"No Country For Old Men" was terrible!! Anyone else agree?

[x-g.o.p.er]

Watched it the other night, and both my wife and I thought it was a waste of time.

Anyone else not like it?

[Robb]

1. Not me, I'm afraid

I really enjoyed it. I thought it departed from the predicted just enough. :shrug:

[sniffa]

2. Disagree

Outstanding movie. It should have won even more Oscars.

[ceile]

3. Disagree.

Thought it was fantastic.

[sasquatch]

4. Blasphemy!

:grr:

[Gormy Cuss]

5. I hate violent movies

but I admire good film making and strong performances. Both were present in that film.

[Fire Walk With Me]

6. I thought it was an excellent movie.

Overwhelmingly violent, precluding a second viewing, but an excellent movie.

[siligut]

7. Give me more movies with psychopathic killers.

No Country for Old Men has the Coen bros and Tommy Lee Jones; what’s not to like?

[x-g.o.p.er]

10. Just thought it was sloooooowwwwww....

None of the characters were likable, and none of the actors seemed like they cared about what they were doing. Tommy Lee Jones sleepwalked through the whole movie, and what purpose did the Woody Harrelson character serve?

Just thought the movie was bad all the way around.

[siligut]

14. It is paced

I thought the pacing was there to allow the viewer to appreciate the methodical mind of Chigurh. I know he is considered crazy, but programmed killers, those who derive pleasure from killing, have that sort of mind. We tried to think of someone else to portray Carson Wells, Woody Harrelson didn’t have the strength to hold up to Javier. His character was meant to show the white collar aspect of drugs and money.

I am sorry you felt you wasted your time though. I am going to see if I can find DS1's suggestion, Untergang, Der.

[pitohui]

24. oh and woody harrellson's dad IRL was involved in the IRL scandal

i don't know how much of this is gossip, but supposedly harrelson's dad was apparently hired to kill a judge involved with the case on which the novel is based

this is second or third or fourth hand gossip at the best...

woody has played killers before, must be an odd feeling tho

[siligut]

26. Thank you, I will have to read the book.

I saw where you gave other information about the book being based on a true story. Maybe Anton gave the details while in prison? I would like to know more about his character.

Maybe Woody played the role because his dad was associated with the story? I guess that would explain the miscasting. I know Woody has played killers, but his portrayal of Carson lacked the intellect to have allowed him to have survived as long as he did. You sure don't have to be smart to kill, but to hunt killers, that is a different story.

[pitohui]

69. wel i would like to know more also

keep in mind that i'm repeating gossip here, i'm just speculating, but that's what i was told about the source of some of it

[Manifestor_of_Light]

63. Charles Harrelson killed a federal judge in San Antonio.

He killed Judge John Wood as he was getting into his car in the morning in Alamo Heights, a wealthy suburb on the near northeast side of San Antonio.
That was in 1979.

It was in retaliation for the judge's long sentences.

[fudge stripe cookays]

78. Aah ya beat me. n/t

[fudge stripe cookays]

77. Charles Harrelson

The Chagra brothers, Lee and Jimmy, were up on a bazillion drug charges back in the 1970s, and hired Harrelson to take out Judge Wood. He did.

There is now a federal courthouse in San Antonio named for him.

[antigone382]

30. Being based on a Cormac McCarthy book, that makes sense...

I've never read No Country for Old Men, but I've read one or two of his other books...Suttree being my favorite. He has a very slow and highly descriptive style, almost like prose poetry...he has a way of describing filth and desolation that makes it seem beautiful and epic, at least for me. I love his writing, but it drives other people insane.

I'd like to see No Country, but I think I want to read the book first.

[siligut]

43. Thank you. Suttree is now on my list.

The bookstore will have all of his books displayed together and I think I will pick up Suttree as well as NCFOM, it sounds like something I would enjoy.

[triguy46]

39. Its not an 'action' picture. Its about fate, aging, and meaning of life.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

58. And the nature of greed, deep parallels to the war on terror, chance vs. fate, etc...

[stuntcat]

50. for real though

:headbang: (but my usual favorites are horror movies so my opinion on this kinda film should be ignored)

[DS1]

8. For you, I'm not surprised

It's an excellent movie.

[theredpen]

9. I thought it was great (nt)

[leeroysphitz]

11. The ending sucked. Big time.

And yes I get that the whole thing was really about Tommy Lee Jones' character. So what? He was on screen for about 5 minutes. It was the the other character and his story that the film had me giving a shit about and to kill him off, off-screen, didn't satisfy.

I don't need my movies to have happy endings but I would like at least a little bit of symmetry...

[pitohui]

17. i heard in some theaters people booed the ending

be that as it may, i was endlessly entertained trying to pick out where this and that was filmed, having some history with that part of the country

i'm not sure "sugar" (i don't know the correct spelling) did die off-screen after taking off into suburbia with bones sticking out of his body, i was told later that in real-life he was picked up and is in fact still in prison today -- an ending which DEFINITELY would not satisfy considering the story


all in all i'd say it's an okay airplane movie if you don't try to read too much into it

[Radio_Lady]

71. We saw it in Orlando, FL, and not only did they BOO -- but knots of people who clearly did not know

each other ended up in the lobby wondering if they should ask for their money back!

We left with only a bitter taste in our mouths... and it wasn't only for the popcorn.

[triguy46]

40. The end is not typical hollywood wrap up of the bad guy getting it in the end.

And the problem with that is? Not everything in life is wrapped up neatly with stereotypical payback for sin. The ending, if criticized, is that it so typical Cormac McCarthy who always challenges our conventions of story telling.

[leeroysphitz]

42. Don't put words in my mouth.

All I said is I like a little more symmetry. It's like the film ended a half an hour early.

[Connonym]

12. I'm looking forward to seeing it again

because I think a lot of the nuance was lost on me A) because I was a little buzzed and B) a little freaked by the blood. Also,having discussed it after the fact and given a little insight from other people I'll look for new things when I rewatch. If you see Javier Bardem in something different you'll really respect his acting because you'll see that he nailed the coldness of the killer.

I'd hazard a guess that while you didn't like it you'll probably be thinking about it for a while and not just in the way of "I can't believe how bad it was" but in the way of trying to put pieces together and make sense of it. I think that's the difference between an enjoyable movie and a really masterful piece of work. NCFOM wasn't fun to watch but it digs in you and sticks. There aren't a lot of movies that niggle at your brain like that.

[x-g.o.p.er]

16. Maybe I'll have to see it again..

I was really looking forward to watching it, but I was disappointed because it wasn't what I was expecting.

If I put those expectations aside and watch it again, maybe my view on it will be different.

[bicentennial_baby]

13. Disagree

[OffWithTheirHeads]

15. My wife and I both thought it sucked

[youthere]

18. Haven't seen it yet, but watched American Ganster last night...

and it was awful. I was really disappointed because I love Denzel Washington.

[x-g.o.p.er]

19. I really want to see that movie, too,

and I also really want to see "There Will Be Blood"

[pitohui]

23. damn american gangster hits a new definition of slllloooowwwww

no slam against denzel or russell but that's one film that cried out in the night for a decent editor -- you really have to blame the director for that one -- "too many notes"

at half the length there's a good movie in there somewhere

but if you found "no country" slow don't expect to enjoy "gangster," you'll be twitching in agony and praying for the end a LONG time before that one's over

[youthere]

45. It really was slow...(gangster)....

and the ending was so abrupt it was as if they just said "Okay! That's enough!" and put up the end credits. I agree..there was a good movie in there SOMEWHERE...but hoo boy...I don't know if I have the stamina to dig it out of the other 120 minutes of filler. It's a real shame because Denzel is incredible, but his acting was just buried in it.

[Recursion]

20. It lacked a certain milkshake-drinking quality, true

But I thought it was really good. But I'm a die-hard Coen brothers fan; I even liked The Man Who Wasn't There.

[Connonym]

21. But what it lacked in milkshake drinking it made up for in other ways, eh Friendo?

:-P

[DS1]

22. PTA can give himself a milkshake enema

There will be blood was crap!

[Lautremont]

25. Sounds like he drank your milkshake! HE DRANK IT UP.

[DS1]

27. from across THE ROOM

[Recursion]

33. DRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA IINNNNNNNN AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGE!

[liberaldem4ever]

28. Haven't seen it yet

Thought I wanted to see it because it won so many awards, but now I'm not sure. I haven't heard too much about what the story is about and I don't like movies that are too violent usually.

[ellisonz]

87. It's a movie about violence.

[Chovexani]

29. I thought it was excellent

But it's definitely not everyone's cup of tea.

[ghostsofgiants]

31. Completely disagree.

Great film.

[triguy46]

32. I thought it as excellent. An excellent adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's novel.

I thought the Coen's got it right, the feel, the look of southwest, the people. The violence was not gratuitous and certainly less than many, many, many others where violence is the reason of the movie.

[Recursion]

34. They had me at

"Where'd you git that gun?"

"At the gittin' place"

[Sugar Smack]

35. "I don't wanna' know. I don't even wanna' know where you been all day."

"That'll work."

*love it*

[Richardo]

82. "What do we circulate? Lookin' for a man who recently drunk milk? "

:D

[siligut]

37. “That's very linear Sheriff.”

“Well, age will flatten a man.”

[Orrex]

59. Incidentally, that line originally appeared in McCarthy's "All The Pretty Horses"

Both the book and the film.

[asthmaticeog]

36. I couldn't disagree with you more, friendo.

That film was brilliant.

[jbane]

38. Yes, I agree. Juno was much better.

And Persepolis was really good too.

[tigereye]

53. Persepolis was amazing!

I liked Juno as well.


I haven't seen NCFOM yet, but the Coen's aren't everyone's cup of tea. Their films are never typical. I'm not a fan of violence, but they never sugarcoat it and they always have an interesting point to make.

[ghostsofgiants]

54. Juno was good, but come on, it's apples and oranges.

[Lautremont]

60. You only like Juno 'cause Ellen Page is from Halifax!

Since she's not from Winnipeg, I didn't bother seeing it.

[ghostsofgiants]

61. Haha, perhaps. Perhaps.

That and the girl who wrote it is hot. :P

[deutsey]

41. I liked it and was deeply unsettled by it.

To each their own, though.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

44. For the most part, it was a very good film, and then the ending (non-ending) ruined it for me.

[Tyler Durden]

46. We were ASTOUNDED.

Amazed. Everyone has their own tastes though.

I know people who actually LIKED "Xanadu," a fact I find as disturbing as "ABBA" fans.

[charlie and algernon]

47. i couldn't wait for the killer's next scene

Javier was brilliant as the killer. Completely psychotic.

[EstimatedProphet]

48. I disagree

It stretches traditional boundaries of moviemaking

[Courtesy Flush]

49. Agreed. Same goes for "There will be blood"

I thought they were both terrible. Apparently I don't know jack about movies, because they're both hits. My wife didn't like them either.

But to be fair, we only saw half of There Will Be Blood. Half was about all we could tolerate.

[ghostsofgiants]

55. So what exactly are your cinematic tastes?

[Courtesy Flush]

62. I like a wide variety of movies

But sorry. That compressed air gag was right out of a bad teen slasher flick.

[Blue_Tires]

51. i had a long thread about it here a few weeks ago...

i'll post my own thoughts later..

[Blue_Tires]

89. the one credit to the movie is

50 people can see it and come away with a completely different idea on the movie's message (as evidenced my mine and several other discussion threads)...

i can state unequivocally that this was COMPLETELY undeserving of the best picture and best supporting actor oscars...People will look back on this year and call it a weak class (like '01) and realize the primary reason it won was because it was the cohens. If this was some no-name indie director with an unheralded cast it gets ZERO publicity and hype..

and Bardem? He of the ten total lines of dialogue getting an oscar? (he probably said less in two hours than Wilford Brimley did in 12 mins in "Absence of Malice"). Classic case of the academy falling in love with the character rather than looking at the acting performance behind it (and i STILL want to know what criteria is used to judge an acting performance)...Even the coin toss doesn't impress me, because I'd swear i've seen it in other movies

So what made it great? The overall message of grisly, humiliating death? Tommy Lee Jones channeling the 'aw-shucks' Sheriff Andy Taylor's cracker barrel philosophy? The story? (wasn't any) The cinematography? (maybe) The under-developed characters? The violence, made that much more arthouse-y with its unconventional weapons? I don't even know anymore...Not the first time oscar took the piss, and it won't be the last...

As i said, good, but not great movie, and the more i've thought about it, the more pretentious it seem in that "i'm just fucking with the audience for two hours" manner ala "Crash"

[Tuesday Afternoon]

52. I want to see it again. I liked the ending/non-ending --

symmetry :wtf:

I wish my life had some symmetry.

[x-g.o.p.er]

66. That's what disappointed me most...

Maybe if I felt there had been some sort of closure at the end, it would've been okay.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

67. closure --

how often do you get closure in real life? I don't know about you but, I rarely get closure.

[x-g.o.p.er]

72. But that's exactly why I go to movies...

to escape from the problems of real life, and get closure.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

73. then you will never like this type of movie --

uhm....kay.

I could go on....

[Burma Jones]

56. No, but I saw it in a movie theatre, watching at home - you might have a point

I won't bother to watch it at home, too many distractions and then it doesn't work......

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

57. Absolutely not.

It's one of the best movies ever made.

[4_Legs_Good]

64. Nope, but not the Cohen's best by a long shot

Barton Fink is my favorite by far, but I also love the Hudscuker Proxy, Miller's Crossing and, of course, The Big Lebowski, among others.

I think Fargo was great, but overrated inasmuch as it's not their best, but gets the most press/praise.

David

[Westegg]

65. "Miller's Crossing" is my favorite of theirs. That is all.

[Recursion]

81. Fink, Miller's Xing, Blood Simple, O Brother, Arizona

Ladykillers, Man Who Wasn't There, Lebowski, Fargo, Proxy, Intolerable Cruelty

In that order. Yes, I know I'm probably the only person who liked Man Who Wasn't There more than Lebowski or Fargo.

I'm still thinking about where I put No Country.

[Radio_Lady]

68. Radio Lady: The movie is a total waste of time. Should not have won the Oscar!

Just sayin'.

Movies are personal things.

Personally, my husband and I thought this one really stunk.

Cordially,

RL in Oregon

[av8rdave]

70. Loved it! The book and the movie are awesome!

[begin_within]

74. Hollywood is dead.

And has been for almost 40 years.

[Skittles]

75. I loved it

AWESOME movie

[Ediacara]

76. I didn't hate it, but there were far too many loose ends

Ya, I get it, you're post modern, you don't want to tie up all the lose ends, but there's a difference between leaving a few loose ends, and leaving all the ends loose.

[HEyHEY]

79. I didn't think it lived up to the hype. But it wasn't awful.

[quiet.american]

80. I'm just glad to not have to hear "Call it, Friendo" or whatever first thing in the morning anymore.

They ran an ad everyday for about two months on NY1's morning news show. I was really getting tired of it.

[Awsi Dooger]

83. It was too predictable to have won the Oscar

I called so many scenes it was annoying the two people who watched it with me, but dammit if you're aiming for suspense at least surprise me.

Let's see:

* Dying Mexican wants agua. Our newly rich trailer hero will return, and all hell breaks loose. Seriously, how does the plot proceed if he doesn't return?

* Money will container transponder. Again, how does anything happen in remote Texas if the cash can't be electronically tracked?

* Money in air conditioning vent will be rescued from the other side. Why were they showing it to us from the inside, if it wouldn't be yanked that way in a subsequent scene?

* Harrelson will die by Chugah, or whatever the name is. Place a guy in that type getup after you've already established Chugah as the ultimate evil, and Harrelson further details what a psycho he is, and I didn't give Harrelson 1% to survive, or die at the hands of anyone else.

* Traipse into Mexico in 1980 and a pharmacy is going to be involved. As certain as a car crashing into water in a Burt Reynolds movie from the '80s.

* If two groups are pursuing the money but the focus is overwhelmingly on one of them, Chugah, the other side will prevail

The one thing that surprised me was the early demise of the trailer hero. I expected he would lose the cash then be confronted by Chugah.

Frankly, when they killed off the trailer guy at the cheap motel I lost all interest in the movie. The Tommie Lee Jones subplot was weaker and more irrelevant than intended. And it's hardly a case of missing the big picture if you devalued it. I understood where they were going but it simply didn't work. You can't spend that much time with finality, aka murder, as a dead end focus, followed by transition to another murder, then expect us to care about blowhard elongated dialogue from two boring old geezers.

Don't get me wrong, plenty of suspense and the actor who played Chgah was incredible, but I walked out of that theater in disbelief it won best picture.

***

Juno was pathetic, an insult. I wanted to walk out within 2 minutes but tried to be reasonable to the two people I attended it with, so I waited another 40, in a triumph of outright masochism. I prioritize dialogue in movies or TV, and Juno was the closest thing I've ever seen to 100% forced and phony lines, from every character. There was one simple and clever line in the period I watched, something like, "Have you ever been truly excited about anything? Father: "Yeah, by heating and plumbing." Now that was a Hank Hill finesse line, and the audience appropriately laughed for the first time during the movie. Everything else sounded like a half dozen pompous writers spent hours on every line, adding and arguing until they came up with 15+ words, sarcastic and overdone. It was like a parody of the worst contemporary sitcom imaginable. Maybe that was the intention. If so, bingo. I walked out early and don't have a care or clue. I can't remember a movie in which the main character was so repulsive and everyone else so remarkably uninteresting.

[DS1]

86. valid point about the air conditioning scene

I found that entire bit entirely contrived. Also - nobody calls the police when there's automatic gunfire coming from a few hotel rooms down the hall? I would.

It's Chigurh, fyi.


Juno sounds absolutely terrible, like a teen movie with "West Wing" dialogue speed and 'cleverness'.

[leftofthedial]

84. great movie

simply amazing

[peekaloo]

85. I sure do don't

agree.

The Coens can do no wrong in my book.

Stunned by the first viewing but the humor (yes) comes through the second time.

[ellisonz]

88. Great Movie.

Excellent non-linear story telling (wtf people it's 2008), great acting, and great directing. Put yourself in Moss's shoes. Do you take the money? What about the dying man? Perfectly coherent, cogent, concise movies are called documentaries!