Just saw this film a few hours ago.
Not sure what to think - very perplexing.
Was wondering if anyone else here has seen it and would care to share their thoughts/reflections on it.
Did you think it was worth the hype?
Oscar worthy?
What’s the deal on the…ending?
Would like to hear a few different perspectives on this.
I did want to see No Country For Old Men, I was told the aesthtics of it were pretty good. I’m interested in hearing the sound mixing in that one, it was recommended by a professor.
You know, my tastes in movies might be changing, but I definitly want to catch “There Will Be Blood” . From the previews, it looked visually stunning in all regards.
I give it an 8. Certainly worth seeing at the theater. I probably missed a bunch of dialouge and will see it again.
Blood Simple was great as a first film, this is better in some respects.
i saw it - and like you i’m not sure what to think. in fact - i saw it a few months ago and i still don’t know what to think. it was good - but the ending really pissed me off. i enjoyed “going on the journey” but walked out with a bad tase of confusion at the end.
Saw it the other day and was very impressed. A great film on American violence; no recourse to bullshit heroism, Moss’ demise was done really well I thought. The opening scenes were some of the best Americal landscape photography ive seen in a film. Though practically devoid of a music score, it works. Someone expressed interested in the sound; there is one chase scene at the start when the Mexicans are after Moss where the sound is perfect, all you can hear is his heavy breathing and the growl of the truck. No sad attempt at a hackneyed suspense soundtrack. Some nice odes to Ed Hopper midway through with the hotel scenes (where Moss and Chigurh have their showdown.)
A lot of people have been complaining about the ending, saying its cop out and this and that. I think it was the best way to end it. If anything can be taken from the film is its subject of gun violence. Sheriff Bell complains about the place being so violent and getting out of hand but he goes to visit his uncle (one of the best scenes of the film) who tells him hes a fool to think that violence is new or getting worse, its always been a part of American life. The final scene where Bell describes his dream (if a lot of people just listened to it) was a fitting “conclusion” because the problem is not gone away, it persists and will haunt the characters for some time. It could be construed as a film that recommends more restriction on gun control but thats going down another avenue.
There is also a ferocious amount of bullshit being circulated that the film’s central theme is about ‘fate’. Pfff… what a load of crap. Fate is a null concept; childish and utterly meaningless.
For me the film is about violence, how it endures and how its effect on us. But regardless of its “message” it is a fine film; great actors, dialogue, photography as you usually get with the Coens when they are on fire. Id even go as far to say that this and ‘The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford’ are the two best American films of the 00s so far.
Whatever about not liking the film once you see it, it is worth watching as it has been and will continue to be a great talking point (one of my friends from college saw it and loved it while another friend was physically distraught from dissatisfaction because of the ending, they have been disputing the films merits and weaknesses ever since.) I know im definitely going to see it again.
you’ve totally sold me on it with that review, much appreciated.
as a matter of fact, I heard that there was no music at all in the film, making it even more interesting.
unfortuantly, looks like all theatres around here aren’t showing it anymore 
Saw it, loved it, kept feeling tense through the whole thing.
you’ve totally sold me on it with that review, much appreciated.
as a matter of fact, I heard that there was no music at all in the film, making it even more interesting.
unfortuantly, looks like all theatres around here aren’t showing it anymore
You’re almost correct. There’s no music, but a few brief ‘stings’ occur…mostly as background noise but it is indeed music. Think of brief Lustmord-ish tones here and there. Probably totals 20 seconds through the whole thing.
Pfft!
Hell, I’d put Atom Egoyan’s celebrated schoolbus-full-of-kids-falling- thru-ice picture over this thing.
Anybody seen that?
( crickets )
I’m with the crickets, Sweet Hereafter was fantastic.
Pfft!
Hell, I’d put Atom Egoyan’s celebrated schoolbus-full-of-kids-falling- thru-ice picture over this thing.
Anybody seen that?
( crickets )
very good movie. one of the best canadian films i can think of (although i haven’t seen many). sarah polly is a good actress who also directed “away from her” which might get some oscar nominations tomorrow.
Read the book over the Holidays and saw the movie the day after I finished it.
The book is more about learning to accept one’s fate or at least deal with what you’ve been dealt. The movie falls a bit short in following the book in that regard. Another point that the movie misses is how people are generally consumed with vanity and that’s one of the reasons why they are unable accept their fate.
I’m giving the book 4/5 and the movie 3.5.
havent seen the film but i guess its worth mentioning that a film based on a book, even if its just an adaptation, needent be evaluated based on how it compares to the perceived message of said book. the two mediums are different enough to give a filmmaker respect for doing his own thing.
how this relates to this particular book and film i have no idea since i have neither read the book nor seen the film 