Which is more terrifying? Getting chased and hunted by a straight forward foul mouthed gun toting villain or an under the radar mysterious psychopath villain with rules of his own, knowing he WILL GET you.
In No Country For Old Men (2007) by the Coen brothers, an adaptation of the so called inadaptable Cormac McCarthy's novel of the same, the bad guy is anything but stereotypical.
Set in Texas amidst the tough, unrelenting, parched landscape that mirros the people of the land, the story revolves around a psychological, physical cat and mouse game between three people - A broke Texas rancher Lewelyn Moss (Josh Brolin) running away with the loot, chased by the peculiar psychopath Anton Chigurh (Javier Bardem), in turn chased by the soon-to-retire local town sheriff Ed Tom Bell (Tommy Lee Jones).
Now an old timer, Ed Tom Bell, sheriff since young, likes to talk about the old timers in his trade never ever having the need of using a gun. Though extremely brave, he says he wouldn't like to lay his life down for something that he didn't know. He just doesn't think its worth it. Anton Chiugurh fits that category. We can never know what he's upto. You play the game only by his rules known only to him and he can bend and break them as he wishes. That should freak anyone out.
Moss hunting on Texas outdoors, sees a drug deal gone horribily wrong. He takes the money away. Moss returns the same night to the mess troubled by his conscience to give water to the wounded Mexican guy who had asked him so earlier in the day. The guy is now dead and the hurting American party chases him till his pants are down.
Moss escapes, sends his wife Carla Jean away to her mother to meet later while deciding to fight the baddies on his own with the loot in town. The American party sends Anton Chigurh and another group unknown to Chigurh to hunt down Moss. Sheriff Ed sees the mess and with the clues on ground realises Moss could be in danger. He too joins the chase and the trail.
Stopping a guy who kills with motive is possible but how to stop a guy who kills without any motive. For Anton Chigurh, the road to reach Moss is purely his own. He doesn't see Moss as THE bad guy. Anyone can seem equally good and bad to him. He kills anyone and spares anyone. He doesn't kill for money. No one knows what is cooking inside him. May be he too doesn't. But for a man of this nature he is extremely methodical and careful. On the chase to Moss, Anton's conversations with the people he meets are the most bizarre. Especially the one with a store owner. Incredibly tense, humourous and nevry, just when you think he will flush this guy down the toilet he does otherwise. As Anton tells the store guy, its pretty much like a coin toss for these guys.
In a thrilling set piece around a motel, Anton finally gets to know the American party has send another group to catch Moss. Taking it as a personal insult he guns down that entire bunch.The American party now worried knows that a loose cannon is flying around. Sheriff also closes in on Moss and Anton.
After escaping the shootout, Moss is warned by Anton about how this all would end only his way. Anton tells him either he dies or his wife dies by his hand. Its no longer about the money. Sheriff fearing the worst reaches Carla Jean to protect Moss. As fate would have it the Mexican party guns down Moss before Anton does while he waits for his wife in a motel and can fly out of the country with the loot.
Anton reaches to find Moss is already dead. But he doesn't go away. He keeps his promise he gave to Moss. He meets Carla Jean and tells her Moss had a choice between either of the two and he chose himself. Anton kills her. Thats how menacing and scary the guy is. To him his principles are the most important.
Shockingly though correctly Anton walks away scot free at the end. Sheriff retires and sulks over what happened.
As with most Coen brothers movies, this one is original, evocative of the time and the place. All the characters speak in a genuine accent. Their trademark style is on full show here. Twisted characters, quirky dry humour, bizzare plotlines. They don't compromise it for anybody. Roger Deakins camera shows even the things that are tough to look at can be so eye catching. Its moody, dark and atmospehere but bloody entertaining. The film doesn't have much of dialogues even. I can hardly remember it having any background music. Just the thought of Anton is enough to send shivers. Remember silence is more terrifying than sound.
Go, experience it and be terrorised. You can't stop what's coming...
Till next time - Movies, movies and movies...
In No Country For Old Men (2007) by the Coen brothers, an adaptation of the so called inadaptable Cormac McCarthy's novel of the same, the bad guy is anything but stereotypical.
Set in Texas amidst the tough, unrelenting, parched landscape that mirros the people of the land, the story revolves around a psychological, physical cat and mouse game between three people - A broke Texas rancher Lewelyn Moss (Josh Brolin) running away with the loot, chased by the peculiar psychopath Anton Chigurh (Javier Bardem), in turn chased by the soon-to-retire local town sheriff Ed Tom Bell (Tommy Lee Jones).
Now an old timer, Ed Tom Bell, sheriff since young, likes to talk about the old timers in his trade never ever having the need of using a gun. Though extremely brave, he says he wouldn't like to lay his life down for something that he didn't know. He just doesn't think its worth it. Anton Chiugurh fits that category. We can never know what he's upto. You play the game only by his rules known only to him and he can bend and break them as he wishes. That should freak anyone out.
Moss hunting on Texas outdoors, sees a drug deal gone horribily wrong. He takes the money away. Moss returns the same night to the mess troubled by his conscience to give water to the wounded Mexican guy who had asked him so earlier in the day. The guy is now dead and the hurting American party chases him till his pants are down.
Moss escapes, sends his wife Carla Jean away to her mother to meet later while deciding to fight the baddies on his own with the loot in town. The American party sends Anton Chigurh and another group unknown to Chigurh to hunt down Moss. Sheriff Ed sees the mess and with the clues on ground realises Moss could be in danger. He too joins the chase and the trail.
Stopping a guy who kills with motive is possible but how to stop a guy who kills without any motive. For Anton Chigurh, the road to reach Moss is purely his own. He doesn't see Moss as THE bad guy. Anyone can seem equally good and bad to him. He kills anyone and spares anyone. He doesn't kill for money. No one knows what is cooking inside him. May be he too doesn't. But for a man of this nature he is extremely methodical and careful. On the chase to Moss, Anton's conversations with the people he meets are the most bizarre. Especially the one with a store owner. Incredibly tense, humourous and nevry, just when you think he will flush this guy down the toilet he does otherwise. As Anton tells the store guy, its pretty much like a coin toss for these guys.
In a thrilling set piece around a motel, Anton finally gets to know the American party has send another group to catch Moss. Taking it as a personal insult he guns down that entire bunch.The American party now worried knows that a loose cannon is flying around. Sheriff also closes in on Moss and Anton.
After escaping the shootout, Moss is warned by Anton about how this all would end only his way. Anton tells him either he dies or his wife dies by his hand. Its no longer about the money. Sheriff fearing the worst reaches Carla Jean to protect Moss. As fate would have it the Mexican party guns down Moss before Anton does while he waits for his wife in a motel and can fly out of the country with the loot.
Anton reaches to find Moss is already dead. But he doesn't go away. He keeps his promise he gave to Moss. He meets Carla Jean and tells her Moss had a choice between either of the two and he chose himself. Anton kills her. Thats how menacing and scary the guy is. To him his principles are the most important.
Shockingly though correctly Anton walks away scot free at the end. Sheriff retires and sulks over what happened.
As with most Coen brothers movies, this one is original, evocative of the time and the place. All the characters speak in a genuine accent. Their trademark style is on full show here. Twisted characters, quirky dry humour, bizzare plotlines. They don't compromise it for anybody. Roger Deakins camera shows even the things that are tough to look at can be so eye catching. Its moody, dark and atmospehere but bloody entertaining. The film doesn't have much of dialogues even. I can hardly remember it having any background music. Just the thought of Anton is enough to send shivers. Remember silence is more terrifying than sound.
Go, experience it and be terrorised. You can't stop what's coming...
Till next time - Movies, movies and movies...
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