22.2.10

No Understanding for Old Men

I rewatched No Country For Old Men and remembered all the confusion the movie caused two years ago. I wanted to write an explanation for those who "don't get it", but I've completely forgotten what I had to say. So I'm going on a tangent and maybe I’ll hit something.

Expect spoilers.


The Coen Brothers aren't inclined to explain the symbolism in their movies, which is why sometimes they confuse an audience. By the end of Barton Fink, Burn After Reading, Fargo and especially No Country, a lot of folks asked, what was the point of watching that?

You're not gonna find an explanation from the directors, but luckily No Country was their first adaption, so we can look to the book.

Wait, Cormac McCarthy is nearly as reclusive and ambiguous as the late J.D. Salinger. Oh well, you can read the book anyway and have a much closer guess.

It helps to note that the main character is Sheriff Bell, not Llewellyn Moss (played by Josh Brolin, the guy who dies in the middle). Here is a man caught in a vast wasteland overflowing with unspeakable violence and according to him, it didn't use to be this way. Now everything he ever understood is in chaos.

Still, the story centers around Moss, who stole $2 million dollars and let greed ruin his life. Everyone he knows or cares about is dead by the end of the film. It’s kind of a metaphor, so don’t look at it straight on.

Moss has the ultimate showdown with Anton Chigurh, more than once. This is because, really, Anton Chigurh represents the Grim Reaper. Anton, dressed in all black, carries an unusual weapon made for killing cattle instead of a scythe because in 1980 Americans reaped a much different crop. With few exceptions, anyone who meets or "sees" Anton meets a violent and untimely demise. One minor character asks, "Are you gonna shoot me?"

"That depends," Anton replies. "Do you see me?"

He says this with a wide, sadistic grin. He enjoys killing because he has nothing to lose. And undoubtedly, few people have met the Grim Reaper and lived to tell the tale (except for Bill and Ted).

Then there's his weird coin flipping habit, made to prove that death is all chance, but in every way it's inevitable. Everyone, from Moss to Sheriff Bell (Tommy Lee Jones) to Carson Wells (Woody Harrelson) deeply fears Anton (or should). He's the ultimate, formidable enemy and no one can stop him. They can only accept his existence.

Bell deals with Anton differently than everyone else, who get their heads blown off. He quits his job, finally “outmatched” by his environment. On his first day, Bell has nothing to do but sit quietly, muse over depressing dreams and wait for death to come anyway.

Somehow the ending is the most hated part of the film, but Bell's dream is the whole point of the movie. He describes it as his father traveling far ahead, starting a fire and keeping the cold, surrounding darkness warm. That's what death means to Bell -- being taken out of disastrous circumstances and into warmth with long lost relatives.

Only Carla Jean, Moss's wife, understands and doesn't completely fear Anton (Death). When she is confronted by Anton in the end, she calls him out on his insane nature. But arguing with Death doesn't get her far. It is only implied that she dies, but that implication is best. Here, she accepted her fate and fought for her life, if only using words. Out of all the characters in the film/book, she made her life the most meaningful.

But it all ends. Blah blah blah. The point of watching No Country for Old Men is to remind yourself that the world is violent, cold and dark and one day, it'll catch up to you. So it asks you, how do you face the callous cattle killing of Anton?

If you look at No Country for Old Men (even the title is directed at Sheriff Bell) this way, maybe you’ll appreciate the film a lot more. I suggest you rent it again and see if the message rings a little more true.

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

Malaysia & Singapore & brunei best internet blogshop for wholesale & supply korean add-ons, earrings, earstuds, necklace, rings,
hair, bangle & bracelet accessories. Promotion 35 % wholesale discount. Ship Worldwide
Here is my homepage :: ohio unemployment

Anonymous said...

Asking questions are in fact fastidious thing if you are not understanding anything totally, except this article gives nice understanding even.
my webpage :: Visual Impact Muscle Building

Anonymous said...

Nice blog here! Also your site loads up fast! What host are you using?

Can I get your affiliate link to your host? I wish my site loaded up as fast as yours lol
Feel free to visit my webpage visit the up coming internet page

Anonymous said...

Excellent post. I was checking constantly this blog and I'm impressed! Extremely helpful information specially the last part :) I care for such info much. I was looking for this certain info for a long time. Thank you and best of luck.
My weblog web hosting delhi

Anonymous said...

Why people still make use of to read news papers when in this technological globe
all is existing on web?

Look at my webpage - Villa Schoensinn Karlsruhe

Anonymous said...

Hi, this weekend is nice in support of me, as
this point in time i am reading this great informative post here at my residence.



Also visit my website ... hakukonemarkkinointi

Anonymous said...

I go to see day-to-day some web pages and blogs to read posts, except
this blog gives feature based articles.

Check out my homepage; careers

Anonymous said...

Howdy, i read your blog occasionally and i own a similar one and i was
just wondering if you get a lot of spam feedback? If so how do you stop
it, any plugin or anything you can recommend? I get so much lately
it's driving me insane so any support is very much appreciated.

Also visit my web page Summitt Energy Solutions
my web site - Visit site

Anonymous said...

It's the best time to make some plans for the future and it's time to be
happy. I have read this post and if I could I desire to suggest you few interesting things or suggestions.
Maybe you can write next articles referring to this
article. I desire to read more things about it!

my web blog ... amsterdam escorts

Anonymous said...

I constantly emailed this webpage post page to all my contacts, because if like to read it next my
friends will too.

Here is my page; amsterdam escorts

Anonymous said...

I have been surfing on-line more than 3 hours today, but
I never discovered any interesting article like yours. It's lovely worth enough for me. In my opinion, if all web owners and bloggers made good content material as you probably did, the web shall be a lot more helpful than ever before.

Also visit my webpage: www.xxxsexymilfs.com

Anonymous said...

Fantastic site. Plenty of useful information here. I am
sending it to several pals ans additionally sharing in delicious.

And obviously, thank you on your sweat!

Stop by my page www.xxxpornovideo.net

Anonymous said...

This site was... how do you say it? Relevant!
! Finally I've found something that helped me. Kudos!

my weblog - http://www.jnmassage.info

Anonymous said...

Ahaa, its fastidious dialogue on the topic of this article at this place at this webpage, I have read all that, so at this time me also commenting here.


Take a look at my site ... www.babesflick.com

Anonymous said...

We are a bunch of volunteers and starting a brand new
scheme in our community. Your site offered us with helpful info
to work on. You've performed an impressive task and our entire community might
be thankful to you.

Feel free to surf to my site sewing machines

Anonymous said...

Right now it appears like Wordpress is the preferred blogging platform out there right now.
(from what I've read) Is that what you are using on your
blog?

my site ... rummy

oakleyses said...

christian louboutin, uggs on sale, longchamp outlet, air max, gucci handbags, ugg boots, oakley sunglasses wholesale, nike air max, ray ban sunglasses, louis vuitton outlet, louis vuitton, ray ban sunglasses, longchamp outlet, michael kors pas cher, christian louboutin uk, ugg boots, polo outlet, nike free, nike outlet, tiffany and co, polo ralph lauren outlet online, oakley sunglasses, oakley sunglasses, cheap oakley sunglasses, louis vuitton outlet, christian louboutin outlet, prada handbags, tiffany jewelry, louis vuitton outlet, longchamp outlet, sac longchamp pas cher, louboutin pas cher, nike air max, prada outlet, ray ban sunglasses, christian louboutin shoes, nike free run, replica watches, chanel handbags, louis vuitton, replica watches, kate spade outlet, jordan shoes, longchamp pas cher, jordan pas cher, oakley sunglasses, tory burch outlet, nike roshe

oakleyses said...

coach outlet, michael kors outlet online, oakley pas cher, michael kors outlet online, new balance, true religion outlet, nike air max uk, burberry outlet, ralph lauren uk, ray ban uk, north face uk, replica handbags, michael kors, timberland pas cher, michael kors outlet, michael kors outlet online, coach outlet store online, uggs outlet, nike air force, hollister uk, michael kors outlet, sac vanessa bruno, hogan outlet, nike roshe run uk, uggs outlet, sac hermes, michael kors, mulberry uk, north face, nike tn, nike air max uk, hollister pas cher, true religion jeans, michael kors outlet online, coach purses, nike air max, nike blazer pas cher, true religion outlet, converse pas cher, true religion outlet, abercrombie and fitch uk, kate spade, lululemon canada, ray ban pas cher, guess pas cher, polo lacoste, nike free uk, vans pas cher

oakleyses said...

iphone cases, hermes belt, mac cosmetics, mcm handbags, giuseppe zanotti outlet, oakley, instyler, lululemon, reebok outlet, wedding dresses, converse, baseball bats, hollister clothing, new balance shoes, soccer shoes, vans outlet, valentino shoes, babyliss, abercrombie and fitch, jimmy choo outlet, asics running shoes, bottega veneta, soccer jerseys, nfl jerseys, nike air max, nike roshe run, herve leger, mont blanc pens, north face outlet, beats by dre, timberland boots, converse outlet, louboutin, longchamp uk, vans, insanity workout, nike huaraches, ferragamo shoes, gucci, nike trainers uk, p90x workout, ray ban, ghd hair, celine handbags, hollister, hollister, north face outlet, nike air max, ralph lauren, chi flat iron

oakleyses said...

moncler, pandora jewelry, replica watches, canada goose, hollister, pandora uk, moncler outlet, canada goose uk, barbour, ugg,uggs,uggs canada, lancel, canada goose, louis vuitton, thomas sabo, ugg,ugg australia,ugg italia, barbour uk, swarovski, moncler, louis vuitton, canada goose outlet, montre pas cher, juicy couture outlet, doudoune moncler, ugg, louis vuitton, louis vuitton, moncler, karen millen uk, moncler uk, coach outlet, canada goose outlet, juicy couture outlet, toms shoes, moncler outlet, links of london, canada goose outlet, louis vuitton, moncler, wedding dresses, supra shoes, marc jacobs, swarovski crystal, canada goose jackets, ugg uk, canada goose, pandora jewelry, ugg pas cher, pandora charms

Zina Samir said...


قرميد الرياض
مظلات وسواتر الرياض
تصاميم واجهات محلات كلادينج
اسعار برجولات خشبية
سواتر حديدية
تركيب الكلادينج
مظلات الرياض
سواتر الرياض
تركيب مظلات الرياض
تركيب سواتر الرياض