Films/DVD Asylum

Posted by Scassi (A) on February 22, 2008 at 09:51:04

In Reply to: RE: No C for Old Men posted by Duilawyer on February 04, 2008 at 12:50:45

Once he took the money his life was forfeit: either by Chigurh or by the Mexican mob. What is interesting is that he could not escape his own decency despite knowing the probable ramifications (I'm about to do something stupid dialogue to his wife in the trailer before going back). What he could not see was the extreme wake his actions would cause (esp to his wife) as a result of the psychopathic ‘morality’ of Chigurh. Wells is there to show the extent of Chigurh's depravity: All working to get back the money are mercenaries except Chigurh. Chigurh's "morality" would not permit Moss, or even his wife, to escape the ramifications of his actions despite the return of the money. In the book (which is great and better by far than the movie for obvious reasons the least of which is time constraints) the money is returned to a nameless man who financed the transaction and some of the most enlightening dialogue re Chirurh occurs there (read it). The story then really is about how morality, beliefs, and actions are played out in the three main characters (Chigurh, Moss & Bell) when fate and chance are factored in. Chigurh is the most depraved of the three but acts the most consistently with his beliefs (although not always as when he offers Carla Jean the coin toss despite his prior promise and how he treats the kids, the only witnesses to his existence, after the car wreck). Bell is the most moral of the three but does act out his beliefs when he has the chance (the why thereof is the reason of the book as he is the primary character therein). Moss is the most ambiguous in his morality and beliefs and chance and fate stomp him. Heavy thinking: McCarthy is terrific.