tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15887708.post5971024518216094637..comments2023-10-30T13:22:55.911+01:00Comments on As cool as a Fruitstand: No Country for Old Men - Second, hopefully more coherent, spoiler-riddled reactionHedwighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17910606263248113264noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15887708.post-823182848630523462007-12-05T11:25:00.000+01:002007-12-05T11:25:00.000+01:00Yes, this is quite an amazing year we're having, i...Yes, this is quite an amazing year we're having, isn't it? I'm having a really hard time deciding which film from my preliminary top 5 I'm going to have to bump for NCfOM, and I haven't even seen There Will Be Blood yet. <BR/><BR/>Also, on the "the Good, the Bad and the Ugly" comparison, I've been thinking about it too, but there's one rather big difference: while the three protagonists in that movie are constantly interacting, the three here don't ever even share the screen. They interact, but indirectly: through a wall, a phone line, and most importantly, through following each other's footsteps. <BR/><BR/><BR/>**SPOILERS** <BR/><BR/>In my interpretation,it's not even Chigurh who kills Llewelyn, but the Mexicans <BR/><BR/>**<BR/><BR/>They are reflections of each other, in a way, especially in the beginning where we see first Llewelyn, then Chigurh, and finally the sheriff go through the same locations, looking for what the other(s) left behind.<BR/><BR/>Most of all, this is a movie I keep thinking about, and you're absolutely right that this ending is much better and memorable than a simpler, more satisfying one would have been.Hedwighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17910606263248113264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15887708.post-380916250622994222007-12-05T09:24:00.000+01:002007-12-05T09:24:00.000+01:00Where to begin. I never know where to start or whe...Where to begin. I never know where to start or where to end...<BR/><BR/>First off, thanks for the link!<BR/><BR/>Second, I'm happy you're embracing the fact you can't quite pin this film down and seeing it as evidence of it's brilliance.<BR/><BR/>The facts of the movie I am absolutely certain of:<BR/><BR/>***Spoilers***<BR/><BR/>Carla Jean is a goner. Llewelyn is a goner. He did not fool around with the pool lady, but she got caught in the crossfire. Chigurh was not behind the door. He did get the money.<BR/><BR/>***End Spoilers***<BR/><BR/>Though I'm sure of what happened, I'm still not sure of what it all adds up to and that's ok. I still haven't gotten tired of thinking about it. Movies don't do that to me very often.<BR/><BR/>I read the book after seeing the movie for the third time. They are remarkably similar. The boys did an amazing job of stripping it down to the essential detail while still keeping everything that was important. <BR/><BR/>Much of the dialogue was McCarthy's, but it's amazing how well it fit the Coen style. There were naturally more details in the book and the scenes were given more room to breathe, but it was an amazingly faithful adaptation.<BR/><BR/>The weird thing is that I resisted reading what other people were saying about it for a long time. Until well after I wrote my own review. I finally read MZS's interesting but eliptical take and I read some of what Glenn Kenney had to say. I have yet to read Manohla. I'm saddened she didn't like it because I've like her since her days at the LA Weekly and LA Times.<BR/><BR/>Anyway, I almost feel posessive of the movie and I don't want other people's opinions crowding out my own. I want it all for myself. I'm not sure why. It feels like it's MY movie.<BR/><BR/>What's funny about the ending is that people are disappointed in it as though it leaves questions unanswered, but it really doesn't. Everyone's fate is pretty much decided, but people are unhappy because it doesn't turn out the way they want. **Spoilers** the sheriff doesn't save the day, and that's one of the main points of the film. The force of good doesn't live up to his promise. Neither does the imperfect 'man' Llewelyn. The only one who does what he says he's going to do is the 'bad' Chigurh. Yes I just drew a parallel there between NCfOM and The Good The Bad and The Ugly. I don't know if it holds water, but I couldn't resist.<BR/><BR/>Anyway, not only does Ed Tom not save the day, the badness all happens off screen. The audience is denied the usual release of a crime thriller at every turn. And the movie was so good at building up to it, it's quite a slap in the face.<BR/><BR/>But, this ending leaves you thinking. A more satisfying ending I think would've been enjoyable but quickly forgotten.<BR/><BR/>Anyway. For a while there I was on the verge of elevating There Will Be Blood to my favorite movie of the year, but No Country is back on top. I love this movie. I love this whole movie year.Craig Kennedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00924813294666616097noreply@blogger.com