Spoiler: No Country for Old Men Question?

MR. BMJ · 03-29-2008, 01:38 PM

The hotel scene....

Debate this...

Was Anton Chigurh in the same room as TLJ's during that scene?

I have read a few different scenarios. Obviously it's where TLJ's realizes he is scared and "over matched," Thus his retirement.

When he walks up to the motel, there are 2 doors that are closed off, is this a metaphor in terms of him having a 50/50 chance of picking the wrong/right room with Anton in it? Sort of like the heads and tails coin tossing?

Or,

Was Anton in the room?

or,

Was it a to state TLJ's fear of what he might find in the room? Thus a scaring him and making him believe that he was in the room. Whjen he goes in and doesn't see him, I feel the "ghost" comment might come into play, especially seeing that the window was locked shut.

I understand the rest of the movie and how Anton got the money and him giving the kids a $100 bill signified/verified this. He got the money because he knew it was in the air duct from the previous motel. Therefore, he killed Llewelyn and took out the money. Hence the dime on the ground. He had nothing but coins in his pocket up until the end.

Did anton go back to the crime scene to get the suitcase? I think this could have happened too because he would not have had time to get it at the time of the murders...thus the hiding in the other room. When they left the scene, he went back and got the money from the duct?

And I understand the end when it "cuts" to black and not fades to black.

I understand that all characters were basically all the same and already dead inside.

And I understand the stories at the end about his dad and the one he had with the old man with the cats.

This movie I thought was badasss.

Anybody else notice that there was no musical to the movie?

BMJ

MR. BMJ · 03-29-2008, 02:10 PM

I just watched through the scene again....and it clearly shows him enter the room of the door that Anton is behind because it showed the light coming through the keyhole.

However when he opens the door, it slams against the wall.

Is this just supposed to be symbolic that Antone is a ghost and too much for TLS?

or,

Did he slip out the fron door while TLJ went to the back room with the window?

BMJ

Kabeetz · 03-29-2008, 02:49 PM

I think u should put spoiler alert at the top of the thread bro...

I know I didn't like the ending, that's all i can tell you. Everything from that last motel scene on felt rushed and confusing. I'll have to actually put my thinking cap on and try and dig deeper

Biter · 03-29-2008, 03:04 PM

I loved this movie.

The lack of music really showed off the talent of the Coen Brothers. Not that they need to show off, but creating what they did without having to use musical cues was pretty amazing.

As for the question of the money, Chigurh did get it, and whether or not he was in the room is a damn good question. I felt like he was, but until now I didn't really get too much deeper into thinking about it.

My thoughts, although not completely formed yet:

The main thing about the scene was the metaphor inherent in it. It was the moment that change dictates our terms in life - Ed Tom was in above his head, as you said, but it was more about him making the choice to quit then and there. The second he made that choice, Chigurh couldn't touch him, as Ed had not seen Chigurh yet. Chigurh had the choice taken away from him... in other words, fate couldn't decide with the flip of a coin, since Ed had walked away before tempting fate.

Notice what he says often in the film, about being seen? The accountant asks if he's going to shoot him, and Chigurh responds "That depends. Do you see me?" He also then tells the kids "you didn't see me".

The coin flip basically seemed to apply to people who were good. Chigurh killed many without, but they basically had something rotten going on it seemed like.

He loses further when the next person, Carla Jean, refuses to play a part. Chigurh killed her anyway and lost what he was... his role as a figurative agent of death. Once he decided to supercede fate by killing her anyway, he lost that ability, and it cost him. Fate turned on him... from out of nowhere. He saw that even he couldn't escape the future and fate... the car wreck (fate) and being helped by the two children (the future).

The future idea was important. Ed realized that he had no place in it, given his current role... hence the title of the movie "No Country for Old Men". Chigurh saw the future, and in it he realized that even fate would catch up to him, and he too, would have no place in it. He could run, but eventually it'd get him again.

solidspine · 03-29-2008, 06:48 PM

I think I got popcorn in that scene.

MR. BMJ · 03-30-2008, 02:08 AM

Biter, that was phenomenal. Thanks for that. That makes sense in the Motel though. I was wondering why he didn't just kill him like he did the others, and I thought it took away from his character of what he stood for the whole time. However, after reading what you wrote, that really makes sense.

I really thought this movie was thought provoking and just flat out different and cool. I think a lot of people didn't understand the ending, hence the reason why they didn't like it.....and couple that with the fact that if you glanced away for 2 seconds you missed it by looking up to a black screen and credits. The ending....well, ended out of nowhere. I thought it fit the movie though...imo.

I seen on a search about this movie that Old Buzzard BJAARKI didn't like it....what a puts!!!

BMJ

Iron God · 03-30-2008, 07:59 PM

The book plays out a little different...Also if you guys like Cormac McCarthy..Blood Meridian is his best book

Kabeetz · 03-30-2008, 10:56 PM

Thanks for the suggesting IG, I will check out both.

BMJ.. it *WAS* a great movie... I just get conflicted a little with film. Part of me likes being challenged, likes having to do some thinking and putting some pieces together.... and part of me just wants a good satisfying ending.

I think there is a difference between a simple color by numbers ending and a satisfying one. I didn't leave the movie with a good feeling. The first 5/6ths had a plodding, detail oriented pace... and then the last portion of the movie... we didn't even get to SEE the most pivotal scene, we didn't get to SEE the protagonist's part in the story conclude, and we got a mysterious 1 minute conversation to wrap it up.

Just didn't fit for me. But this movie definitely deserves a second watching.. so I can find some of those clues.

booey · 03-31-2008, 10:38 AM

I agree. I appreciate movies that "hide the ball" and make us think for days after watching it. But here, I really thought the ending was rushed and put together too quickly. There was so much buildup throughout the film, and just to show Josh Brolin's character dead like that was a huge let down. I also didn't like how there was barely (if any?) music. A good score would have done wonders.

*Bunny* · 03-31-2008, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kabeetz

Thanks for the suggesting IG, I will check out both.

BMJ.. it *WAS* a great movie... I just get conflicted a little with film. Part of me likes being challenged, likes having to do some thinking and putting some pieces together.... and part of me just wants a good satisfying ending.

I think there is a difference between a simple color by numbers ending and a satisfying one. I didn't leave the movie with a good feeling. The first 5/6ths had a plodding, detail oriented pace... and then the last portion of the movie... we didn't even get to SEE the most pivotal scene, we didn't get to SEE the protagonist's part in the story conclude, and we got a mysterious 1 minute conversation to wrap it up.

Just didn't fit for me. But this movie definitely deserves a second watching.. so I can find some of those clues.

Kab I am on the same page with you. This movie left me with a very weird feeling, kind of like confusion, or as vel would say, sex without the orgasm.

Ill have to watch it again after reading Biter's synopsis. Thank you for that.

Biter · 03-31-2008, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by *Bunny*

Ill have to watch it again after reading Biter's synopsis. Thank you for that.

No problem at all

It was a bit off the cuff, due to the fact that I haven't seen it in awhile. I should probably rent it again and watch. It helps when this is part of my job to break down stories like this though.

Iron God · 04-01-2008, 09:37 AM

READ THE BOOK, its narrated in 3rd person

Biter · 04-01-2008, 02:53 PM

IG, I definitely intend to. I've wanted to read some Cormac McCarthy, just never picked up any of his work. From what I gather things are much clearer.

jpt · 04-21-2008, 11:46 AM

i watched this movie last week on vacation.....this movie almost ruined it for me! i can honestly say i was more entertained watching the mist. i thought this movie sucked big time and the ending was an incredible disappointement. i don't understand how it won best picture....

midlifecrisis · 04-21-2008, 12:14 PM

This movie was deep with a lot of symbolism, but with that said, it left too much to the imagination and too many questions. I agree that the killer behind the door thing had to be a production error. The door clearly goes to the wall, no way the killer could be behind it, but its clearly the same door. I think BMJ has looked at it from every angle and has it about right...because I think they wanted viewers to have those questions.

BUT, I thought that the mexicans who raided the hotel in that jeep took the money? Maybe I missed something....

Great movie with a horrificly bad ending. Hollywood just doenst know how to end movies anymore. I am legend is another prime example.

MR. BMJ · 04-21-2008, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by midlifecrisis

This movie was deep with a lot of symbolism, but with that said, it left too much to the imagination and too many questions. I agree that the killer behind the door thing had to be a production error. The door clearly goes to the wall, no way the killer could be behind it, but its clearly the same door. I think BMJ has looked at it from every angle and has it about right...because I think they wanted viewers to have those questions.

BUT, I thought that the mexicans who raided the hotel in that jeep took the money? Maybe I missed something....

Great movie with a horrificly bad ending. Hollywood just doenst know how to end movies anymore. I am legend is another prime example.

Yeah, it was Anton who got the money. When Tommy Lee Jones went to the motel the camera pointed that the vent was opened by a dime, which was the only money that Chiguhr had in his pocket up until that point (ie the gas station where he has the old man flip a coin). He didn't have cash on him, but then after that scene, he gace the kids cash telling them to cover for him. He knew that the money was hidden in the duct from his previous Motel encounter.

BMJ

midlifecrisis · 04-21-2008, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MR. BMJ

03-29-2008, 01:38 PM	#1 (permalink)
MR. BMJ EXECUTIVE MODERATOR Join Date: Feb 2000 Posts: 10,517 Rep Power: 464589	Spoiler: No Country for Old Men Question? The hotel scene.... Debate this... Was Anton Chigurh in the same room as TLJ's during that scene? I have read a few different scenarios. Obviously it's where TLJ's realizes he is scared and "over matched," Thus his retirement. When he walks up to the motel, there are 2 doors that are closed off, is this a metaphor in terms of him having a 50/50 chance of picking the wrong/right room with Anton in it? Sort of like the heads and tails coin tossing? Or, Was Anton in the room? or, Was it a to state TLJ's fear of what he might find in the room? Thus a scaring him and making him believe that he was in the room. Whjen he goes in and doesn't see him, I feel the "ghost" comment might come into play, especially seeing that the window was locked shut. I understand the rest of the movie and how Anton got the money and him giving the kids a $100 bill signified/verified this. He got the money because he knew it was in the air duct from the previous motel. Therefore, he killed Llewelyn and took out the money. Hence the dime on the ground. He had nothing but coins in his pocket up until the end. Did anton go back to the crime scene to get the suitcase? I think this could have happened too because he would not have had time to get it at the time of the murders...thus the hiding in the other room. When they left the scene, he went back and got the money from the duct? And I understand the end when it "cuts" to black and not fades to black. I understand that all characters were basically all the same and already dead inside. And I understand the stories at the end about his dad and the one he had with the old man with the cats. This movie I thought was badasss. Anybody else notice that there was no musical to the movie? BMJ __________________ "No researcher has made a human bigger than a dumb-shit bodybuilder."---Dan Duchaine (12/18/97) BMJ...aka...."SPANKY" Last edited by MR. BMJ; 03-29-2008 at 02:11 PM..

03-29-2008, 02:10 PM	#2 (permalink)
MR. BMJ EXECUTIVE MODERATOR Join Date: Feb 2000 Posts: 10,517 Rep Power: 464589	I just watched through the scene again....and it clearly shows him enter the room of the door that Anton is behind because it showed the light coming through the keyhole. However when he opens the door, it slams against the wall. Is this just supposed to be symbolic that Antone is a ghost and too much for TLS? or, Did he slip out the fron door while TLJ went to the back room with the window? BMJ __________________ "No researcher has made a human bigger than a dumb-shit bodybuilder."---Dan Duchaine (12/18/97) BMJ...aka...."SPANKY"

03-30-2008, 02:08 AM	#6 (permalink)
MR. BMJ EXECUTIVE MODERATOR Join Date: Feb 2000 Posts: 10,517 Rep Power: 464589	Biter, that was phenomenal. Thanks for that. That makes sense in the Motel though. I was wondering why he didn't just kill him like he did the others, and I thought it took away from his character of what he stood for the whole time. However, after reading what you wrote, that really makes sense. I really thought this movie was thought provoking and just flat out different and cool. I think a lot of people didn't understand the ending, hence the reason why they didn't like it.....and couple that with the fact that if you glanced away for 2 seconds you missed it by looking up to a black screen and credits. The ending....well, ended out of nowhere. I thought it fit the movie though...imo. I seen on a search about this movie that Old Buzzard BJAARKI didn't like it....what a puts!!! BMJ __________________ "No researcher has made a human bigger than a dumb-shit bodybuilder."---Dan Duchaine (12/18/97) BMJ...aka...."SPANKY"

04-21-2008, 12:14 PM	#15 (permalink)
midlifecrisis ROLL TIDE ! Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Is spring practice here yet? Posts: 3,858 Rep Power: 206753	This movie was deep with a lot of symbolism, but with that said, it left too much to the imagination and too many questions. I agree that the killer behind the door thing had to be a production error. The door clearly goes to the wall, no way the killer could be behind it, but its clearly the same door. I think BMJ has looked at it from every angle and has it about right...because I think they wanted viewers to have those questions. BUT, I thought that the mexicans who raided the hotel in that jeep took the money? Maybe I missed something.... Great movie with a horrificly bad ending. Hollywood just doenst know how to end movies anymore. I am legend is another prime example. __________________ "A nation of well informed men who have been taught to know and prize the rights which God has given them cannot be enslaved. It is in the region of ignorance that tyranny begins." -Benjamin Franklin

03-29-2008, 02:49 PM	#3 (permalink)
Kabeetz Gold Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: N.Y. Posts: 6,749 Rep Power: 230441	I think u should put spoiler alert at the top of the thread bro... I know I didn't like the ending, that's all i can tell you. Everything from that last motel scene on felt rushed and confusing. I'll have to actually put my thinking cap on and try and dig deeper

03-29-2008, 03:04 PM	#4 (permalink)
Biter The new bad guy Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 1,025 Rep Power: 135093	I loved this movie. The lack of music really showed off the talent of the Coen Brothers. Not that they need to show off, but creating what they did without having to use musical cues was pretty amazing. As for the question of the money, Chigurh did get it, and whether or not he was in the room is a damn good question. I felt like he was, but until now I didn't really get too much deeper into thinking about it. My thoughts, although not completely formed yet: The main thing about the scene was the metaphor inherent in it. It was the moment that change dictates our terms in life - Ed Tom was in above his head, as you said, but it was more about him making the choice to quit then and there. The second he made that choice, Chigurh couldn't touch him, as Ed had not seen Chigurh yet. Chigurh had the choice taken away from him... in other words, fate couldn't decide with the flip of a coin, since Ed had walked away before tempting fate. Notice what he says often in the film, about being seen? The accountant asks if he's going to shoot him, and Chigurh responds "That depends. Do you see me?" He also then tells the kids "you didn't see me". The coin flip basically seemed to apply to people who were good. Chigurh killed many without, but they basically had something rotten going on it seemed like. He loses further when the next person, Carla Jean, refuses to play a part. Chigurh killed her anyway and lost what he was... his role as a figurative agent of death. Once he decided to supercede fate by killing her anyway, he lost that ability, and it cost him. Fate turned on him... from out of nowhere. He saw that even he couldn't escape the future and fate... the car wreck (fate) and being helped by the two children (the future). The future idea was important. Ed realized that he had no place in it, given his current role... hence the title of the movie "No Country for Old Men". Chigurh saw the future, and in it he realized that even fate would catch up to him, and he too, would have no place in it. He could run, but eventually it'd get him again.

03-29-2008, 06:48 PM	#5 (permalink)
solidspine Retired Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 6,622 Rep Power: 0	I think I got popcorn in that scene.

03-30-2008, 07:59 PM	#7 (permalink)
Iron God Super Moderator Join Date: Feb 2000 Posts: 2,091 Rep Power: 25721	The book plays out a little different...Also if you guys like Cormac McCarthy..Blood Meridian is his best book

03-30-2008, 10:56 PM	#8 (permalink)
Kabeetz Gold Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: N.Y. Posts: 6,749 Rep Power: 230441	Thanks for the suggesting IG, I will check out both. BMJ.. it WAS a great movie... I just get conflicted a little with film. Part of me likes being challenged, likes having to do some thinking and putting some pieces together.... and part of me just wants a good satisfying ending. I think there is a difference between a simple color by numbers ending and a satisfying one. I didn't leave the movie with a good feeling. The first 5/6ths had a plodding, detail oriented pace... and then the last portion of the movie... we didn't even get to SEE the most pivotal scene, we didn't get to SEE the protagonist's part in the story conclude, and we got a mysterious 1 minute conversation to wrap it up. Just didn't fit for me. But this movie definitely deserves a second watching.. so I can find some of those clues.

03-31-2008, 10:38 AM	#9 (permalink)
booey Caveman on Tren Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Cali Posts: 2,063 Rep Power: 73013	I agree. I appreciate movies that "hide the ball" and make us think for days after watching it. But here, I really thought the ending was rushed and put together too quickly. There was so much buildup throughout the film, and just to show Josh Brolin's character dead like that was a huge let down. I also didn't like how there was barely (if any?) music. A good score would have done wonders.

04-01-2008, 09:37 AM	#12 (permalink)
Iron God Super Moderator Join Date: Feb 2000 Posts: 2,091 Rep Power: 25721	READ THE BOOK, its narrated in 3rd person

04-01-2008, 02:53 PM	#13 (permalink)
Biter The new bad guy Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 1,025 Rep Power: 135093	IG, I definitely intend to. I've wanted to read some Cormac McCarthy, just never picked up any of his work. From what I gather things are much clearer.

04-21-2008, 11:46 AM	#14 (permalink)
jpt Gold Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 1,322 Rep Power: 10483	i watched this movie last week on vacation.....this movie almost ruined it for me! i can honestly say i was more entertained watching the mist. i thought this movie sucked big time and the ending was an incredible disappointement. i don't understand how it won best picture....