No Country for Old Men - Western Nihilism

I'll bite. I think the academy made a wrong choice this year. No Country had great performances, but over all, I don't think it was best film material and definitely not Best Director material. It had great moments and incredible performances. In fact I don't think there was a bad performance in the bunch, although Javier Bardem was simply amazing and stand out.

It was a good film, but not best of the year. That should have gone to Juno. Juno was slighted this year.

Best Director? The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. The visual choices made for telling the story were bold and amazing. To be able to give you the feeling of loss and despair of being paralyzed by putting you, the audience, into the body of Jean-Dominique Bauby was just genius.

As to the coin-flip scene being iconic? I think it will be... for a while. Fargo had many iconic scenes as well and, as you put it, Fargo in Texas has many of the same... all of which, like its older brother, will be forgotten in time. Nothing like "I've got a bad feeling about this" or "I'll be back" or "Here's looking at you, kid"... all of which decades later still paint a picture in your minds eye.

Ha ha - thanks for biting Jon. Thanks for getting this party started. I have not seen Juno. From what I hear, it's a great movie, and the BO seems to support this, although it seems more like a feel good kind of movie, which I don't mind seeing. I guess that's why I haven't it yet. I'll give it a chance on DVD and get back with you on that one. I am a fan of Diablo Cody, however. Anyone that can go from pole dancing to writing a novel to writing an Academy Award Wining Screenplay in less than a 24 months time has got something going for him or her. So she has my vote. Let's see what she's able to pull off next.

As for Fargo, I’d have to disagree with you, my friend. Fargo is one of those movies that just keeps giving back. There is very little that can be easily forgotten as far as that movie goes; however, I’ll agree with you with regards to “I’ll be back” and “Here’s looking at you kid” - not quit in that league as far as iconic.

Marco ;-)

I was playing tennis this weekend and the guy that I play with happens to be about 10 years younger than me. I was down in the first set and he says to me, "What's that movie, No Country for Old Men or somethin'?" I came back and beat him in 2 sets. No Country for Old Men my ass.

Out of all the movies that came out this year, this one almost got me to the box office. Not that I don't like seeing movies in the box office, just tough to fit it into the schedule or on the plastic. When I have more time and money I would love to watch more films again. This one will surely be on the top of my list. I'm excited to hear it's a shoot-em-up with substance, that's generally my film of choice. I loved Fargo, so this one should work for me too based on what I'm hearing.

I agree, No country for all man, is my favorite movie this year, Imagine been the Cinematographer for those two.
I only hope to be that good someday.

O.K. I have to agree with you that it is a great film. And also that yes, Javier Bardem did deserve the Oscar. BUT... in my opinion (and it is just that, my opinion). I feel P.T. Anderson should have won the best director catagory. And Blood should have won for best film. I watched these movie s practically back to back. And Blood is so much the stronger film. The CohenBrothers are amazing film makers. But the film seemed incomplete. I didnt even know the main character had died at the El Paso hotel! And I was sitting dead center in the theater! The film was good. And Cormac McCarthy is my favorite author. But it just didnt feel finished to me. Check out blood if you havn't yet. Let me knowhat you think.

Oh yeah - PT Anderson. I was actually rooting for him to win best director. He is by far my favorite filmmaker (see my profile). I consider him The American Auteur. I liked both movies. In fact, No Country for Old Men and There will be Blood share the same bleak sensibilities with regards to the human condition, and they are nicely set against a baron landscape that speak volumes about the characters that inhabit their respective world. So I’m with you on Paul Thomas Anderson. I think he rocks, and I don’t care what Kevin Smith says about Magnolia. I think that movie was brilliant! In my opinion KS can’t hold a candle to PTA.

Thanks for the reply man.

Marco :-)

I too loved There Will Be Blood. However, I appreciated the fact that the Coens did not show Brolin's death in No Country. To me, the whole movie turned that genre on its head. It was very much a statement about control and chance. One of the things that I took away from this film was the fact that violence is an uncontrolable thing. For that matter, life itself. This is why I think they included the car accident as well. Brolin's death was very unceremonious. He is seen lying on the motel floor and the next time we see him he is on the table in the morgue. The latter is a longer shot and we cannot even see his face. First, I think they did this because when you get swept up in something like this, no matter what the reasons, few are going to give you much of a second thought after you are dead. I think it helped to show that in the larger scheme of things he was not a hero, just another guy making a bad decision. Secondly, I think it was a great way to put a spin on our constant need to devour violent scenes in cinema. I loved it. The whole thing. There were just so many layers to it.

Hey Aaron - good to see you on here. How are things going for you. You hit the nail on the hear with your last input.

M ;-)

I like your take on it! I never looked at it that way. Its good to get a fresh point of view. However, if I'm going to watch a guy run around on a screen for two hours, and he gets killed. I want to see it. Not necasarly(spelling? ha!) the death itself. But him dead. I guess I need that clouser, and I didnt get it from this film. But looking at it from your perspective, it definatly works. And if that is infact waht the Cohen Brothers were going for then they succeded completly. I feel the best films are the ones that stay with you long after you've seen them. This one does just that.

I agree about No Country, and what does it mean that there was no music in the background?