would not have bothered chasing him down (and the Mexicans that eventually killed him certainly wouldn't have cared any longer)?

I'll have to pay closer attention to that particular scene upon my next viewing.


That's where the movie diverges from the book. Moss actually picks up a hitchhiker on his way to El Paso, a young girl who's on her way to California. They have a few lengthy conversations that have a lot to do with the themes of the story, and they stop at a hotel on the way. That's when the Mexicans track them down, kill them both, and then the Chigurh and Bell scene plays out.
That makes it even more likely that the scene that replaced what was in the book had importance. Otherwise, why not just leave it out all together?


Didn't Moss' wife accept her fate as well by refusing to call the toss at the end. What did she say, "it's not up to the coin, it's up to you" or something like that? I think it's pretty safe to say that she didn't make it, so I don't think it really has much to do with bravery. Although with her, it's an entirely different scenario (with the promise Chigurh made to Moss), but it's a different situation for everyone.
As you said, Lewellyn levied his wife's life to save his own. Carla Jean's bravery DID earn her a coin toss (imo). Had she just begged for her life or tried to run, he would have killed her without batting an eye. By her standing up to Chigurh and basically destroying his whole standing on 'fate' and 'free will', she earned a coin toss.

By her destroying his philosophy, she put the onus on him. He decided... not the coin... and he decided to kill. Although she had shown tremendous bravery, he did give his word... :confusedshrug:


Some other things to consider about those scenes...

When Chigurh is in the car accident, the kids on the bike rush to his aid and when he offers the money for the shirt, the kid says "well heck, mister...I'll give you my shirt."

When Moss encounters the kids by the US/Mexico border, they ask if he was in a car accident and he says he was. So as far as they knew, he was actually in an accident and was as innocent a victim as Chigurh was in his case. However, Moss had to barter with them to get the kid's jacket, and when he asked for the beer they still tried to syphon more money out of him.

Two very similar situations, yet each man is treated quite differently.

I'm not sure, but this may be some kind of symbolism as well. Perhaps it's representing the fact that whether you're a good guy or a bad guy, it doesn't really make any difference. Everybody runs into tough situations and everyone catches breaks.

I don't know...maybe someone else can make more sense of it.
Also interesting point.

Maybe the symbolism has something to do with youth and innocence?

The guys that Lewellyn ran into were in their mid-20s. They demanded to be paid. Those guys didn't seem to care much that an innocent man (as far as they knew) had been in a terrible car accident.

They were driven solely by money.

Flash to the Chigurh car crash... you are right... the kids offered the shirt off of his back (not even a jacket) for free. Perhaps the fact that it was a kid meant that he was unspoiled and not yet subjected to the evils of the world? He only knew that to help someone was the right thing.

As you get older, your motives change.

Interesting stuff...

[Aldridge Fan]

Finally saw this for the first time yesterday. Great film! It's up there on my list with "Blood Simple" and "Fargo".

It looks like there could be a sequel down the road. That would be sweet! :rockon: But only if the Coen Brothers do it.

[kentatm]

Just watched it. Great movie, but I can't believe everyone thought this was easily Best Picture. I thought There Will Be Blood was definitely better, and wasn't filled with rehashed themes like the Coen brothers keep using.

i agree completely. while i liked it, i really thought There Will Be Blood killed it in every single way.

[Randy]

i agree completely. while i liked it, i really thought There Will Be Blood killed it in every single way.

Take away Daniel Day-Lewis and TWBB is a bore fest. There's not one aspect (other than Lewis) of TWBB that I found superior to No Country.

[HeyMarkus]

this movie is ****in tops, one of my favorites of all time

[Scholar]

What I learned from watching this is that.... Evil is awesome and always wins.

I thought that was obvious from Hitler. :confusedshrug:

[CelticBaller]

What I learned from watching this is that.... Evil is awesome and always wins.
you know he died from his injuries right?

[ukplayer4]

you know he died from his injuries right?


injuries? :wtf:

they arent teaching you guys that captain america went in and beat him up are they?

[Rake2204]

I did not see this thread previously. I'm quite intrigued by all the discussion posted the page before this. Interesting stuff.

[ROCSteady]

Wrong. It's based on a novel. The Coen brothers did not "get bored", are you kidding me?




The ending rocked, there was no big relief. There was no lame payoff with Tommy Lee shooting Anton in the head and saying "Welcome to Odessa, mother****er!".

Everyone walked out of the theater quiet because no one is able to relax: Anton is still out there.

:roll: :roll: I'm geekin. So glad I bought that good bud

[vinsane01]

Very good movie and i especially liked the unorthodox ending. The Anton Chigurh character was one of the best movie villains i've seen.

[bagelred]

I hated the ending!!! What the f-ck was that? Anton is actually a space alien and is scoping out Earth for his species? C'mon now, that is preposterous......I think they were just setting up a sequel.

F-cking Hollywood. :facepalm

[KevinNYC]

I hated the ending!!! What the f-ck was that? Anton is actually a space alien and is scoping out Earth for his species? C'mon now, that is preposterous......I think they were just setting up a sequel.

F-cking Hollywood. :facepalm

There's not going to be any sequel. Anton just represent chaos and chaos is always going to be around.

I didn't care for the ending either, but it's straight out of the book. The problem with the ending of both the book and the movie is it's not the climax of the story which happens earlier. So the emotional impact of the story has already happened and then you are left with this little puzzler. It also messes you up that wife gets killed as well.

95% of it is one the best movies ever made though. The cinematic style is incredibly effective without being showy.....the sound editing is amazing and as noted above you might not even notice there's no musical score. That early scene where he is hunting makes you feel you're out in the wild in West Texas.