No Country for Old Men

[Redux]

Watch it.

Was tense the entire time.

Not in-your-face suspense. None of that cheesy crescendo junk. Hard to explain.

I have never been so scared of a lock.

Character-based. Very intelligent. As expected since it's adapted from a McCarthy novel.

One of the best villains to hit the big screen in quite a while.

A movie on Good/Evil. Not handled in a typical fashion.

And, Christ, a cattle gun!

[Hitpoint]

I love the Coen brothers. I've heard nothing but good things about this film. It isn't out in the UK till fuckin January 18th.

[eidderf]

Is there a trailer available anywhere, it sounds quite interesting.

[Mat^]

New coen brothers film?

I'm sold.

[Redux]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=HxBMdwoERQc

I wouldn't go looking for any other trailers. I just saw one that pretty much gives away the ending.

[Sloth]

i wanted to watch this last weekend but i couldn't get myself to go to the theatre...

[GorillaBearBear]

I saw this on Friday. I have to say It was both similar and totally different to what I expected. I had seen that it was a return to the style of Blood Simple (which I love), and yes, in a way it is, but it is also much, much bleaker than that film. Nevertheless, it really is excellent.

I think the first thing to really leap out at me was the dialogue. It's just absolutely perfectly judged. Like the best of Raymond Carver's short stories, short, terse conversations give drive the plot forward and provide gentle, dark humour, whilst never giving too much away. I imagine this would irritate many people, but I love it. It really gives the actors a chance to flex their "muscles" as it were, and keep us interested in their motives. At other times, long, seemingly disconnected monologues provide meat thematically, whilst, again, providing us with some dark humour. Altogether, brilliantly written and also, brilliantly acted.

Tommy Lee Jones is a revelation in this film - as I find he quite often is. I always forget that he is a damn good actor who frequently takes roles that don't test him (US Marshals). In this film he captures a hopeless sense of helplessness perfectly. His monologue at the end of the film is delivered perfectly. Incidentally, that monologue is something of a twist, turning the ideas the film has been conveying on their head. The other acting is just the right blend of darkness and humour. Incredible.

Certain stylistic choices are worth mentioning as well. The first, again in the Raymond Carver tradition, is omission. What they choose to show you, and what they choose to reveal to you, perfectly steers both the way you think about the themes of the film, as well as how the film handles a cast of three main characters. I can't really say more than that without spoiling it, though. The second, rather bold, choice, is that they do not have a score at any point in the movie. Instead, the sound of a dry, desolate desert wind underscores the entire film. This has several effects. The most obvious is to add to the bleakness of the film, but more importantly, keeps the tension at a ridiculous height. By the time the film comes to a (typically Coen brothers) very abrupt end, the audience snaps like a spring wound too tightly. The way they use sound generally is impressive - bursts of noise in this silent, dreary atmosphere. The major events of the film are given immense power - far beyond their actual significance, sometimes - just because they break through this wall of quiet so violently.

The attention to detail, also, is astonishing. Things that could remain completely ambiguous are cleared up by such simple touches as a killer checking his shoes for blood.

That said, as with everything, the film has it's problems too. The violence is gruesome, which although I am sure is a deliberate stylistic choice, I rather think detracts from proceedings rather than adds to them (although this could be interpreted both ways). Although powerful, the lack of any satisfying resolution for the characters (with one exception) does mean you lack any form of closure at the end of the film. I personally think this was a plus point, the film stayed with me for a long time after it finished because of this, but definitely some people will be annoyed by it. Finally, it doesn't let you in very easily. I mean to say that juggling the plot lines it does, and taking a "show don't tell" approach to the story, it takes a little too long to get a feel for the characters and their motivations.

Overall, definitely worth watching, and certainly one of the best films of the past year. I'm not sure I would recommend it to anyone, but if you feel up to it, you should definitely watch it at least once.

[Mat^]

It's not being shown at my local (maidenhead) so I saw sweeny todd, this means I have to wait another week and see it in reading.

Which is not my favorite place.

Expecting it will be very worth it.

[GorillaBearBear]

Man I didn't even realise it was limited release. I guess I take my local arthouse theatre for granted.

[FoxDhoj]

Cattle gun, cattle gun, cattle gun.
That guy looks badass.

I'm probably gonna go see this this week. My friends are going tomorrow but I finish college half way through the screening they're planning to go to :(

[ZekeyLizard]

I saw this on Friday. I have to say It was both similar and totally different to what I expected. I had seen that it was a return to the style of Blood Simple excellent.


It reminded me more of their Fargo movie in the way it balanced amusing dialogue with a horrific crime story.


That said, as with everything, the film has it's problems too. The violence is gruesome, which although I am sure is a deliberate stylistic choice, I rather think detracts from proceedings rather than adds to them (although this could be interpreted both ways).

I'd have to disagree. I dont think I'd have been anywhere near as frightened of Creepy McCattleGun (i cant remember the names as its been weeks) if we hadnt gotten a front row seat to him executing his victims with complete apathy.



Although powerful, the lack of any satisfying resolution for the characters (with one exception) does mean you lack any form of closure at the end of the film. I personally think this was a plus point, the film stayed with me for a long time after it finished because of this, but definitely some people will be annoyed by it.

I liked the fact that there was no real tie-up of the events, but it came so BLUNTLY I think is whats annoying people a bit. Although I found it more amusing than anything.

It was like
Creepy McCattlegun isnt watching the road. BOOM! Car crash! He's down, and hobbles away all busted up.
Then it cuts to Tommy Lee Jones.
"I had a dream about my daddy he rode past me on a horse and-
THE END

And I was like "wut...oh its the end. oh alright."

[thecaterpillar]

And I was like "wut...oh its the end. oh alright."

Same here, I got confused at that point and wish I played more attention to the dream. Overall is a very good film I think, I totally love it.

btw is that a silencer on the shotgun? Or something else. what is it?

[GorillaBearBear]

It reminded me more of their Fargo movie in the way it balanced amusing dialogue with a horrific crime story.


I still haven't seen Fargo so I couldn't say, but my friend (who had only seen Fargo before we saw this) agrees with you.


I'd have to disagree. I dont think I'd have been anywhere near as frightened of Creepy McCattleGun (i cant remember the names as its been weeks) if we hadnt gotten a front row seat to him executing his victims with complete apathy.


Very true. What I was objecting to more was literally just the gore. When Shigur kills the mysterious office man, they focussed for ages on him pouring blood from his throat[/quote] and I thought it served very little purpose. Like I say, this is probably a divisive issue and also not that important, but there you go. I think Blood Simple managed to have the same sense of menace without the same amount of focus on the gore and death scenes.



I liked the fact that there was no real tie-up of the events, but it came so BLUNTLY I think is whats annoying people a bit. Although I found it more amusing than anything.

It was like
[spoiler]Creepy McCattlegun isnt watching the road. BOOM! Car crash! He's down, and hobbles away all busted up.
Then it cuts to Tommy Lee Jones.
"I had a dream about my daddy he rode past me on a horse and-
THE END

And I was like "wut...oh its the end. oh alright."

Pretty much what I think too. I only meant in my review that I know that some people would be irritated by it. I think the problem is the change from action to talking is very sudden. A lot of people might not pay attention to Tommy Lee Jones' monologue, but you have to if you want to get anything from the third act of the movie, really.


The Caterpillar: Yes it's a silencer on a shotgun :)

[cyber_turnip]

I saw this on the first preview in the UK, didn't realise there was a thread about it. It was great. I really can't particularly fault it as a film, technically speaking, it was nearly perfect. It was really slow and should have been boring but for some reason all the pace did was add to the tension and how much crap Llewellyn (sp?) was in.

What annoyed me is the audience I saw it with. At least 1 guy walked out and I heard some chavs shouting "THAT WAS SHITE" when we left. Just because the ending makes you think a bit, Jeez.



P.S. The cattle gun was badass.

[Hit]

I've seen it twice now. The Coen brothers prove that they are the masters of blending thrills, chills, subtle humour, masterful characterization and an incredible insight into human behaviour and humanity as a whole.

BaaBaa - if you loved this, you'll love Fargo. The films go hand in hand, aesthetically, structurally and thematically (with No Country being more pessimistic ultimately in it's view on mankind). That's alot of -lly's, but seriously, I'm sure you'll like Fargo too. Check it out.

The ending has been quite the divider. Some hate it, most of those are people who cannot deal with films that break from the conventions and challenge their brains. Others love it, and they are the ones that understand the film.

[FoxDhoj]

I'm going to see this with my father since my friends that were interested in this either went to see it without me, or are off to LA. Bastards.

[Scribbly]

I didn't like it much. It started of nicely but after a while I just couldn't really give a rats ass as to how to story was going to end

[Mat^]

the coens have that effect

[GorillaBearBear]

So I'm reading the book now. Is that obsessive? It's a pretty good book.

[FoxDhoj]

I'm gonna get hold of The Road first.