Like Fargo[1], this is a movie that grows on you.
Or it did on me.
Footnotes:
[1] The only film I’ve ever seen that accurately[2] depicts winter on the northern plains.
[2] Except for the part with the blood in the trees.
23 Replies to ““What’s the most you ever lost on a coin toss?””
The Coen Bros are the best in America. This was a great film. Belongs up there with O Brother, Big Liebowski, Intolerable Cruelty, Fargo, and Miller’s Crossing.
But other readers be warned. It’s extremely violent. For me, my favourite bit of movie was the first 20 minutes or so when Lewellyn is in the desert both in day and night. I think they’ll win best cinemetograpy just for that. After that, my poor sensitive soul was hit maybe a bit too hard.
Not a tough prairie gal, I guess, just a latte-sipping West Coaster. Ah well.
I saw that movie and the main character was a chilling crazy. A unique and scary person.
I was most impressed with the accurate depiction of the rural or small town Texan culture and ways of expressing themselves. The language was right on.
I have know a few Texans and been there.
The horrors of the drug culture was pretty stark as well.
Yes, I agree a great movie.
I saw it last week at my daughter’s recommendation. It’s a gem. Tommy Lee Jones’ character gets missed at first viewing in my opinion which mades me want to see it again when it comes out on DVD.
The villian is so bilious. The scene where he was toying with the gas station owner with the coin flip captured pure evil like no other.
Just want to add the film was filmed mainly in New Mexico, my old state, I recognized the old historic hotel in Las Vegas(NM), I’ve eaten there driving back from Denver. The motel at the end is in Alburquerque. In spite of that, it had the look and feel of the Texas panhandle to me.
After you see a Coen brother’s movie it makes you reflect on the mountain of slop that Hollywood puts out. Who cares if their writer’s strike ever ends. Who would notice.
That gas station scene is going to go down as a classic film moment.
Yup. Snow snakes and Norska, that’s ND all over.
I thought Fargo was most gruesome but also one of the funniest movies I’ve ever seen. Usually I hate that kind of stuff but the people were so humanly inept, for some reason, it lost that hard-hitting realism that makes me cover my face at the bad parts.
I was in Florida a few years after it originally aired and they had a video “Box Set” on sale complete with Walt Disney type figures, wood chipper and blood covered snow. It gave me a chuckle, and now wish I’d bought the darn thing – probably a collector’s item.
For the record, also loved “Oh Brother” and “Miller’s Crossing”. Didn’t get “The Big Lebowski” (but my husband watched it countless times. Didn’t see Intolerable Cruelty.
A lot of people in that movie died. Most, if not all who died were dishonest or disrespectful. A few people in that movie lived by luck. Those who lived not by luck were honest in their dealings, careful with their words, and understood the extent to which they were carried along by processes beyond their control.
This movie ended the way it would in the real world. Sure the hero and villain in a climatic life and death struggle with the hero emerging as victor is what our soul desires. But that outcome does not always reflect reality. That is what the film meant to me. Academy Award perhaps?
I don’t think that I’ve ever seen a movie that was so true to the original novel, as NCFOM.
For an actor, who in real life doesn’t know how to drive a car, Javier Bardem sure portrayed a memorable villain well. Saw him and Josh Brolin interviewed on a talk show. Brolin was quick witted and intelligent but Javier seemed like one of those empty vessel actors that don’t have much of interest to say until they have the words passed to them.
Might not be a really popular movie with those still working on the first half of their lives. I read a review on a cinema website written by a 25 year old. “It was a great movie except I was talking to my friend and missed the last line, then the screen went black. And I asked my friend, hey what the hell happened there, is it over?”
The Coen brothers have done it again. NCFOM is a great movie. I too compared it with Fargo, in its seriousness, violence and its use of oddly familiar and comfortable secondary characters. But to me NCFOM has a somewhat deeper message.
As I understand, Javier Bardem (Anton) chooses his roles carefully to keep them diverse. I think we’ll be seeing a lot more of him now, thanks to this movie.
Yep, it’s a great movie, but its greatness comes from Cormac McCarthy, not the Coenheads. Most any level-headed movie producer could have made a great movie by remaining faithful to his novel. All they had to do was make a commitment to accurately portraying the images McCarthy created.
” The only film I’ve ever seen that accurately[2] depicts winter on the northern plains.”
Don’t know of the Coens or their screen writer had experience but the book’s author spent a tour of duty in Alaska…he has empathy with northern winters no doubt.
I still can’t believe that Fargo lost out to The English Patient at the Oscars. The former is a rare gem of a film, with a brilliant score, phenomenal acting, a great script and a consistent feel throughout. The latter is sentimental bullshit.
I saw the film over the weekend and thought it was fantastic, and that it’s worth watching just for the incredible cinematography (which was only emphasized by the lack of soundtrack music). I gotta admit I wasn’t crazy about the open, unresolved ending, but indeed such a wrap-up does reflect life and the underlying currents of the film. And, it’s worth noting that this is one of the rare Coen Bros films that takes place in a rural/small town setting and dosen’t take time out to mock the locals. I actually forgot that they were responsible for the film and was a bit surprised when the credits came up!
When “Fargo” came out some of my fellow Yoopers were offended because they thought it was making fun of the way we talk here in da UP.
Hell, I always thought everybody talked like that… 😉
Then out came “Escanaba in da Moonlight” (hilarious comedy about deer camp in da UP) and they were offended because they thought it was making fun of us being a bit crazy.
Hell, I always thought everybody acted like that… :^)
Best movie in a long while – so good I couldn’t get out of my seat to go for a popcorn refill.
Yoop, Interesting – As it happens I’m now reading “Running Dark” by Joseph Heywood – all about youse Yoopers.
Never heard of this movie but gotta see it. Loved Fargo — being from Northern Michigan – you betcha, eh!
Hey Yoop — where ya from?
If you guys liked that one, definitely pick up the movie Snatch. It’s a Guy Ritchie.
Seen it close to a million times and I still laugh my ass off…
Posted by: Orlin at December 18, 2007 3:58 PM
“Hey Yoop — where ya from?”
In da woods, on my 130 acres. Ontonagon county.
Wolves, bears, coyotes, eagles and one v-e-r-y
s-l-o-w dialup… 😉
Need some deer over your way. Take some… PLEASE!
They haven’t migrated to the yards yet. Fifteen in the backyard eating all the bird seed and the shrubs, right under the picture window!!!
Might have to put them through dat wood chipper like in Fargo. Serve em right, eh!
Posted by: JR at December 18, 2007 2:33 PM
“Yoop, Interesting – As it happens I’m now reading “Running Dark” by Joseph Heywood – all about youse Yoopers.”
Eh… someone else mentioned that one also. I’ll have to look for it in a bookstore next time I get near a town that actually has one. Thanks for the tip.
Like that “youse”. Actually, very accurate.
My favorite one I picked up in Calumet over 40 years ago:
“You say where youse be an I’ll come where youse too.”
Well, fantastic movie made from absolutely phenomenal literature. Cormac MacCarthy’s writing has become to me like crack to the crackhead….Ican’t stop reading him.
Everyone must read his latest, “The Road”. Last paragraph is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever read.
The Coen Bros are the best in America. This was a great film. Belongs up there with O Brother, Big Liebowski, Intolerable Cruelty, Fargo, and Miller’s Crossing.
But other readers be warned. It’s extremely violent. For me, my favourite bit of movie was the first 20 minutes or so when Lewellyn is in the desert both in day and night. I think they’ll win best cinemetograpy just for that. After that, my poor sensitive soul was hit maybe a bit too hard.
Not a tough prairie gal, I guess, just a latte-sipping West Coaster. Ah well.
I saw that movie and the main character was a chilling crazy. A unique and scary person.
I was most impressed with the accurate depiction of the rural or small town Texan culture and ways of expressing themselves. The language was right on.
I have know a few Texans and been there.
The horrors of the drug culture was pretty stark as well.
Yes, I agree a great movie.
I saw it last week at my daughter’s recommendation. It’s a gem. Tommy Lee Jones’ character gets missed at first viewing in my opinion which mades me want to see it again when it comes out on DVD.
The villian is so bilious. The scene where he was toying with the gas station owner with the coin flip captured pure evil like no other.
Just want to add the film was filmed mainly in New Mexico, my old state, I recognized the old historic hotel in Las Vegas(NM), I’ve eaten there driving back from Denver. The motel at the end is in Alburquerque. In spite of that, it had the look and feel of the Texas panhandle to me.
After you see a Coen brother’s movie it makes you reflect on the mountain of slop that Hollywood puts out. Who cares if their writer’s strike ever ends. Who would notice.
That gas station scene is going to go down as a classic film moment.
Yup. Snow snakes and Norska, that’s ND all over.
I thought Fargo was most gruesome but also one of the funniest movies I’ve ever seen. Usually I hate that kind of stuff but the people were so humanly inept, for some reason, it lost that hard-hitting realism that makes me cover my face at the bad parts.
I was in Florida a few years after it originally aired and they had a video “Box Set” on sale complete with Walt Disney type figures, wood chipper and blood covered snow. It gave me a chuckle, and now wish I’d bought the darn thing – probably a collector’s item.
For the record, also loved “Oh Brother” and “Miller’s Crossing”. Didn’t get “The Big Lebowski” (but my husband watched it countless times. Didn’t see Intolerable Cruelty.
A lot of people in that movie died. Most, if not all who died were dishonest or disrespectful. A few people in that movie lived by luck. Those who lived not by luck were honest in their dealings, careful with their words, and understood the extent to which they were carried along by processes beyond their control.
This movie ended the way it would in the real world. Sure the hero and villain in a climatic life and death struggle with the hero emerging as victor is what our soul desires. But that outcome does not always reflect reality. That is what the film meant to me. Academy Award perhaps?
I don’t think that I’ve ever seen a movie that was so true to the original novel, as NCFOM.
For an actor, who in real life doesn’t know how to drive a car, Javier Bardem sure portrayed a memorable villain well. Saw him and Josh Brolin interviewed on a talk show. Brolin was quick witted and intelligent but Javier seemed like one of those empty vessel actors that don’t have much of interest to say until they have the words passed to them.
Might not be a really popular movie with those still working on the first half of their lives. I read a review on a cinema website written by a 25 year old. “It was a great movie except I was talking to my friend and missed the last line, then the screen went black. And I asked my friend, hey what the hell happened there, is it over?”
The Coen brothers have done it again. NCFOM is a great movie. I too compared it with Fargo, in its seriousness, violence and its use of oddly familiar and comfortable secondary characters. But to me NCFOM has a somewhat deeper message.
As I understand, Javier Bardem (Anton) chooses his roles carefully to keep them diverse. I think we’ll be seeing a lot more of him now, thanks to this movie.
Yep, it’s a great movie, but its greatness comes from Cormac McCarthy, not the Coenheads. Most any level-headed movie producer could have made a great movie by remaining faithful to his novel. All they had to do was make a commitment to accurately portraying the images McCarthy created.
” The only film I’ve ever seen that accurately[2] depicts winter on the northern plains.”
Don’t know of the Coens or their screen writer had experience but the book’s author spent a tour of duty in Alaska…he has empathy with northern winters no doubt.
I still can’t believe that Fargo lost out to The English Patient at the Oscars. The former is a rare gem of a film, with a brilliant score, phenomenal acting, a great script and a consistent feel throughout. The latter is sentimental bullshit.
I saw the film over the weekend and thought it was fantastic, and that it’s worth watching just for the incredible cinematography (which was only emphasized by the lack of soundtrack music). I gotta admit I wasn’t crazy about the open, unresolved ending, but indeed such a wrap-up does reflect life and the underlying currents of the film. And, it’s worth noting that this is one of the rare Coen Bros films that takes place in a rural/small town setting and dosen’t take time out to mock the locals. I actually forgot that they were responsible for the film and was a bit surprised when the credits came up!
When “Fargo” came out some of my fellow Yoopers were offended because they thought it was making fun of the way we talk here in da UP.
Hell, I always thought everybody talked like that… 😉
Then out came “Escanaba in da Moonlight” (hilarious comedy about deer camp in da UP) and they were offended because they thought it was making fun of us being a bit crazy.
Hell, I always thought everybody acted like that… :^)
Best movie in a long while – so good I couldn’t get out of my seat to go for a popcorn refill.
Yoop, Interesting – As it happens I’m now reading “Running Dark” by Joseph Heywood – all about youse Yoopers.
Never heard of this movie but gotta see it. Loved Fargo — being from Northern Michigan – you betcha, eh!
Hey Yoop — where ya from?
If you guys liked that one, definitely pick up the movie Snatch. It’s a Guy Ritchie.
Seen it close to a million times and I still laugh my ass off…
Posted by: Orlin at December 18, 2007 3:58 PM
“Hey Yoop — where ya from?”
In da woods, on my 130 acres. Ontonagon county.
Wolves, bears, coyotes, eagles and one v-e-r-y
s-l-o-w dialup… 😉
Need some deer over your way. Take some… PLEASE!
They haven’t migrated to the yards yet. Fifteen in the backyard eating all the bird seed and the shrubs, right under the picture window!!!
Might have to put them through dat wood chipper like in Fargo. Serve em right, eh!
Posted by: JR at December 18, 2007 2:33 PM
“Yoop, Interesting – As it happens I’m now reading “Running Dark” by Joseph Heywood – all about youse Yoopers.”
Eh… someone else mentioned that one also. I’ll have to look for it in a bookstore next time I get near a town that actually has one. Thanks for the tip.
Like that “youse”. Actually, very accurate.
My favorite one I picked up in Calumet over 40 years ago:
“You say where youse be an I’ll come where youse too.”
Well, fantastic movie made from absolutely phenomenal literature. Cormac MacCarthy’s writing has become to me like crack to the crackhead….Ican’t stop reading him.
Everyone must read his latest, “The Road”. Last paragraph is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever read.