The coin toss... Chigurh's hackles were raised when the attendant attempted to make small talk by asking if "they were gettting in rain up your way" Chigurh's response "which way would that be" leads the clerk to state he observed the car came from Dallas. This is a lead on Chigurh's trail, a possible loose end. People investigating the car owner's death could follow up on Chigurh's path, so Chigurh plays the game. He allows the fate of the coin to decide the clerk's fate, and in turn ties his own fate to the coin. If the clerk wins Chigurh will let him live, and leave that loose end. The converstation about the clerk marrying into the family is an insight into Chigurh's outlook. The clerk is going through the motions and is not in control of his own fate, being at the whim of his wife's family. This led the clerk to be in this place at the same time with Chigurh with his life on the line of a coin toss. That's "you've been putting it up your whole life..." And "this quarter has been travling so many years to get here.." lines. The shower curtain was to prevent blood spraying back on Chigurh's clothes, at that range, *all* the buckshot went into the target. The going theory is Steven Root's character is part of a shadow op of the CIA smuggling drugs. The lines are: Wells: will you validate my parking? Root: an attempt at humor, I see.. The line is Wells acknowledging that he is in the corporate atmosphere accepting an illicit criminal contract. The humor line has nothing to do with the counting floors line.... _That_ line is demonstrating his skill...he remembers names, faces, numbers... The driver of the vehicle that Moss commandeered died to silenced pistol fire... _Wells_ flinches when the phone rings and Chigurh smiles because Wells' flinch at the phone betrayed his fear of his impending death, and is thus his acknowledgement of the situation, which Chigurh requested at the beginning of the conversation. Moss states that *Chigurh* is going to be his special project. The cartel killed Carla Jeans mother. And Chigurh killed Carla Jean. Thats why he checked his feet when he left the house. And if she had called it right he would have let her live. But they don't let us see her call it wrong. He's not a hypocrite if he killed her regardless that she didn't call it, he defaulted back to his original word to Llewellyn to kill her if he didn't bring him the money.
Anton does have a sense of humor. He sort of scoffs when he says "you married into it?". He clearly finds this funny. He smiles big and says "well done!" after the coin toss. Then he makes a joke when he says "don't put it in your pocket...because it'll get mixed in with all the regular quarters...which it is."
8:42 Midway through the movie Ellis--who was shot and put in a wheelchair, presumably years ago--tells a story about a guy who was shot to death on his porch in 1909. He tells Ed Tom Bell "what you got ain't nothing new." I always assumed that the story knew Ed Tom Bell was wrong to think that the past was somehow less violent than the present.
The Godfather won best picture and was the highest grossing film in 1972, but certainly No Country stands out in recent years for being both popular and acclaimed.
Loved it as always. Also the part of him going back to the front to catch Anton. Abe said that is high function thought process for the situation. Comparing it to a chess move as to say he is surprised he would think of that. Isn't it said in the movie that Moss was in Vietnam as a Ranger? If i am remembering right that would explain his ability to think like that.
I always liked Swaim, glad to see he's as big a fan of the Coens as I am. I've never analysed their films to this degree though, makes me feel a bit dumb.
Great stuff once again! This movie was already a favorite of mine, but I feel so dumb now not seeing the stuff you guys did, and can appreciate it even more.
Love the episode guys! Spoilers\speculation on the ending: I think when Tommy Lee Jones is at the hotel near the end, and we the audience see Anton waiting behind the door, he is metaphorically flipping a coin. He doesn’t know whether or not he’s going to die when he opens that door, but he calls it and opens it anyway.
I find this your most frustrating episode because I find this the most frustrating Coens movie. They kill off the main character between scenes and don't even explain how or why it happened. It distorts the film so utterly that no other aspect is really worth discussing all that much. And that crucial fuck-you to the audience is something you don't really analyse or even acknowledge as being something that would make people dislike the movie. Not even when you give yourself two hours to talk about it.
Did the glass of milk not bother you that he takes it instead of having it checked for finger prints? I almost thought it was intentional to suggest that he's a crappy investigator.
The coin toss...
Chigurh's hackles were raised when the attendant attempted to make small talk by asking if "they were gettting in rain up your way" Chigurh's response "which way would that be" leads the clerk to state he observed the car came from Dallas.
This is a lead on Chigurh's trail, a possible loose end.
People investigating the car owner's death could follow up on Chigurh's path, so Chigurh plays the game. He allows the fate of the coin to decide the clerk's fate, and in turn ties his own fate to the coin. If the clerk wins Chigurh will let him live, and leave that loose end. The converstation about the clerk marrying into the family is an insight into Chigurh's outlook. The clerk is going through the motions and is not in control of his own fate, being at the whim of his wife's family.
This led the clerk to be in this place at the same time with Chigurh with his life on the line of a coin toss.
That's "you've been putting it up your whole life..." And "this quarter has been travling so many years to get here.." lines.
The shower curtain was to prevent blood spraying back on Chigurh's clothes, at that range, *all* the buckshot went into the target.
The going theory is Steven Root's character is part of a shadow op of the CIA smuggling drugs.
The lines are:
Wells: will you validate my parking?
Root: an attempt at humor, I see..
The line is Wells acknowledging that he is in the corporate atmosphere accepting an illicit criminal contract.
The humor line has nothing to do with the counting floors line.... _That_ line is demonstrating his skill...he remembers names, faces, numbers...
The driver of the vehicle that Moss commandeered died to silenced pistol fire...
_Wells_ flinches when the phone rings and Chigurh smiles because Wells' flinch at the phone betrayed his fear of his impending death, and is thus his acknowledgement of the situation, which Chigurh requested at the beginning of the conversation.
Moss states that *Chigurh* is going to be his special project.
The cartel killed Carla Jeans mother. And Chigurh killed Carla Jean. Thats why he checked his feet when he left the house. And if she had called it right he would have let her live. But they don't let us see her call it wrong. He's not a hypocrite if he killed her regardless that she didn't call it, he defaulted back to his original word to Llewellyn to kill her if he didn't bring him the money.
Didn't cancer kill Carla Jean's mother and I thought Carla Jean refused to call it???
@@unappreciatedtreehouse821 she didn't call it. But if she had and won, he would have kept his word.
Anton does have a sense of humor. He sort of scoffs when he says "you married into it?". He clearly finds this funny. He smiles big and says "well done!" after the coin toss. Then he makes a joke when he says "don't put it in your pocket...because it'll get mixed in with all the regular quarters...which it is."
Man I just love listening to these guys talking about the content they love.
8:42 Midway through the movie Ellis--who was shot and put in a wheelchair, presumably years ago--tells a story about a guy who was shot to death on his porch in 1909. He tells Ed Tom Bell "what you got ain't nothing new." I always assumed that the story knew Ed Tom Bell was wrong to think that the past was somehow less violent than the present.
Bone Machine yeah that’s like the cap to that whole theme in the film. It’s what makes ETB decide to retire.
Something really awesome about how clear Michael's smile comes through when he speaks
I'm not sure Cormac McCarthy does think the present is more violent. This is the author of Blood Meridian after all.
The Godfather won best picture and was the highest grossing film in 1972, but certainly No Country stands out in recent years for being both popular and acclaimed.
I live for this series. I hope you guys do one for Paul Thomas Anderson after you finish The Coen Brothers.
After The Coen Brothers Brothers...Paul Thomas Anderson's Sons?
Paul Thomas Anderson’s Andersons
Love this series!!
Didn't the floating body in the pool belong to the flirting woman? I need to check.. but if so, I think it suggests Moss didn't cheat on Carla Jean.
The part where Carson jokes about the elevator? Read the book guys. That building had a security feature. It’s a hidden floor. Get it?
I showed this movie to my mom, and she was blown away by it.
Love this movie. Love this show. Now I can go back and rewatch this film with more appreciation. Thank you Mike and Abe!
Had to listen to this again
Loved it as always. Also the part of him going back to the front to catch Anton. Abe said that is high function thought process for the situation. Comparing it to a chess move as to say he is surprised he would think of that. Isn't it said in the movie that Moss was in Vietnam as a Ranger? If i am remembering right that would explain his ability to think like that.
Fucking absolutely awesome and underrated show boys
I always liked Swaim, glad to see he's as big a fan of the Coens as I am. I've never analysed their films to this degree though, makes me feel a bit dumb.
Great stuff once again! This movie was already a favorite of mine, but I feel so dumb now not seeing the stuff you guys did, and can appreciate it even more.
Love the episode guys!
Spoilers\speculation on the ending:
I think when Tommy Lee Jones is at the hotel near the end, and we the audience see Anton waiting behind the door, he is metaphorically flipping a coin. He doesn’t know whether or not he’s going to die when he opens that door, but he calls it and opens it anyway.
Dang, I thought we were gonna talk about Pynchon for a second. If y'all wanted to do a Frame Rate on Inherent Vice, I'd be totally here for it.
Fun pointless fact: one of those kids that gives Anton a shirt at the end of the movie is John Marston's kid from the first Red Dead.
I would argue the trailer park manager may be the most intimidating character the Coen's ever created. What does Anton Chigurh fear?
Oh shit, they got 12 thumbs down. Guess they're done
I find this your most frustrating episode because I find this the most frustrating Coens movie. They kill off the main character between scenes and don't even explain how or why it happened. It distorts the film so utterly that no other aspect is really worth discussing all that much. And that crucial fuck-you to the audience is something you don't really analyse or even acknowledge as being something that would make people dislike the movie. Not even when you give yourself two hours to talk about it.
Did the glass of milk not bother you that he takes it instead of having it checked for finger prints? I almost thought it was intentional to suggest that he's a crappy investigator.
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1:36:15