[Closed] No country for old men

I don't think I did either 😐

I loved the film, although I didn't really rate the book (obviously it's good, but not by McCarthy's standards). I think the film is quite structured, once you realise that it's about Ed Tom. He is the most important character - it definitely does have an end from this point of view.

Any story needs to have a beginning, a middle and an end.

The only thing I didn't like about the end, was that it ended. Could've happily watched another couple of hours of Coen Brothers genius.
Sad for those who don't get it, but there's plenty of "normal" films out there for you to watch 😉

According to a friend Blood Meridians in production, a quick look on IMDB would back this up. Screen play by Todd Field. I doubt these days censors would ruin anything, in a world of bbfc rated nasties, men behind the sun, cat in the brain (laughable) it won't be too censored. Even mainstreems Cinema like saw is pushing the envolope. I can't wait for this one.

I didn't like the abrupt, dangling end, but then it can be maddening when everything is finished off tidily. It was compelling watching if grim.

How often in life is everything finished tidily? I found the ending fairly refreshing.

Is the point of a story solely to deliver an ending?

I doubt these days censors would ruin anything, in a world of bbfc rated nasties, men behind the sun, cat in the brain (laughable) it won't be too censored. Even mainstreems Cinema like saw is pushing the envolope. I can't wait for this one.

That's great news if it is in production, but the trouble is that it's not just about the violence, it's about the fact that much of it could be considered far too "un-pc" by many of our "society guardians" - dead babies impaled on a bush; an "imbecile" kept in a cage , wallowing in his own faeces; the scalping of indians; the legion of horribles (probably one of the most stunning pieces of imagery ever committed to paper) etc etc.

I hope you are right, and will be following the making with interest.

I just didnt get it.

I'm in the middle of a jack higgins novel but this is making me want to put it down and re-read blood meridian,

I just read [i]The Orchard Keeper[/i], which I had kind of been saving for a while. It was his debut novel, iirc - and right from the get-go, his prose is stunning.

Read this thread, wanted to like it but didn't. Just didn't find it interesting, thought provoking or entertaining. Watched Kick Ass instead and loved that. Does that make me thick?

To be honest, I am nearly at the end of Blood Meridian, reading it for the second time, and I honestly feel like turning to the front and starting again. I feel as if I have only scratched the surface of this book, such is the depth of it.

Mikey74,

Hear what you're saying. I reckon I've read it about 5 or 6 times now and every time it reveals something new. There are so many brilliant passages, but there is one that haunts me. It's from the end of the "snakebit horse" chapter, where the Glanton Gang are heading off upcountry after another act of depravity by the Judge:
.

[i]
No one raised a hand in farewell. The dying man by the ashes of the fire was singing and as they rode out they could hear the hymns of their childhood and they could hear them as they ascended the arroyo and rode up through the junipers still wet from the rain. The dying man sang with great clarity and intention and the riders setting forth upcountry may have ridden more slowly the longer to hear him for they were of just these qualities themselves.[/i]

The only thing I didn't like about the end, was that it ended. Could've happily watched another couple of hours of Coen Brothers genius.

+1

Does that make me thick?

no Dave, you were already thick 🙂

After seeing the film some time back, I recalled reading what I suspect was the book it was based on. That too ended abruptly and sort of left you feeling a bit cheated somehow.

I do like how this film seems to have split opinion: Sign of a great film, obviously.

The thing that annoys me is people to say a film is s**t, just because they didn't understand it.

If I recall it was a good year for films adapted from books: no country for old men, there will be blood, Choke, draculas dirrrty daughter 16: revenge of the titty bitches on heat.

There's certainly an assumtion that the wife is killed, but when he walks out of the house and checks the soles of his shoes is that meant to confirm things got messy?

I think so. When he kills Carson in the hotel room, he fastidiously lifts his shoes up from the blood spill so they don't get dirty.

It's a good film to watch again and pick up on stuff you might have missed. Another one is when Ed Tom draws his weapon to go into the room at the end.

Thought so, and he takes his blue socks off after killing the mexicans in the motel room

Winning the coin toss would save Carla's life I thought. But then changed my mind.

I didn't enjoy it.

My Brother-in-law bought it for me on DVD as a birthday pressie saying it was the best thing since sliced bread. I put an evening aside and watched it..... with an ever increasing feeling of disappointment.

I should have known that I wouldn't have enjoyed it - Mark Kermode liked it. I find that we are polar opposites in what we regard as good films. If he says its rubbish, I'll probably enjoy it and vice versa.

Its a well-shot film and I really wanted to like it. Just didn't.

Yup - most over rated film of recent years imo - and I am normally a big Coen brothers fan.

The thing that annoys me is people to say a film is s**t, just because they didn't understand it.

Not as annoying as people smugly saying 'you just didn't get it' and thinking they are superior for liking something that is a bit shit, but considered cool.

No one raised a hand in farewell. The dying man by the ashes of the fire was singing and as they rode out they could hear the hymns of their childhood and they could hear them as they ascended the arroyo and rode up through the junipers still wet from the rain. The dying man sang with great clarity and intention and the riders setting forth upcountry may have ridden more slowly the longer to hear him for they were of just these qualities themselves.

See now this just sounds like pretentious drivel to me, but each to their own 🙂

I obviously 'don't get it'.

I loved it. Probably one of my top 5 films.

Watched it again last night. Still really enjoyed it, and certainly worth watching twice. What did Ed Tom's dream mean? The death or last of the old fashioned law men?

Not sure if I liked it or not. Some very tense scenes such as the fuel station. Quite enjoyed what seemed to be emerging as a "duel" between Llewelyn & Anton. Refreshing to not have the usual Hollywood things. I think that the author, desperate to not have a traditional ending, had not realized that he had run out of ideas a short time ago. Hence the pitiful excuse of an "ending" that there was. It would have been better if it had ended with the car crash or some other ending that required a bit of creative thought. Maybe Anton could fall through a portal in time and space into a medieval world containing a flying monster of pure evil which he must kill whilst having only a chainsaw strapped to his arm in place of his severed hand and a shot gun in the other. Oh, that's the Evil Dead 2.

I also nominate the main baddie as one of the most unconvincing, cartoon like bad guys I have seen in a 'quality' film.

The only good thing about the film is that it looked cool.

I have now seen it twice. The first time I walked away feeling somewhat robbed, the film is building up to a fine finale when the main protagonist dies off screen, his wife's fate is left to the viewer, Woody Harrelson's character just dies without so much as a scuffle, our villain walks away alive and the policeman catches no one, retires, fade to black. Not impressed.

I love the Coen brothers so I decided to give it another go. The second time I watched I really got into it, I did not have the expectation of a grand finale so could enjoy the ride a bit more, indulge the philosophical ramblings of the ageing policeman, enjoy the insight into the world of our villain and contemplate Llewelyn's utter exposure in such a vast landscape. More of a thoughtful film than I expected but once watched in that context it was a most enjoyable and thought provoking yarn, if a little too American for my tastes.

i didn't get it either. Long and boring. It certainly seemed quite stylish and well made, just didn't interest me in the slightest.

I'm struggling with the Border trilogy.

All the Pretty horses was ok, but the middle book is just pants.

See now this just sounds like pretentious drivel to me, but each to their own

Pretentious? [i]Moi[/i]?

Fair enough, taken in isolation it's fairly meaningless. The context is important though. Blood Meridian is the story of a bunch of scalphunters, The Glanton Gang, who are unremittingly bloodthirsty and amoral. The passage above is the only time in the novel where there is an expression of regret or a longing for lost innocence. Have a read of it Grum and see what you think.

Fair do's - I will probably get it out of the library at some point. 🙂

It's a well thought out film, very good but but not a masterpiece.

'it will certainly do until one gets here.'

I surprised nobody has yet mentioned Chigurh's incredible hair - I believe the Coen Brothers called it a "haircut for all time".

i reckoned he looked really cool but i was on my own on that one

I liked NCFOM, found the killer a very creepy pshycopath character and I liked the ending. I think its basically is saying that there is no rhyme or reason to existence, no higher power, just events and chance. Deal with it.

Also read The Road and found it very moving, mainly because being a father to two young boys I really empathised with the plight of the Man in trying to ensure his son's survival above all else. I don't think it would have been half as engaging to my pre-parental self!

I've read "no country for old men" and "the road", really enjoyed them both. This thread has me itching to read another, so would "blood meridian" or "the border trilogy" be best

Blood Meridian is a bona fide masterpiece, so for sure read that. But the Border Trilogy is really strong as well - The Crossing (second one) is the stand out IMHO, first and third ones are a bit less impressive.

You'll not go wrong with any of McCarthy's stuff. His weakest books eclipse the writing of most other authors.

I would read 'blood meridian' but I found it took me a while to read as some of the language used played havok with dyslexia. So glad I stuck with it. One of my all time faveorate books, the imagery is stunning and the depth you have for the characters is something few other authours have got close to. I'm going to re-read it again, like a OK computer or my old Marin Hawk Hill 2004, you forget just how good it is, and after introducing it to people they learn to love it too.

took the Coen Brothers to do justice to McCarthy's spare prose

Sparse prose surely?

Is the film exactly the same as the book? I've passed my book on, but I remember the girlfriend refusing to call heads or tails and being left with the possibility that Chigurh may not have been able to kill her, as he had to follow that insane routine before killing.
In the film he wipes blood from his shoe as he leaves her house.

Fantastic film and even better book.

McCarthy will go down as one of the greats. There's a knife fight in 'The Crossing' which had me sweating and flinching as I read it. One of the few authors who I find I need to re-read sections to work out in my mind what may have happened - and yet his prose is so uncluttered. The beauty of his books are in what he leaves out.

Had seen the film ages ago, and from recommendations on here bought the book. Just finished it, properly good. Really enjoyed it. Also got blood meridian which I think I will start now..

The boarder trilogy is a must read. I have loved every book I have ever read by cormac mcarthy, I've read blood meridian several times over, and enjoyed it every time.

This should be your next buy:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Border-Trilogy-Pretty-Horses-Crossing/dp/0330334611

I've just bought "Outer dark" and "child of god". I'm excited already.