Quick note-Yes, I meant to say "belts" instead of ropes. Hopefully this video offers more analytical content than what is hanging behind the gas station attendant. Either way, I stick to my original point that they look like nooses!
Good stuff. I've read the book twice, along with Blood Meridian by McCarthy (twice, and select passages numerous times) and a few others. Chigurh is a bizarre and frightening character, and the film is acted and directed so well. (Spoilers for the book) The biggest difference between the book and the film (imo) is Carla Jean's decision at the end. In the book, she calls the toss after some prodding by Chigurh, but in the film she doesn't, which seems to cause him some distress. I liked the film decision better: She forces Chigurh to decide her fate (he obviously chose to kill her, as he checks his boots for blood). But film-Carla Jean forces him to come to terms with his worldview, in a way. I think that leads up to his car accident a little more effectively than book-Carla Jean's decision to call the toss. In the film, we finally see his stony facade crack, beginning with Carla Jean. There is another scene from the book, in which Chigurh relates a story to Wells of killing a man after eating in a diner. In the same book-scene (I believe), he says he allowed himself to get taken in by the sheriff (which we see at the beginning of the film/book) on purpose, to test himself and see if his will could get him out of that situation. He goes on to say it was a 'vain thing to do.' But he did this to test his will. To Chigurh, willpower is everything. It is the code by which he lives his life, which is why he judges others so harshly: Their wills are weak. Anyway, I believe this confirms your analysis of his character. For some reason these tidbits from the book really stand out to me.
I read the book after seeing the movie, twice, and you are correct, the movie follows the book well. The dialogue by the Sheriff is interesting, it reads exactly like he talks.
Carla Jean wasn't giving up, she was standing her ground. She has, in my opinion, the best line out of the movie; when he prompts her to call the coin she throws it right back at him by saying "No, the coin doesn't have no say ... it's just YOU." which is something Chigur can't even compute. She saw that the coin-flip was a bullshit moral-justification game and refused to play his game, instead insisting to talk to the man himself. She died, but she still won the argument, and you can tell that Chigur was genuinely affected by her point, even if he doesn't understand or agree with it, you can see turning over what she said as he drives away. That's the closest anyone in the film got to reaching him or teaching him something.
I always felt that she tried to do that, but then realized it was a lost cause, but I totally agree that her behavior of something out of the ordinary did "confuse" him, which led to him not looking both ways when entering the intersection.
Samuel Wallace, I tend to agree. It's brought into light when we see Chigurh checking the bottoms of his boots on the porch. Yes, he's looking to make sure he's not tracking her blood, but he's also examining himself to see if her words had stuck to him, which they had. Only after this point does he become a victim of blind fate, no longer an agent of fate. He passes on his mantle to the boy on the bike, rewarding the boy with $100 for the blind luck of witnessing the accident and one cheap shirt. Chigurh is now out of control, doomed to his new role.
Gilbert Mateer Edgar Lampkin I wouldn't say him getting hit was his fault; but it is an example of how he himself is not above the power of fate. I think in a way, the scene is the unveiling of the man behind the myth; the rest of the movie has Chigur trying to make himself this grand, mythological figure, but at the end of the film we see how much of a facade that really is. At first I didn't like the ending, thinking it was an off-topic anti-climax, but in retrospect it's a perfect ending; Chigur doesn't get a grand death; he gets victory only to be confronted with how hollow it really is, and he will have to live with that emptiness only to eventually die, not in a glorious hellfire, but a slow, whimpering death in silent obscurity.
Totally agree, and it is not the first time it has paid off, because some moron was distracted and oblivious to the consequences of his actions, or perhaps, in tune with the topic of this thread, because he did not want to take charge or be in control of his own fate. Instead, unintentionally or otherwise, he wanted me to be part of his own fate. Never trust the other driver, always look both ways.
Great analysis and channel! Something else that always spoke to me was the scene toward the end with the boys who witness the car accident. At first, they're genuinely concerned for Chigurh's well being. The one kid literally gives him the shirt off his back out of sheer kindness, initially refusing the money. After he insists, the kid ends up taking the money and agrees to lie saying they never saw him. Seconds later as Chigurh walks off, you immediately see the boys start to argue over who gets what portion of the money, as if they didn't just witness a gruesome accident. I saw this as sort of a torch being passed down to the "young men." Their genuine kindness and innocence immediately morphs into greed and fighting once money comes into the picture. Come to think of it, that seems to be a recurring theme throughout the Coen's filmography.
It also mirrors the earlier scene when Llewellyn offers $500 to the group of young men when crossing the border. That scene shows two things: 1. The men aren't innocent kids who simply want to help another human being but they're older and insist on getting paid first, having already been corrupted by greed 2. Chigurgh, like Llewellyn, is now at the mercy of forces beyond his control, essentially a victim of fate. Just like Llewellyn, he must depend on the favour of others to help him make it.
This is a great movie for many reasons but there is one aspect that is never discussed. The Coen brothers did an outstanding job recreating the year 1980. They did a particularly good job with the vintage appearance of interior scenes. The decor of homes, motels, restaurants and even the gas station is spot on. Every minute detail appears exactly the way I remember things were like back in 1980. I specifically remember seeing the shirt with the Owl that Carla Jean is wearing in the scene when Llewelyn returns to his trailer with the satchel of money. My aunt had that same shirt. Well done.
I guess this is just cause I never lived in the 1980s, and that this movie did it more realistically instead of exaggerated like most miami 80s movies, but I never realized this was 1980 until reading it later. Guess I didn't pay attention to whatever cue said it was 1980 or when a character said it. I just thought it was 2007, when the movie came out. Now that I think of it, I cant believe me of all people didnt realize that. I love that kind of stuff. It *is* pretty accurate, too
I was just in Las Vegas NM yesterday. The town is frozen in time. Truly a trip back in time, i suppose that's why movies and tv shows keep using the Plaza as a set. Recommend going for 4th of July celebration.
I see there's a reply, so no ones seen Shugar. Television has always made it easy to aim a gun at a person and feel nothing. Nothing never happens, a investigation, family getting bad news and death. These days there are those that believe seeing on TV is what it is and never ponder what happens after that take. So Tobias? Always be vigilant and avoid distractions when approached, none never knows anything behind you is to happen and you'd be another victim. All of you. Was a good thing l was wearing shades, the reflection showed a guy trying to rummage thru my papers in my truck and l ran toward my truck as they ran like a wusses , both of them. Stupid thing was l could been shot at. Scary, so please, everyone, always be aware of your surroundings and that automatically has you watch over one another, prevention, 👍😢💪.
This is definitely one of those films where it gets better on repeated viewings as it takes a while to grow on you. There is so much depth to this film and I think it should be studied for future generations of film makers. Great analysis this is a hard one to wrap your brain around!
I see this movie as a cautionary tale. Better to heed that 'small still voice' of reason and common sense. Moss should have walked away from that satchel of money.
Great analysis. The theme I took away from this movie (just saw it for the 1st time yesterday) was this: "Real life is chaotic and random, and unlike the movies, there are no fairy tale endings." That's the predominant message, I believe. The main plot narratives, and many minor ones too, all came down to chance. One random decision to do this or that -- or deciding not to -- changes everything. People are just in the wrong place at the wrong time. The discovery of the money, the guy who gets blasted by Anton in the forehead, Anton's coin tosses, the guy in the truck that Llewelyn gets in when he's running from Anton, the Sheriff who just happenes to be driving down the road right after the Mexicans shot Llewelyn, the car accident at the end...all random chance. I'm sure I missed a few too. For the first 95% of the movie, everything stayed true to the "rules" of nearly every action movie and classic Western. (1) Protagonist we like and identify with because he's a regular person caught up in extraordinary circumstances. (2) Antagonist we hate who's pure evil and kills people for sport. (3) True blue cop trying to bring justice to the situation, who will eventually side with the hero and let him go, even though he's broken the law a bunch of times. (4) Damsel in distress (Llewelyn's life). (5) Bunch of nondescript bad dudes who provide an anchor for the plot (the Mexican drug dealers). I mean, it's The Fugitive -- we even have Tommy Lee Jones as the cop! It's EVERY action move ever. The whole time, the script stays true to what we've come to expect. The stage is being set the classic conclusion of every action movie. The big duel, the ending fight scene, the final, inevitable confrontation between the good guy and the bad guy. We're SURE that Llewelyn is going to confront Anton -- and win. Of course the good guy will win. Like always. Right? But wham, out of no where in the last 10 minutes of a 2 hour move, everything suddenly changes course. The hero gets killed, breaking the first fundamental rule of action movies. We don't even see his death! WHAT?!??! It happens at the hands of the nondescript bad guys, no less -- we see a few Mexican drug dealers from a distance for a few seconds. We don't even know how they found Llewelyn or how it all went down. After escaping several sure-death scenarios in the movie, like the hero always does, he's suddenly just f-ing dead in a hotel room, shot by a bunch of nobody's. Then the bad guy who seems to have all power over everyone he faces? He suddenly gets severely injured in a car accident in some nameless small town by some putz driving a station wagon. And he doesn't even die! He just limps away with a bone sticking out of his arm. We don't even know what happens to him. And then the movie ends during a seemingly random moment of dialogue. It was an ending that was as anti-fairy tale as it could possibly be. I felt like the Cohen brothers were purposely trying to throttle our sense of normalcy that we are accustomed to in movies. Almost angrily and defiantly so. No Country for Old Men basically kicks conventional action movies in the nuts and hopes some kind of lesson was learned.
Thank you! It does a great job subverting expectations, it's one of those movies that plays on the audience expecting one thing, but then giving us something else.
Excellent analysis too! I found the dialogue at the end of the movie to be the downside of this film (indeed, there is too much of this lame dialogue throughout the movie), and it is totally at odds with what goes on. I do understand the point that the movie offers a different variant in comparison to what more conventional movies do (hero never dies, police solve the case). Clearly, the directors wanted to portray the end of a career and the dooming feeling that the worst is still to come. However, there is a suggestion that the police were oblivious to- or totally incapable to deal or understand what was going on, which it is a bit over the top. I mean, under normal circumstances, would a police officer start talking on the telephone with an arrested individual right behind him? I enjoyed watching this movie many times, and it is one of my favourites.
I don't think he would live,if he brought the water to mafia cartel who was asking for water, the suitcase with money had a GPS tracking device, he would still be found.
back then they don't have app to access the location ... it would be nearly impossible to locate the money ... unless until the transistor is near that bag.
I don't think Carla Jean so much accepts dying by Chigurh's hand, but chooses to have a role in her fate. She is confounded by how things out of her control have ended up changing her life completely, and then is confronted by the chaotic force behind the events. She doesn't really have much going for her, and she decides that if this is to be her last living moment, let her have control over it.
On another note, I liked your points on Ed Tom Bell. I've always found his role in the story incomplete in part. Now I see that is exactly what it is supposed to be.
I have watched quite a few analysis on this movie and you bring up such great points that no one else has. Great stuff. I watched all your videos. Keep em coming.
He's definitely good, but personally I find Every Frame a Painting to be a little more up my alley, and a very different and unique insight into film itself as a medium. I guess they are two different explorations and fulfill different needs. EFAP makes you excited and fascinated with film itself as a whole, while Jack gives great insight and breakdowns into specific films. I love your work though Jack, keep it up dude.
This is the best No Country For Old Men analysis I have ever seen on UA-cam. The depth this goes to explain each characters' motivations is simply amazing. I learned so much.
Excellent analysis - I think that frequently the Coen bros leave with a "What did that mean", that's make elevates them to genius. Nice work Jack. Thanks
I just finished watching this film before I watched your video and the way you breakdown the morals and personal drives of each character is super insightful! This was extremely helpful for understanding No Country For Old Men and generally understanding how to create meaningful characters for the big screen!
This may be your best analysis that I've seen. I love your interpretation of the events. They make the most sense out of all the interpretations I've heard. Good work, man!
I just watched the movie yesterday and i have to get this out of my head: One of the things that struck me about it was the interactions between strangers. No matter who is interacting (gas station man v. Chigurgh, tent salesman v. Moss, border kids v. Moss....), there is almost always a tension between the two people. Who is this person coming into my place of business? What do they want? Why? What is going to happen? Now that I think about it, it echoes the theme of Sheriff Bell's journey. There are strange and interesting people coming into the world with unclear intentions, and Bell has to either try and figure out what's going on, or walk away.
There are observations about how Chigurh lived by his own set of rules/morals. Although it appears that he despises those who lack morals and/or break their own rules, in his own twisted hypocritical way, manages to break his own rules when it suits him. As evil as he is, this makes him no different than those he despises. In the scene with Wells, he is clearly contemptuous of Wells trying to bargain for his life with money. But in his final scene he attempts to buy his own safety by bribing the kid for his silence. In the scene with Carla Jean, he offers her the “coin toss”. However, he had already promised Moss that he was going to kill her. Using the coin toss was his own sadistic way of “getting off”. Had she participated in his game, was he going to let her live if she guessed right, or was he intent on killing her regardless of the outcome of the toss? Based solely on one other scene in the movie involving the coin toss, we can’t say for sure. This was a truly evil character who could not be trusted no matter the situation. Sheriff Bell’s role was a good contrast to Chigurh ‘s character . While Chigurh lived up to his role of pure evil, Bell, by his own narrative never seemed comfortable in his role. He appears to have inherited his position from his father and grandfather before him, most likely because it was convenient...somewhat like the gas station owner who married into his position. A recurring theme in his narrative was that time had passed him by. But I think it could be more accurately said that he never “lived in the moment”, as it was. Most of his life appears to have been a fraud (a common affliction among us humans) which he finally accepts with his last line of dialogue, “...and then I woke up”.
I love the channel of how it shows what kind of movie it will be and not hyping it up like many youtubers do. It's a great balance of talking about the movies and the good side of the movie.
Yes but the briefcase had something inside that allows Sugar to find it, so even if he hadn't helped that man with water, he still would have been found.
But much more of a chance he wouldn't have. Chigurh and the others may not have assumed that a local hunter had happened along the scene. It was his returning to the scene of the crime and being forced to leave his truck which allows them to discover his whereabouts.
it was a proximity tracker. You have to be in its area for it to beep. Its not like a gps, it only notifies you when your near it. Therefore Llewelyn could have prevented his death had he not lived by his own virtues
No interpretation from me. I just wanted to say that I really enjoyed your review. It was cogent and nicely entertaining . . . a real break from so many other commentaries, which are often self-indulgent and abound like locusts. Thank you
Jack this is simply great .. No Country for Old men is my top 5 movie , and this review is one of the best I heard ... I really need to check all others on channel ... Do you like Korean movies ( Oldboy, I Saw the Devil ) for example ?
Thank you! I do like Korean movies, I feel like Korean movies just like any country's films all have potential to either be great or awful, and from the very limited selection I have seen, I have enjoyed them all!
I enjoyed your analysis thoroughly. The novel is one of my favorite novels of all time, and you helped me appreciate the movie even more than I already did. Well done.
This was a great analysis of this perfectly written film. I agree wholeheartedly with your analysis of the character of Chigurh, but I wonder why he felt it necessary to kill the farmer with the chicken coop truck, other than the fact that he needed a vehicle to continue on with his mission. Was his death merely just considered collateral damage in the eyes of Chigurh?
"To him human life is worthless..." Fair enough. "...and inherently bad." You lost me here. "Inherently bad" is a moral judgment, and psychopaths like Chigurrh are incapable of making moral judgments (at least on an intuitive level). He kills humans like you or I swat flies. We may not like flies-indeed, we might actively dislike them-but we wouldn't say that "fly life" is inherently bad. We just don't think about their lives much, *even when we kill them.* That's how Chigurrh thinks of human lives.
Well done man I loved your analogy, thank you , that’s one of the most intrigued movies in history I reckon, I love to see everything about it ! Thank you 🇦🇺
hi the car crash at the end signifies that even after following the rules (the traffic light is green) he is still hurt, with him telling (woody harleson) earlier that following rules got him nowhere and then kills him
A few thoughts on Chigurh's actions at the end of the film. There's a number of allusions that shouldn't be missed. His walking away echoes the wounded black dog which limps away at the beginning of the film and Shane's final departure in the movie Shane. His offer of money to purchase a shirt for the wounds he has received from his car accident also echoes Llewellyn Moss' request to purchase a shirt for the wounds he received in his "accident." Why do you think that Chigurh has changed? It seems to me he's no more effected by this accident then he was by the wounds he received when Llewellyn shot him. For him, it's just how things are.
I think the biggest change that he undergoes is that of becoming the old man. Earlier he stitched up his own wounds, but in the end he needs to rely on the younger generation. The overall emphasis that is put on becoming old.
Jack's Movie Reviews I see what your saying. There's definitely something meaningful about the presence of youth in this scene which is emphasized in the parallels to Llewelyn's earlier scene. Chigurh has become feeble in his accident like an old man. I'll have to think about it a little more.
The biggest difference between the movie and the book is why Chigurh is so frightening. In the movie, he is frightening because we know so little about who he is and what motivates him. In the book he is frightening because of what we do know about who he is and what motivates him.
Great analysis. I've accessed a lot of videos / podcasts that deconstruct this story (read the book too) but you've given me a much better understanding of the motivation behind the characters. Thanks very much for making this.
Javier Bardem should dress up like his character from No Country and go to various stores and ask the clerks to call the coin, "Heads? or Tails?" "It is just a coin but it is".
just found this channel and I am so grateful I wanted a social evaluation about this film and I received it... now I have to watch all the rest of these videos :)
Really terrific video analysis. Lots of stuff I hadn't thought about or didn't realize. I especially liked the way you tied in the theme of free will vs fate.
This is very much a film essay rather than an essay on the shared philosophy of the book and adaptation. Though it mostly translates to both, the film is much less based around dialogue than the novel. Anton has about a hundred more speaking lines in the novel and it's truly a wonderful insight into how deep his philosophies go. He also makes more dark jokes about his deeds in the book, explaining the reasons for his killings to himself as he goes alone through life with no one but himself to relate to. I highly recommend it as it almost paints him as a slightly younger out-of-towner who is unused to the small-talk oriented lifestyle of the south. He comes off as a very "Kasas-city" type who seems to be completely oriented toward his work and the take over of the world he lives, thus becoming in charge of the mexican mob at the end of the story (cut from the film unfortunately). He was not an old man. He was a young man just getting started.
You are in control of your actions/life... your fate and free will are determined by your experiences and your surroundings, there is always a consequence for every action that you take.
I loved this movie and took one very important lesson from it. If your ever lucky enough to find a satchel full of money make sure you check for a transmitter before you take off with the money and dont ever assume that someone will stop looking for their lost millions.
Should mention how Chigur offered them the money because he believed that people were all superficial, it's implied that they would've helped him regardless.
I think Chigur considers killing the attendant simply because he had noticed which direction he (Chigur) had come from. Chigur is not a person who wants his comings and goings noticed. Fortunately for the attendant, Chigur decided to play the coin toss game, and he adheres to the rules like a man of honor (as he is also shown to have been when he killed Moss's wife, something he had promised Moss he would do, and he did it even though it was unnecessary).
Ellis the character as the end.. "you can't stop whats coming, that's Vanity". Straight out of Scripture that man thinks in his own moral compass he can stop Evil. Bells simple, lukewarm faith. Crushed.
Great review! Here are a few things I noticed: Moss is a poacher. He picks up the bullet casing and puts in his pocket after shooting the antelope, because he's commiting a crime. He is remorseful after, but he does abandon a dying man (crime 2) to pursue the "last man standing", because he knows there must be money involved. He waits for that man to die (crime 3). Then he takes money, which is evidence in a multiple killing (crime 4). He had been in Nam two tours and thinks of himself as a badass, despite later evidence that Chigurh is WAY more badass than he is. Moss had the hubris to challenge both the law and the outlaws, there was never hope for him. Sheriff Bell was waiting for a "call from God" but the call never came. This whole movie makes the powerful statement that God, like the coin "has no say, it's just you". Wether he exists or not, God plays no part. It's either our own choices or the choices of others impossed upon us. We all are subjects and/or objects in different scenarios. Even Anton who seems in control throughout, loses control at the end.
The sheriff was a war deserter, and throughout the movie has a track record of passivity. To me it seems like he thinks his work doesn't matter because there is no way to overcome the great evils he faces so why even try? His dream to me I thought described this very well, with his father holding a torch in the cold dark night and blazing ahead, and the sheriff, being passive and just accepting the coldness never catching up with him. Just watched this movie today and it was so weird that you just uploaded this video too! Love your content and always looking forward to your next video, happy new year.
Amazing analysis dude! Such a unique insight - brings the film back to life and shows us that you never really catch everything in outstanding films like this one. Thanks so much for making an already great film even better!
just watched this film for the first time. so great. reminded me a lot of A SERIOUS MAN with it's themes about fate but mostly just the randomness about life. awesome video man
Morality is an interesting perspective for analysis on this film, but as a psychologist I have a very different perspective. No Country is a fascinating interplay between the surface plot and sub-plot that leaves us with these unanswered questions just hanging there. The heads up coin was an important part, but not the only symbolism being used though. Playing that kind of story telling three card monty with the audience, and not leaving us with a feeling of disappointment is what makes this film great. I think the scene where Moss's rifle scope was mulling over deer in a herd was the symbolic keystone that the sub-plot was built around. It was a moment where death was introduced as intensional disconnected and unimpassioned. Survival is our strongest core drive, and fear of death is what propels our survival. Personally, I believe Chigurh represents a psychological blank screen on witch the characters and audience project their own fears of evil and mortality. The opening monolog by Sheriff Bell needs to be put into context by the film's title, No Country For Old Men. I believe Bell is confessing his fear in coming to the realization he no longer has the spirit to confront evil and mortality head on, or to get there in time to protect others. With the murder of the deputy, we are introduced to the emotionless blank canvas of fear. There is no anger, excitement, passion, or vengeance in Chigurh's face, so without that cue our response is left hanging searching for some emotional meaning behind his blank stare. What fills that blank emotionless screen is a projection of our own fear of evil and mortality. In living our lives, in some way or another we face those existential fears and make our way. As we mature we develop a set of "rules" that help us navigate our fears so we can engage the world. What motivates us in taking that leap is either gratification of our desires, or satisfying the expectations of others. The thinly masked distain Chigurh has for the driver of the car and the gas station clerk is they present as totally compliant, passive, and incapable of directing their own life. This is dishonorable because it is an inauthentic way of navigating life. To death and evil their fate is nothing more than a means to an end, or the flip of a coin. In his own words he says "You've been putting it up your whole life, you just didn't know it" Although I know it would have meant nothing to Chigurh had the coin been tails, I don't think the scene would have been nearly as impactful had he killed another harmless man. Llewellyn Moss on the other hand is clearly driven by his desires and more than willing to confront his fear, and even kill or be killed in order to satisfy them. That being said, he is not motivated by greed, but fights for the money he finds and sees as his. The most important feature of his character is the blind confidence he has in directing his own fate in life, and has little concern for what others think of him. At any time he could have walked away from the money he found and the danger attached to it, but every time he chose to risk his life to keep it. Finally, Carson Wells is definitely motivated by greed and driven to satisfy the expectations of others. To him everything has its price, even what he will pay to save his own life. The most important feature of his character is his display of arrogance vs confidence which shows he cares a great deal what others think. I see the most important part of his murder was he stood more to gain by killing Chigurh than he offered to save his own life. Like Moss, his death exposed his flawed rules and having that exposed was also the sum of his darkest fear. Out of everyone, it was Sheriff Bell who had the most honorable and authentic life. The rules he lived by were well developed and showed a mature understanding of his fear, "sometimes I think he's pretty much a ghost." I have a very different view of the final scene though, I see it as someone who has come to terms with his fear, and no longer feels compelled and or capable of confronting it. I don't see a man who is surrendering to mediocrity, I see an honorable man who found peace in waking up to the realization that his fear of evil and mortality are in deed a ghost. Although it was totally overlooked in Jack's analysis, Chigurh's interaction with the kids showed they had not yet fully developed their set of rules and were totally unprepared to navigate the morality of selling a shirt to a man who was involved in a car collision and suffered a compound fracture. In fact, I don't believe it was their ignorance that saves them though; like Sheriff Bell it was their authenticity that kept them from becoming another target. Sure, it would have been a nice neat Hollywood ending to have Chigurh punished by death from an accident, but it would have destroyed the film's profound message.
Thank you Jack, for this movie analysis. Have been waiting all these years for this kind of analysis. btw, what the most you ever lost in a coin toss? Happy New Year!
Thank you Michael! I'm glad you enjoyed! This is going to be a boring answer, but the most I've ever lost is probably just a dollar, I wish I had a better story to go along with it. Happy New Year to you too!
The part where you said Llewellyn believes that the only person in charge of his destiny is himself is reminiscent of Glanton in McCarthy's masterpiece, Blood Meridian. He too believes, (or wants to, at least), that no one controls his fate except him. Over the course of the book, he slowly begins to crack when it becomes apparent that what he so desperately wishes to be true is nothing more than wishful thinking.
The do indeed. The photography, details, scene setups in the movie are of course excellent, and I would not be surprised if the fan belts were hanging the way they do to accentuate the character of Mr Psychopath Chigurh...
I really enjoyed this video. I finally watched this last year and I didn't get it at first, but I thought about it for a few days afterwards and watched some other analyses on UA-cam to help me understand it, and I then realized how brilliant this film really is. Thank you for one last video to close out 2016, and have a Happy New Year!
Im a big movie fan & only just discovered your channel, I'm just binge watching your video's at the moment, I've seen a few other movie review channels but I'm genuinely enjoying yours the most, you have a very interesting view point & take on some of my favourite movies & it has given me a different perspective on a few of them.
0:50 the bald guy with the mustache in the bolo tie is my dad Boots Southerland! He also played the prison warden in the opening scene of Terminator Salvation and the tow truck driver in Just Getting Started.
Great explanation for a great movie which I have seen twice but have not been able to figure out much beyond the action packed sequence. Your work has added more meaning to the story.
That put such a different spin on the car crash scene that I'd never thought of, I was always confused about it and took it to be something along the lines of Chigurh either not being invincible or a foreshadowing that now without a car and injured, he was going to be caught. Your interpretation is awesome how he experiences fate and becomes an old man having to rely on the "young men", symbolising he only has so long left
Also he seemed outplayed by several interactions, previously, the attendant who wins the coin toss, it's ok to "marry into it", traditional rules of manhood have been rendered obsolete. Wells who asks if he realises how crazy he is...and Moss's wife who refuses to play his game, says "it's just you, there is no fate". It's after this, and seeing the teens in his rear-view mirror that he has the accident. He's outwitted or distracted because of the younger generation. He kinda dissapears in suburbia...
Most people think Anton got the money, he didn't. The vent was too small, the case was never there, Moss hid or shipped the money elsewhere, This is why Chigurh is upset. His faith in himself as the hand of fate has been shattered.
I watched this a couple of times and I was confused the first run through. But as I got older and really take it in And a couple of commentaries, I finally understood and enjoyed it.
I hated this movie the first time I saw it. After watching several reviews, I've come to appreciate its themes and I'm ready to rewatch. I have a feeling I'll like it on second viewing.
I like how chigur is made out to be a figure of fate in this movie. As though his reckoning is unrelenting and uncaring of anything. If he has you in his sight then he will keep coming regardless of what’s in front of him. Never thought about it like that before makes his character more interesting.
It’s annoying how so many people fail at explaining this movie. Anton just represents death and evil at its most basic definition through out the movie. Like Heath Ledgers version of The Joker their is no motive other then his own which the movie never fully explains. What I love so much about this movie is how it perfectly shows the depression of our elders who feel no longer apart of this world and don’t understand the direction into which it went and feeling nostalgic and trying to hold on to how it use to be. Best part of the movie of course is the ending. Some how someone who shows no morality of any kind that could be understood some how shows is he is of course human with a heart. One of the best movies ever.
Well done Jack. This is one of my favorite movies. After watching your video, I want to see the movie again. As an 'old man' nearing retirement from my career, I can relate to it on many levels.
I think it’s noteworthy how labored Anton’s voice sounds when he first tells the gas station employee to “call it”. Like he knew the clerk could’ve avoided his potential fate if he had refused to make senseless small talk about where he had come from
Quick note-Yes, I meant to say "belts" instead of ropes. Hopefully this video offers more analytical content than what is hanging behind the gas station attendant. Either way, I stick to my original point that they look like nooses!
Jack's Movie Reviews That was a deep breakdown man!
Good stuff. I've read the book twice, along with Blood Meridian by McCarthy (twice, and select passages numerous times) and a few others. Chigurh is a bizarre and frightening character, and the film is acted and directed so well.
(Spoilers for the book) The biggest difference between the book and the film (imo) is Carla Jean's decision at the end. In the book, she calls the toss after some prodding by Chigurh, but in the film she doesn't, which seems to cause him some distress. I liked the film decision better: She forces Chigurh to decide her fate (he obviously chose to kill her, as he checks his boots for blood). But film-Carla Jean forces him to come to terms with his worldview, in a way. I think that leads up to his car accident a little more effectively than book-Carla Jean's decision to call the toss. In the film, we finally see his stony facade crack, beginning with Carla Jean.
There is another scene from the book, in which Chigurh relates a story to Wells of killing a man after eating in a diner. In the same book-scene (I believe), he says he allowed himself to get taken in by the sheriff (which we see at the beginning of the film/book) on purpose, to test himself and see if his will could get him out of that situation. He goes on to say it was a 'vain thing to do.' But he did this to test his will. To Chigurh, willpower is everything. It is the code by which he lives his life, which is why he judges others so harshly: Their wills are weak. Anyway, I believe this confirms your analysis of his character. For some reason these tidbits from the book really stand out to me.
I read the book after seeing the movie, twice, and you are correct, the movie follows the book well. The dialogue by the Sheriff is interesting, it reads exactly like he talks.
they belts! had to turn it off
Man. You did a great job. I’m starting to think you should have directed the film.
Carla Jean wasn't giving up, she was standing her ground. She has, in my opinion, the best line out of the movie; when he prompts her to call the coin she throws it right back at him by saying "No, the coin doesn't have no say ... it's just YOU." which is something Chigur can't even compute. She saw that the coin-flip was a bullshit moral-justification game and refused to play his game, instead insisting to talk to the man himself. She died, but she still won the argument, and you can tell that Chigur was genuinely affected by her point, even if he doesn't understand or agree with it, you can see turning over what she said as he drives away. That's the closest anyone in the film got to reaching him or teaching him something.
I always felt that she tried to do that, but then realized it was a lost cause, but I totally agree that her behavior of something out of the ordinary did "confuse" him, which led to him not looking both ways when entering the intersection.
Samuel Wallace, I tend to agree. It's brought into light when we see Chigurh checking the bottoms of his boots on the porch. Yes, he's looking to make sure he's not tracking her blood, but he's also examining himself to see if her words had stuck to him, which they had. Only after this point does he become a victim of blind fate, no longer an agent of fate. He passes on his mantle to the boy on the bike, rewarding the boy with $100 for the blind luck of witnessing the accident and one cheap shirt. Chigurh is now out of control, doomed to his new role.
He doesn't look both ways because it's a green light. Who looks both ways when there is a green light?
Gilbert Mateer Edgar Lampkin I wouldn't say him getting hit was his fault; but it is an example of how he himself is not above the power of fate. I think in a way, the scene is the unveiling of the man behind the myth; the rest of the movie has Chigur trying to make himself this grand, mythological figure, but at the end of the film we see how much of a facade that really is. At first I didn't like the ending, thinking it was an off-topic anti-climax, but in retrospect it's a perfect ending; Chigur doesn't get a grand death; he gets victory only to be confronted with how hollow it really is, and he will have to live with that emptiness only to eventually die, not in a glorious hellfire, but a slow, whimpering death in silent obscurity.
Totally agree, and it is not the first time it has paid off, because some moron was distracted and oblivious to the consequences of his actions, or perhaps, in tune with the topic of this thread, because he did not want to take charge or be in control of his own fate. Instead, unintentionally or otherwise, he wanted me to be part of his own fate. Never trust the other driver, always look both ways.
Great analysis and channel!
Something else that always spoke to me was the scene toward the end with the boys who witness the car accident. At first, they're genuinely concerned for Chigurh's well being. The one kid literally gives him the shirt off his back out of sheer kindness, initially refusing the money. After he insists, the kid ends up taking the money and agrees to lie saying they never saw him.
Seconds later as Chigurh walks off, you immediately see the boys start to argue over who gets what portion of the money, as if they didn't just witness a gruesome accident. I saw this as sort of a torch being passed down to the "young men." Their genuine kindness and innocence immediately morphs into greed and fighting once money comes into the picture. Come to think of it, that seems to be a recurring theme throughout the Coen's filmography.
Thank you! And great point at the end, I didn't put that together!
thats a really good point, just like how Llewelyn loses his innocence when he decides to take the briefcase of money with him
It also mirrors the earlier scene when Llewellyn offers $500 to the group of young men when crossing the border. That scene shows two things:
1. The men aren't innocent kids who simply want to help another human being but they're older and insist on getting paid first, having already been corrupted by greed
2. Chigurgh, like Llewellyn, is now at the mercy of forces beyond his control, essentially a victim of fate. Just like Llewellyn, he must depend on the favour of others to help him make it.
What about ther other driver in the accident? No one pays attention to the other drive. Anton doesn't and neither do the kids.
The Shameless Pitchmen for Jesus Christ Never thought about that 🤔
This is a great movie for many reasons but there is one aspect that is never discussed. The Coen brothers did an outstanding job recreating the year 1980. They did a particularly good job with the vintage appearance of interior scenes. The decor of homes, motels, restaurants and even the gas station is spot on. Every minute detail appears exactly the way I remember things were like back in 1980. I specifically remember seeing the shirt with the Owl that Carla Jean is wearing in the scene when Llewelyn returns to his trailer with the satchel of money. My aunt had that same shirt. Well done.
They even had Llewelyn buy a discontinued pair of boots that were around in the 80's
I guess this is just cause I never lived in the 1980s, and that this movie did it more realistically instead of exaggerated like most miami 80s movies, but I never realized this was 1980 until reading it later. Guess I didn't pay attention to whatever cue said it was 1980 or when a character said it. I just thought it was 2007, when the movie came out. Now that I think of it, I cant believe me of all people didnt realize that. I love that kind of stuff. It *is* pretty accurate, too
You are right I never noticed this
I just wanted to add that the vehicles were 80's-ish, the pickup trucks, etc. They don't make them like that anymore...
I was just in Las Vegas NM yesterday. The town is frozen in time. Truly a trip back in time, i suppose that's why movies and tv shows keep using the Plaza as a set. Recommend going for 4th of July celebration.
Legend has it, Chigurh is still hobbling along somewhere in southern Texas
Life depends on the actions we make.
wat da fuq
Actually it's somewhere by the pit in Albuquerque, on University and Coal.😉
I see there's a reply, so no ones seen Shugar. Television has always made it easy to aim a gun at a person and feel nothing. Nothing never happens, a investigation, family getting bad news and death.
These days there are those that believe seeing on TV is what it is and never ponder what happens after that take.
So Tobias? Always be vigilant and avoid distractions when approached, none never knows anything behind you is to happen and you'd be another victim. All of you.
Was a good thing l was wearing shades, the reflection showed a guy trying to rummage thru my papers in my truck and l ran toward my truck as they ran like a wusses , both of them. Stupid thing was l could been shot at. Scary, so please, everyone, always be aware of your surroundings and that automatically has you watch over one another, prevention, 👍😢💪.
This is definitely one of those films where it gets better on repeated viewings as it takes a while to grow on you. There is so much depth to this film and I think it should be studied for future generations of film makers. Great analysis this is a hard one to wrap your brain around!
I totally agree, working on the video and researching it made me want to rewatch it again (after seeing it just days earlier)
I see this movie as a cautionary tale. Better to heed that 'small still voice' of reason and common sense. Moss should have walked away from that satchel of money.
Yeah I never got it at all when I first watched it but its growing on me
Great analysis. The theme I took away from this movie (just saw it for the 1st time yesterday) was this: "Real life is chaotic and random, and unlike the movies, there are no fairy tale endings." That's the predominant message, I believe.
The main plot narratives, and many minor ones too, all came down to chance. One random decision to do this or that -- or deciding not to -- changes everything. People are just in the wrong place at the wrong time. The discovery of the money, the guy who gets blasted by Anton in the forehead, Anton's coin tosses, the guy in the truck that Llewelyn gets in when he's running from Anton, the Sheriff who just happenes to be driving down the road right after the Mexicans shot Llewelyn, the car accident at the end...all random chance. I'm sure I missed a few too.
For the first 95% of the movie, everything stayed true to the "rules" of nearly every action movie and classic Western. (1) Protagonist we like and identify with because he's a regular person caught up in extraordinary circumstances. (2) Antagonist we hate who's pure evil and kills people for sport. (3) True blue cop trying to bring justice to the situation, who will eventually side with the hero and let him go, even though he's broken the law a bunch of times. (4) Damsel in distress (Llewelyn's life). (5) Bunch of nondescript bad dudes who provide an anchor for the plot (the Mexican drug dealers). I mean, it's The Fugitive -- we even have Tommy Lee Jones as the cop! It's EVERY action move ever.
The whole time, the script stays true to what we've come to expect. The stage is being set the classic conclusion of every action movie. The big duel, the ending fight scene, the final, inevitable confrontation between the good guy and the bad guy. We're SURE that Llewelyn is going to confront Anton -- and win. Of course the good guy will win. Like always. Right?
But wham, out of no where in the last 10 minutes of a 2 hour move, everything suddenly changes course. The hero gets killed, breaking the first fundamental rule of action movies. We don't even see his death! WHAT?!??! It happens at the hands of the nondescript bad guys, no less -- we see a few Mexican drug dealers from a distance for a few seconds. We don't even know how they found Llewelyn or how it all went down. After escaping several sure-death scenarios in the movie, like the hero always does, he's suddenly just f-ing dead in a hotel room, shot by a bunch of nobody's.
Then the bad guy who seems to have all power over everyone he faces? He suddenly gets severely injured in a car accident in some nameless small town by some putz driving a station wagon. And he doesn't even die! He just limps away with a bone sticking out of his arm. We don't even know what happens to him. And then the movie ends during a seemingly random moment of dialogue.
It was an ending that was as anti-fairy tale as it could possibly be. I felt like the Cohen brothers were purposely trying to throttle our sense of normalcy that we are accustomed to in movies. Almost angrily and defiantly so. No Country for Old Men basically kicks conventional action movies in the nuts and hopes some kind of lesson was learned.
Thank you! It does a great job subverting expectations, it's one of those movies that plays on the audience expecting one thing, but then giving us something else.
Excellent analysis too! I found the dialogue at the end of the movie to be the downside of this film (indeed, there is too much of this lame dialogue throughout the movie), and it is totally at odds with what goes on. I do understand the point that the movie offers a different variant in comparison to what more conventional movies do (hero never dies, police solve the case). Clearly, the directors wanted to portray the end of a career and the dooming feeling that the worst is still to come. However, there is a suggestion that the police were oblivious to- or totally incapable to deal or understand what was going on, which it is a bit over the top. I mean, under normal circumstances, would a police officer start talking on the telephone with an arrested individual right behind him? I enjoyed watching this movie many times, and it is one of my favourites.
I've waiting so long for a good analysis of no country for old men
Well I'm glad you enjoyed!
I don't think he would live,if he brought the water to mafia cartel who was asking for water, the suitcase with money had a GPS tracking device, he would still be found.
back then they don't have app to access the location ...
it would be nearly impossible to locate the money ... unless until the transistor is near that bag.
Hunter C and still waiting
"At the end it is him (Chugar) who is weak, it is him who is becoming an old man"
Ultimate insight. Thank you.
I need a full breakdown of Napoleon Dynamite.
Coming April 31st!
It was stupid....there you go.
Jesse, the last thing you need is another breakdown.
@@onlyplayaseattacoswiththei9433 bruh. That’s why it was funny
FINE!
I don't think Carla Jean so much accepts dying by Chigurh's hand, but chooses to have a role in her fate.
She is confounded by how things out of her control have ended up changing her life completely, and then is confronted by the chaotic force behind the events.
She doesn't really have much going for her, and she decides that if this is to be her last living moment, let her have control over it.
Looking back on it, this is something I would have rephrased, but I think you are totally right!
On another note, I liked your points on Ed Tom Bell. I've always found his role in the story incomplete in part. Now I see that is exactly what it is supposed to be.
History and Mankind have shown us that life is cheap. Look around and see how cruel we treat each other. Excellent video Jack. Happy New Year.
Thank you, and happy new year to you too!
I honestly think you're the best UA-cam film reviewer/essayist around at the moment. Keep up the great work.
Wow! Thank you so much! There are so many great content producers out there, I'm glad I can top your list!
I have watched quite a few analysis on this movie and you bring up such great points that no one else has. Great stuff. I watched all your videos. Keep em coming.
He's definitely good, but personally I find Every Frame a Painting to be a little more up my alley, and a very different and unique insight into film itself as a medium. I guess they are two different explorations and fulfill different needs. EFAP makes you excited and fascinated with film itself as a whole, while Jack gives great insight and breakdowns into specific films. I love your work though Jack, keep it up dude.
Jack, you really do make some of the best content to do with film on UA-cam. I always look forward to your videos coming out!!!
+PROPH3T43 thank you! There are a lot of great people making great content out there, I'm glad I can be included in that group!
He had a great ending left me in awe when i first viewed it not only a couple weeks back.
I watched this movie when I was 14 years and it is still one of my favorites.
This film felt more like a Quiet Place than a Quiet Place.
Nicely done! One of my Top 10 Favorite Films, and you did a fine job examining it. Simple yet efficient.
Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed!
A great cinematic experience: Direction - Villeneuve, Photography - Deakins and the soundtrack - Jóhannsson. Awesome!
The last time they got the Best Picture Oscar unquestionably right.
Very insightful
Thanks Jose!
Yeppers Man! Want to see that Departed one. One of my favorite movies.
This was awesome, Jack! Hope you have a great 2017, my friend.
Thank you! And you too, I'm looking forward to seeing more of your work in the new year!
and now we hope you have a great 2018!
I always saw this movie is an illustration of three types of people, one guided by rules, one guided by morality and the final guided by both.
This is the best No Country For Old Men analysis I have ever seen on UA-cam. The depth this goes to explain each characters' motivations is simply amazing. I learned so much.
Excellent analysis - I think that frequently the Coen bros leave with a "What did that mean", that's make elevates them to genius.
Nice work Jack. Thanks
Thanks John! The best movies are the ones that make you think even after they end, that is true with most Coen Brothers movies.
I just finished watching this film before I watched your video and the way you breakdown the morals and personal drives of each character is super insightful!
This was extremely helpful for understanding No Country For Old Men and generally understanding how to create meaningful characters for the big screen!
This may be your best analysis that I've seen. I love your interpretation of the events. They make the most sense out of all the interpretations I've heard. Good work, man!
I just watched the movie yesterday and i have to get this out of my head:
One of the things that struck me about it was the interactions between strangers. No matter who is interacting (gas station man v. Chigurgh, tent salesman v. Moss, border kids v. Moss....), there is almost always a tension between the two people. Who is this person coming into my place of business? What do they want? Why? What is going to happen?
Now that I think about it, it echoes the theme of Sheriff Bell's journey. There are strange and interesting people coming into the world with unclear intentions, and Bell has to either try and figure out what's going on, or walk away.
I never thought of that, great interpretation!
There are observations about how Chigurh lived by his own set of rules/morals. Although it appears that he despises those who lack morals and/or break their own rules, in his own twisted hypocritical way, manages to break his own rules when it suits him. As evil as he is, this makes him no different than those he despises.
In the scene with Wells, he is clearly contemptuous of Wells trying to bargain for his life with money. But in his final scene he attempts to buy his own safety by bribing the kid for his silence. In the scene with Carla Jean, he offers her the “coin toss”. However, he had already promised Moss that he was going to kill her. Using the coin toss was his own sadistic way of “getting off”. Had she participated in his game, was he going to let her live if she guessed right, or was he intent on killing her regardless of the outcome of the toss? Based solely on one other scene in the movie involving the coin toss, we can’t say for sure. This was a truly evil character who could not be trusted no matter the situation.
Sheriff Bell’s role was a good contrast to Chigurh ‘s character . While Chigurh lived up to his role of pure evil, Bell, by his own narrative never seemed comfortable in his role. He appears to have inherited his position from his father and grandfather before him, most likely because it was convenient...somewhat like the gas station owner who married into his position. A recurring theme in his narrative was that time had passed him by. But I think it could be more accurately said that he never “lived in the moment”, as it was. Most of his life appears to have been a fraud (a common affliction among us humans) which he finally accepts with his last line of dialogue, “...and then I woke up”.
I love the channel of how it shows what kind of movie it will be and not hyping it up like many youtubers do. It's a great balance of talking about the movies and the good side of the movie.
Yes but the briefcase had something inside that allows Sugar to find it, so even if he hadn't helped that man with water, he still would have been found.
I believe range was the issue with the tracker, it would only work if you knew about where it should be.
And Sugar goes to Llewellyn's house later. Great job!!!My congratulationsssssss
But much more of a chance he wouldn't have. Chigurh and the others may not have assumed that a local hunter had happened along the scene. It was his returning to the scene of the crime and being forced to leave his truck which allows them to discover his whereabouts.
it was a proximity tracker. You have to be in its area for it to beep. Its not like a gps, it only notifies you when your near it. Therefore Llewelyn could have prevented his death had he not lived by his own virtues
No interpretation from me. I just wanted to say that I really enjoyed your review. It was cogent and nicely entertaining . . . a real break from so many other commentaries, which are often self-indulgent and abound like locusts. Thank you
Thank you! Your words really mean a lot!
The novel was written like a movie, it was great.
Jack this is simply great .. No Country for Old men is my top 5 movie , and this review is one of the best I heard ... I really need to check all others on channel ... Do you like Korean movies ( Oldboy, I Saw the Devil ) for example ?
Thank you! I do like Korean movies, I feel like Korean movies just like any country's films all have potential to either be great or awful, and from the very limited selection I have seen, I have enjoyed them all!
I enjoyed your analysis thoroughly. The novel is one of my favorite novels of all time, and you helped me appreciate the movie even more than I already did. Well done.
Mine too! Thank you!
Really love the consistency of your videos not like the other movie analyser youtubers who posts like once in 1 or 2 months
Thank you! There is a balance to it, I've always been pretty good at time management which is essential to making UA-cam videos.
This was a great analysis of this perfectly written film. I agree wholeheartedly with your analysis of the character of Chigurh, but I wonder why he felt it necessary to kill the farmer with the chicken coop truck, other than the fact that he needed a vehicle to continue on with his mission. Was his death merely just considered collateral damage in the eyes of Chigurh?
Thank you!
Well done. This movie is so philosophical and ripe for analysis. I hadn't thought about Javier Bardem becoming an old man himself at the end.
There are so many ways to interpret this movie, by no means is mine the only right answer, but I think it gives the ending a lot more depth.
"To him human life is worthless..."
Fair enough.
"...and inherently bad."
You lost me here. "Inherently bad" is a moral judgment, and psychopaths like Chigurrh are incapable of making moral judgments (at least on an intuitive level). He kills humans like you or I swat flies. We may not like flies-indeed, we might actively dislike them-but we wouldn't say that "fly life" is inherently bad. We just don't think about their lives much, *even when we kill them.* That's how Chigurrh thinks of human lives.
That is to say the morality of right and wrong is determined by a normal not a "psychopath" mind.
They are perfectly capable of making moral judgments, even on an intuitive level. They just don't care.
Well done man I loved your analogy, thank you , that’s one of the most intrigued movies in history I reckon, I love to see everything about it ! Thank you 🇦🇺
I love this movie too much.
Same lol it's almost unhealthy
This is a story where the bad guy wins.
A simple film meant so much.
@James Lucas with his bad injuries, he needs aid to survive - if he gets aid, he will show.
This and The Prestige are my two favorite movies. Thank you for this well done video!
this movie does not show fate or freewill... it shows chaos... the only true constant in this world...
you ever seen trainspotting it would be pretty great to see a video essay on it
I love Trainspotting, I'd love to talk about it before the new one comes out!
hi the car crash at the end signifies that even after following the rules (the traffic light is green) he is still hurt, with him telling (woody harleson) earlier that following rules got him nowhere and then kills him
A few thoughts on Chigurh's actions at the end of the film. There's a number of allusions that shouldn't be missed. His walking away echoes the wounded black dog which limps away at the beginning of the film and Shane's final departure in the movie Shane. His offer of money to purchase a shirt for the wounds he has received from his car accident also echoes Llewellyn Moss' request to purchase a shirt for the wounds he received in his "accident." Why do you think that Chigurh has changed? It seems to me he's no more effected by this accident then he was by the wounds he received when Llewellyn shot him. For him, it's just how things are.
I think the biggest change that he undergoes is that of becoming the old man. Earlier he stitched up his own wounds, but in the end he needs to rely on the younger generation. The overall emphasis that is put on becoming old.
Jack's Movie Reviews I see what your saying. There's definitely something meaningful about the presence of youth in this scene which is emphasized in the parallels to Llewelyn's earlier scene. Chigurh has become feeble in his accident like an old man. I'll have to think about it a little more.
The biggest difference between the movie and the book is why Chigurh is so frightening. In the movie, he is frightening because we know so little about who he is and what motivates him. In the book he is frightening because of what we do know about who he is and what motivates him.
Great analysis. I've accessed a lot of videos / podcasts that deconstruct this story (read the book too) but you've given me a much better understanding of the motivation behind the characters. Thanks very much for making this.
Javier Bardem should dress up like his character from No Country and go to various stores and ask the clerks to call the coin, "Heads? or Tails?" "It is just a coin but it is".
just found this channel and I am so grateful I wanted a social evaluation about this film and I received it... now I have to watch all the rest of these videos :)
Awesome! I hope you will enjoy!
I very much enjoyed your analysis of the film, Thank you
Really terrific video analysis. Lots of stuff I hadn't thought about or didn't realize. I especially liked the way you tied in the theme of free will vs fate.
Thanks Martin!
The shootout at the eagle hotel in the book is so much different, but so much better. It's Chigurh just laying waste.
Thanks Jack! A brilliant analysis of one of my favorite films.
I'm glad you enjoyed!
This is very much a film essay rather than an essay on the shared philosophy of the book and adaptation. Though it mostly translates to both, the film is much less based around dialogue than the novel. Anton has about a hundred more speaking lines in the novel and it's truly a wonderful insight into how deep his philosophies go. He also makes more dark jokes about his deeds in the book, explaining the reasons for his killings to himself as he goes alone through life with no one but himself to relate to. I highly recommend it as it almost paints him as a slightly younger out-of-towner who is unused to the small-talk oriented lifestyle of the south.
He comes off as a very "Kasas-city" type who seems to be completely oriented toward his work and the take over of the world he lives, thus becoming in charge of the mexican mob at the end of the story (cut from the film unfortunately). He was not an old man. He was a young man just getting started.
You are in control of your actions/life... your fate and free will are determined by your experiences and your surroundings, there is always a consequence for every action that you take.
Best of all the summaries for me..especially about ..no country for old men..being about one’s inner age..not physical age..
I loved this movie and took one very important lesson from it. If your ever lucky enough to find a satchel full of money make sure you check for a transmitter before you take off with the money and dont ever assume that someone will stop looking for their lost millions.
Should mention how Chigur offered them the money because he believed that people were all superficial, it's implied that they would've helped him regardless.
The theory that they are the same person is wild. Kind of like a fight club thing.
Thank you so much for making this video. It's always great to hear an interpretation for this movie
Thanks Joseph, part of why it has held up so well is that there are so many different ways to find meaning in it.
Exactly, this is why I love it so much and love hearing it from different people!
I enjoyed your analysis of this film, you picked up a few points that I hadn't noticed like were moss and chigur use the same dialogue good work.
Thank you!
I think Chigur considers killing the attendant simply because he had noticed which direction he (Chigur) had come from. Chigur is not a person who wants his comings and goings noticed. Fortunately for the attendant, Chigur decided to play the coin toss game, and he adheres to the rules like a man of honor (as he is also shown to have been when he killed Moss's wife, something he had promised Moss he would do, and he did it even though it was unnecessary).
Ellis the character as the end..
"you can't stop whats coming, that's Vanity". Straight out of Scripture that man thinks in his own moral compass he can stop Evil. Bells simple, lukewarm faith. Crushed.
Great review! Here are a few things I noticed: Moss is a poacher. He picks up the bullet casing and puts in his pocket after shooting the antelope, because he's commiting a crime. He is remorseful after, but he does abandon a dying man (crime 2) to pursue the "last man standing", because he knows there must be money involved. He waits for that man to die (crime 3). Then he takes money, which is evidence in a multiple killing (crime 4). He had been in Nam two tours and thinks of himself as a badass, despite later evidence that Chigurh is WAY more badass than he is. Moss had the hubris to challenge both the law and the outlaws, there was never hope for him.
Sheriff Bell was waiting for a "call from God" but the call never came. This whole movie makes the powerful statement that God, like the coin "has no say, it's just you". Wether he exists or not, God plays no part. It's either our own choices or the choices of others impossed upon us. We all are subjects and/or objects in different scenarios. Even Anton who seems in control throughout, loses control at the end.
Thank you, and great interpretation, I never realized why he picked up the casing, now you say it, it seems to obvious.
Jack's Movie Reviews
Thanks. Quick correction: He's hunting Pronghorn, which is not really Antelope, but people do call it that sometimes.
The sheriff was a war deserter, and throughout the movie has a track record of passivity. To me it seems like he thinks his work doesn't matter because there is no way to overcome the great evils he faces so why even try? His dream to me I thought described this very well, with his father holding a torch in the cold dark night and blazing ahead, and the sheriff, being passive and just accepting the coldness never catching up with him. Just watched this movie today and it was so weird that you just uploaded this video too! Love your content and always looking forward to your next video, happy new year.
Thanks David Happy New Year too! I love hearing about coincidences like that, especially interesting that it is a movie about fate... :)
Amazing analysis dude! Such a unique insight - brings the film back to life and shows us that you never really catch everything in outstanding films like this one. Thanks so much for making an already great film even better!
Thank you!
Our beliefs about ourselves dictate our choices and our 'fates'; once the belief is changed, so is our fate, seems to me to be the message
As always, a great analysis/dissection! Love your content, keep up the great work man!
Thank you and will do!
Now the biggest question. Was Chigur actually in the hotel room when Bell returned to it?
just watched this film for the first time. so great. reminded me a lot of A SERIOUS MAN with it's themes about fate but mostly just the randomness about life. awesome video man
Thanks Jared! I also always thought of A Serious Man as a continuation of the ideas presented here-both are great in their own right!
The Grim Reaper's right-hand man
Wow. One of the greatest movie reviews!
Morality is an interesting perspective for analysis on this film, but as a psychologist I have a very different perspective. No Country is a fascinating interplay between the surface plot and sub-plot that leaves us with these unanswered questions just hanging there. The heads up coin was an important part, but not the only symbolism being used though. Playing that kind of story telling three card monty with the audience, and not leaving us with a feeling of disappointment is what makes this film great. I think the scene where Moss's rifle scope was mulling over deer in a herd was the symbolic keystone that the sub-plot was built around. It was a moment where death was introduced as intensional disconnected and unimpassioned. Survival is our strongest core drive, and fear of death is what propels our survival. Personally, I believe Chigurh represents a psychological blank screen on witch the characters and audience project their own fears of evil and mortality. The opening monolog by Sheriff Bell needs to be put into context by the film's title, No Country For Old Men. I believe Bell is confessing his fear in coming to the realization he no longer has the spirit to confront evil and mortality head on, or to get there in time to protect others.
With the murder of the deputy, we are introduced to the emotionless blank canvas of fear. There is no anger, excitement, passion, or vengeance in Chigurh's face, so without that cue our response is left hanging searching for some emotional meaning behind his blank stare. What fills that blank emotionless screen is a projection of our own fear of evil and mortality. In living our lives, in some way or another we face those existential fears and make our way. As we mature we develop a set of "rules" that help us navigate our fears so we can engage the world. What motivates us in taking that leap is either gratification of our desires, or satisfying the expectations of others. The thinly masked distain Chigurh has for the driver of the car and the gas station clerk is they present as totally compliant, passive, and incapable of directing their own life. This is dishonorable because it is an inauthentic way of navigating life. To death and evil their fate is nothing more than a means to an end, or the flip of a coin. In his own words he says "You've been putting it up your whole life, you just didn't know it" Although I know it would have meant nothing to Chigurh had the coin been tails, I don't think the scene would have been nearly as impactful had he killed another harmless man.
Llewellyn Moss on the other hand is clearly driven by his desires and more than willing to confront his fear, and even kill or be killed in order to satisfy them. That being said, he is not motivated by greed, but fights for the money he finds and sees as his. The most important feature of his character is the blind confidence he has in directing his own fate in life, and has little concern for what others think of him. At any time he could have walked away from the money he found and the danger attached to it, but every time he chose to risk his life to keep it. Finally, Carson Wells is definitely motivated by greed and driven to satisfy the expectations of others. To him everything has its price, even what he will pay to save his own life. The most important feature of his character is his display of arrogance vs confidence which shows he cares a great deal what others think. I see the most important part of his murder was he stood more to gain by killing Chigurh than he offered to save his own life. Like Moss, his death exposed his flawed rules and having that exposed was also the sum of his darkest fear.
Out of everyone, it was Sheriff Bell who had the most honorable and authentic life. The rules he lived by were well developed and showed a mature understanding of his fear, "sometimes I think he's pretty much a ghost." I have a very different view of the final scene though, I see it as someone who has come to terms with his fear, and no longer feels compelled and or capable of confronting it. I don't see a man who is surrendering to mediocrity, I see an honorable man who found peace in waking up to the realization that his fear of evil and mortality are in deed a ghost. Although it was totally overlooked in Jack's analysis, Chigurh's interaction with the kids showed they had not yet fully developed their set of rules and were totally unprepared to navigate the morality of selling a shirt to a man who was involved in a car collision and suffered a compound fracture. In fact, I don't believe it was their ignorance that saves them though; like Sheriff Bell it was their authenticity that kept them from becoming another target. Sure, it would have been a nice neat Hollywood ending to have Chigurh punished by death from an accident, but it would have destroyed the film's profound message.
I think as time is passing by..this film becoming more & more my favourite film
The title of the film comes from a poem called 'Sailing to Byzantium' by W.B Yeats, the opening line is "That is no country for old men."
Thank you Jack, for this movie analysis. Have been waiting all these years for this kind of analysis.
btw, what the most you ever lost in a coin toss? Happy New Year!
Thank you Michael! I'm glad you enjoyed! This is going to be a boring answer, but the most I've ever lost is probably just a dollar, I wish I had a better story to go along with it.
Happy New Year to you too!
Seeing 6-7x, I just noticed that Ed Tom sounds nearly the same as Anton. Very interesting.
The part where you said Llewellyn believes that the only person in charge of his destiny is himself is reminiscent of Glanton in McCarthy's masterpiece, Blood Meridian. He too believes, (or wants to, at least), that no one controls his fate except him. Over the course of the book, he slowly begins to crack when it becomes apparent that what he so desperately wishes to be true is nothing more than wishful thinking.
Best analysis of this movie on YT
It seems to me that the Sheriff realized his possible mortality if he outright faced Chigurh, and thus was somehow always one step behind.
...brilliant
>ropes
My grandpa's garage had those belts hanging around for years.
Nice video. I couldn't not say this though. Those aren't ropes, they're timing belts
Thanks Aaron, and in that case-those timing belts look an awful lot like nooses!
The do indeed. The photography, details, scene setups in the movie are of course excellent, and I would not be surprised if the fan belts were hanging the way they do to accentuate the character of Mr Psychopath Chigurh...
Sorry, I meant 'They do indeed.'
I really enjoyed this video. I finally watched this last year and I didn't get it at first, but I thought about it for a few days afterwards and watched some other analyses on UA-cam to help me understand it, and I then realized how brilliant this film really is. Thank you for one last video to close out 2016, and have a Happy New Year!
I'm glad I was able to finis the year with this, happy new year!
Im a big movie fan & only just discovered your channel, I'm just binge watching your video's at the moment, I've seen a few other movie review channels but I'm genuinely enjoying yours the most, you have a very interesting view point & take on some of my favourite movies & it has given me a different perspective on a few of them.
0:50 the bald guy with the mustache in the bolo tie is my dad Boots Southerland! He also played the prison warden in the opening scene of Terminator Salvation and the tow truck driver in Just Getting Started.
Great explanation for a great movie which I have seen twice but have not been able to figure out much beyond the action packed sequence. Your work has added more meaning to the story.
That put such a different spin on the car crash scene that I'd never thought of, I was always confused about it and took it to be something along the lines of Chigurh either not being invincible or a foreshadowing that now without a car and injured, he was going to be caught. Your interpretation is awesome how he experiences fate and becomes an old man having to rely on the "young men", symbolising he only has so long left
Also he seemed outplayed by several interactions, previously, the attendant who wins the coin toss, it's ok to "marry into it", traditional rules of manhood have been rendered obsolete. Wells who asks if he realises how crazy he is...and Moss's wife who refuses to play his game, says "it's just you, there is no fate". It's after this, and seeing the teens in his rear-view mirror that he has the accident. He's outwitted or distracted because of the younger generation. He kinda dissapears in suburbia...
Most people think Anton got the money, he didn't.
The vent was too small, the case was never there, Moss hid or shipped the money elsewhere,
This is why Chigurh is upset. His faith in himself as the hand of fate has been shattered.
I watched this a couple of times and I was confused the first run through. But as I got older and really take it in And a couple of commentaries, I finally understood and enjoyed it.
@@OliverInternational if again. I didn't enjoy "heat" until I watched it as a grown man🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
I love every single one of your videos! This is a fantastic analytical review of No Country For Old Men, thank you for sharing your thoughts with us ♡
I hated this movie the first time I saw it. After watching several reviews, I've come to appreciate its themes and I'm ready to rewatch. I have a feeling I'll like it on second viewing.
I like how chigur is made out to be a figure of fate in this movie. As though his reckoning is unrelenting and uncaring of anything. If he has you in his sight then he will keep coming regardless of what’s in front of him. Never thought about it like that before makes his character more interesting.
one the best recent films
This is excellent! Definitely one of my favorite movies of all time.
Thank you!
It’s annoying how so many people fail at explaining this movie. Anton just represents death and evil at its most basic definition through out the movie. Like Heath Ledgers version of The Joker their is no motive other then his own which the movie never fully explains. What I love so much about this movie is how it perfectly shows the depression of our elders who feel no longer apart of this world and don’t understand the direction into which it went and feeling nostalgic and trying to hold on to how it use to be. Best part of the movie of course is the ending. Some how someone who shows no morality of any kind that could be understood some how shows is he is of course human with a heart. One of the best movies ever.
Well done Jack. This is one of my favorite movies. After watching your video, I want to see the movie again. As an 'old man' nearing retirement from my career, I can relate to it on many levels.
Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed!
I think it’s noteworthy how labored Anton’s voice sounds when he first tells the gas station employee to “call it”. Like he knew the clerk could’ve avoided his potential fate if he had refused to make senseless small talk about where he had come from
Can you cover the use of alternative narrative in Donnie Darko please it'd help me massively
I don't have any immediate plans to cover it, but I'm certainly not opposed to talking about it in the future!
Jack's Movie Reviews thanks man, I've got to do an important essay on it for college and it'd just help me if I had a different approach like yourself