In Reply to: No Country for Old Men... posted by mkuller on November 21, 2007 at 09:51:11:
Not having read the book, I can only guess how much of this is Cormac McCarthy and how much is Coen Brothers. In any case, the character Anton Sugar (not pronounced "sugar") seems purely in their grand tradition of completely over-the-top fantasy creations. His particular psychotic approach to life if that, if you see him, you must die. Except once in a while, he offers you a coin flip, "the best I can do." We counted 2 people who saw him and lived, one who won the flip, the other just lucky enough that he got distracted by a toilet flush.
I thought he was a wonderful cinematic creation, from his moptop haircut to his cannon-size guns and handy compressed air tank.
There were a few other tough talking hombres, but like Woody Harrelson, as soon as Anton caught up with them, they were revealed as tough-talking wimps.
The idea that Tommy Lee Jones is shocked at the current violence, and that his lawmen ancestors did not even carry guns, seems less than completely convincing. Of course, running across Anton's handiwork might convince anyone that violence is at a high point these days.
I love the dialogue, whether McCarthy or Coen Brothers, this is some of the best movie dialogue all year. This is not exactly film noir, although it is in the grand tradition of smart aleck tough guys and of a man caught up in forces that spiral way out of control. It's pretty noir.
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Follow Ups
- comments with spoilers - tunenut 15:10:41 11/23/07 (3)
- On Woody Harrelson as a tough talking hombre . . . - townsend 21:04:16 11/23/07 (2)
- Absolutely. And what was with his white outfits? nt - tinear 16:53:22 11/25/07 (0)
- Clearly, Woody didn't look old enough to be a VN vet. * - mr grits 10:06:20 11/24/07 (0)