Comments on: ‘No Country for Old Men’: The status of Moss http://www.ericdsnider.com/blog/2008/01/02/no-country-for-old-men-the-status-of-moss/ Eric D. Snider's blog. Fri, 18 May 2012 02:42:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Beestingz http://www.ericdsnider.com/blog/2008/01/02/no-country-for-old-men-the-status-of-moss/comment-page-1/#comment-517270 Beestingz Sat, 07 Apr 2012 00:46:50 +0000 http://www.ericdsnider.com/blog/2008/01/02/no-country-for-old-men-the-status-of-moss/#comment-517270 Ok, I don't know whether these posts from people claiming that Moss is still alive and a sequel is both required and imminent are from trolls having a laugh or not, but I have a theory forming and I am sad to think I am posting much too late to get a response from any of the Moss Lives crew: Just an informal poll, from those who think that Moss is alive, are you a Christian? Just think it would be interesting to know. Thanks everyone! Ok, I don’t know whether these posts from people claiming that Moss is still alive and a sequel is both required and imminent are from trolls having a laugh or not, but I have a theory forming and I am sad to think I am posting much too late to get a response from any of the Moss Lives crew: Just an informal poll, from those who think that Moss is alive, are you a Christian? Just think it would be interesting to know.

Thanks everyone!

]]> By: Angel http://www.ericdsnider.com/blog/2008/01/02/no-country-for-old-men-the-status-of-moss/comment-page-1/#comment-209939 Angel Thu, 07 Jan 2010 00:42:45 +0000 http://www.ericdsnider.com/blog/2008/01/02/no-country-for-old-men-the-status-of-moss/#comment-209939 i have read through all of your blogs. I have read the book and seen the movie. I agree with all of your analysis. I just wanted to add my two cents. i haven't read most of the responses so sorry if there is repitition. The book deals with Moss's death much less awkwardly. That girl he meets at the pool and him spend much more time together than the movie indicates (they appear to spend days together). It is in this time together that we get incite into the themes of the story. Moss and the girl drink beer together and get a little tipsy. They almost have an affair but Moss stops her because he doesn't want to cheat on his wife. He then tells her sort of sternly (she is like a drugged out runaway in the book that he is kind of like an older brother), I am paraphrasing: life is what it is... There is nothing else other than what you experience and wishful thinking is a poor way to confront lifes problems. To me this indicates the author feels we are ignoring our real situation. I think this whole scene that is not in the movie is important for a few reasons. One is that it show Moss's mistake in taking the money. He thought he found an easy way out and it has cost him everything. He should have left the money and kept working hard in his life. Moss seems to know this and we garner a deeper sympathy for him. I believe this also explains the dreams Sherrif Bell has at the end. One dream is about money but he readily forgets about it and seems unoccupied with the idea of money. The other dream is about real experiences (being cold) and dealing with them. Second, I think the fact that he spends considerable time with the girl leaves open many more possibilities for how Chigur came into the room. For instance, what if Chigur came in one of the many nights that Moss was at that hotel waiting for his wife and hanging out with the girl? Maybe Moss and Chigur had a similar scenario where they could both see each other in the key hole and this occurred on some other night than when the Sherriff was there. Moss would have known to run and the Sherriff, being so smart and aware, also figured out what had occurred and was thus imagining it as if it were real. So mainly, although I totally agree that Chigur was not there (it would be a really bad scene if he were and the Sherriff was acting so cavalier), I think it was less the Sherriff imagining something that did not happen and more him playing in his mind what occurred in the past while Moss was still alive. I read the ending chapters of the book a few times, and this was a while ago, but I still don't think it is all meant to be 100% clear. I really love this story. i have read through all of your blogs. I have read the book and seen the movie. I agree with all of your analysis. I just wanted to add my two cents. i haven’t read most of the responses so sorry if there is repitition. The book deals with Moss’s death much less awkwardly. That girl he meets at the pool and him spend much more time together than the movie indicates (they appear to spend days together). It is in this time together that we get incite into the themes of the story. Moss and the girl drink beer together and get a little tipsy. They almost have an affair but Moss stops her because he doesn’t want to cheat on his wife. He then tells her sort of sternly (she is like a drugged out runaway in the book that he is kind of like an older brother), I am paraphrasing: life is what it is… There is nothing else other than what you experience and wishful thinking is a poor way to confront lifes problems. To me this indicates the author feels we are ignoring our real situation. I think this whole scene that is not in the movie is important for a few reasons. One is that it show Moss’s mistake in taking the money. He thought he found an easy way out and it has cost him everything. He should have left the money and kept working hard in his life. Moss seems to know this and we garner a deeper sympathy for him. I believe this also explains the dreams Sherrif Bell has at the end. One dream is about money but he readily forgets about it and seems unoccupied with the idea of money. The other dream is about real experiences (being cold) and dealing with them. Second, I think the fact that he spends considerable time with the girl leaves open many more possibilities for how Chigur came into the room. For instance, what if Chigur came in one of the many nights that Moss was at that hotel waiting for his wife and hanging out with the girl? Maybe Moss and Chigur had a similar scenario where they could both see each other in the key hole and this occurred on some other night than when the Sherriff was there. Moss would have known to run and the Sherriff, being so smart and aware, also figured out what had occurred and was thus imagining it as if it were real. So mainly, although I totally agree that Chigur was not there (it would be a really bad scene if he were and the Sherriff was acting so cavalier), I think it was less the Sherriff imagining something that did not happen and more him playing in his mind what occurred in the past while Moss was still alive. I read the ending chapters of the book a few times, and this was a while ago, but I still don’t think it is all meant to be 100% clear. I really love this story.

]]> By: HOPE!! http://www.ericdsnider.com/blog/2008/01/02/no-country-for-old-men-the-status-of-moss/comment-page-1/#comment-202597 HOPE!! Fri, 04 Sep 2009 23:47:03 +0000 http://www.ericdsnider.com/blog/2008/01/02/no-country-for-old-men-the-status-of-moss/#comment-202597 I really love this movie. It keeps you at the edge of your edge the whole way through. When you think Moss is safe and will live and get away with the money. . . guess again, he dies. The element of surprise and entertainment is this movie. I hope there will be a sequel just cuz the movie was so well put together. The killer is still alive and in my opinion he was the story of the movie. . . not Tommy Lee Jone's character, His character was simply an old confuse sherriff waiting to retire. What happen to the money? wasnt that the cause of the killings.. Im pretty sure I saw the killer leave empty handed at his closing scene. And too, it seems alot of the criminals in the film knew who he was. That can be something the writers can add to. I really love this movie. It keeps you at the edge of your edge the whole way through. When you think Moss is safe and will live and get away with the money. . . guess again, he dies. The element of surprise and entertainment is this movie. I hope there will be a sequel just cuz the movie was so well put together. The killer is still alive and in my opinion he was the story of the movie. . . not Tommy Lee Jone’s character, His character was simply an old confuse sherriff waiting to retire.
What happen to the money? wasnt that the cause of the killings.. Im pretty sure I saw the killer leave empty handed at his closing scene. And too, it seems alot of the criminals in the film knew who he was. That can be something the writers can add to.

]]> By: Deborah http://www.ericdsnider.com/blog/2008/01/02/no-country-for-old-men-the-status-of-moss/comment-page-1/#comment-176670 Deborah Wed, 21 Jan 2009 16:50:22 +0000 http://www.ericdsnider.com/blog/2008/01/02/no-country-for-old-men-the-status-of-moss/#comment-176670 I just loved to read all these comments and I THANK GOD that still there are people who truly love and understand movies. I hate sequels, and the only reason ppl would want one, its cause they feel like the story didnt end. I loved every part of it and everytime I watch, I understand something new. Actually I never thought about Anton's particularity with blood, like Samuel said. So there's still a lot to learn in the movie, the details and everything. Those who wants a sequel should watch it over and over, believe me, it will feel like a sequel.One of the best parts is the first coin toss, where he tells the oldman not to put the coin on his pocket cause it would become a simple coin...please notice the freaking crazy scary face he makes....makes me laugh cause he have no idea how deranged he is...and what he is saying is scaring the hell out of our little old fella.... Thanks for everyone who posted. I just loved to read all these comments and I THANK GOD that still there are people who truly love and understand movies. I hate sequels, and the only reason ppl would want one, its cause they feel like the story didnt end. I loved every part of it and everytime I watch, I understand something new. Actually I never thought about Anton’s particularity with blood, like Samuel said. So there’s still a lot to learn in the movie, the details and everything. Those who wants a sequel should watch it over and over, believe me, it will feel like a sequel.One of the best parts is the first coin toss, where he tells the oldman not to put the coin on his pocket cause it would become a simple coin…please notice the freaking crazy scary face he makes….makes me laugh cause he have no idea how deranged he is…and what he is saying is scaring the hell out of our little old fella….

Thanks for everyone who posted.

]]> By: Simon http://www.ericdsnider.com/blog/2008/01/02/no-country-for-old-men-the-status-of-moss/comment-page-1/#comment-163227 Simon Sat, 04 Oct 2008 08:38:22 +0000 http://www.ericdsnider.com/blog/2008/01/02/no-country-for-old-men-the-status-of-moss/#comment-163227 i realise my comment is about 4 months too late, but i just had to contribute. there is no way there is going to be a sequel (certainly not one involving the coen brothers or cormac mccarthy). These are a couple of the most enigmatic filmmakers/writers ever, so they would never approve. secondly, and this may be frank, and even a bit aggressive, anyone who thinks this film is incomplete, or only half-finished, clearly does not understand the film. they have grossly misinterpreted the themes of the film (the randomness of fate; the inevitability of death to name just a couple), which are common in most of the Coen Brothers work. all you people complaining about an unfinished movie are undeserving of this genius film. i realise my comment is about 4 months too late, but i just had to contribute.

there is no way there is going to be a sequel (certainly not one involving the coen brothers or cormac mccarthy). These are a couple of the most enigmatic filmmakers/writers ever, so they would never approve.

secondly, and this may be frank, and even a bit aggressive, anyone who thinks this film is incomplete, or only half-finished, clearly does not understand the film.

they have grossly misinterpreted the themes of the film (the randomness of fate; the inevitability of death to name just a couple), which are common in most of the Coen Brothers work.

all you people complaining about an unfinished movie are undeserving of this genius film.

]]> By: Mot59 http://www.ericdsnider.com/blog/2008/01/02/no-country-for-old-men-the-status-of-moss/comment-page-1/#comment-140559 Mot59 Fri, 30 May 2008 12:30:48 +0000 http://www.ericdsnider.com/blog/2008/01/02/no-country-for-old-men-the-status-of-moss/#comment-140559 We are enlightened.....lol I'm still not so sure even after watching it twice they won't sequel that character. Maybe another completely different script , but using the same murderous character. WHY NOT? Car crash could represent more than mc carthyism. It could be a scene to keep the character in limbo , which might or might not include a sequel. My guess is no, the movie didn't gross 200-300mil or you would bet the ranch on it. We are enlightened…..lol

I’m still not so sure even after watching it twice they won’t sequel that character. Maybe another completely different script , but using the same murderous character.

WHY NOT?

Car crash could represent more than mc carthyism. It could be a scene to keep the character in limbo , which might or might not include a sequel.

My guess is no, the movie didn’t gross 200-300mil or you would bet the ranch on it.

]]> By: Samuel http://www.ericdsnider.com/blog/2008/01/02/no-country-for-old-men-the-status-of-moss/comment-page-1/#comment-137903 Samuel Tue, 20 May 2008 11:51:03 +0000 http://www.ericdsnider.com/blog/2008/01/02/no-country-for-old-men-the-status-of-moss/#comment-137903 i'm going to be both gruff and blunt when it comes to a lot of facts surrounding No Country For Old Men. i own both the film and the book, and have enjoyed both, many times since their release. some facts: Llewelyn Moss is dead. He was killed by the Mexican drug dealers Posse. this is fact, so please listen to this. A mexican in a suit approached Carla Jean and her sick Mother at the airport; remember. They were heading to Llewelyn. The mexican simply asked where they were going, offered to help them, AND GOT THERE FIRST!!!!!!!!!!. can anyone not remember the mexican truck speeding away from the scene. not to mention some of the dead mexicans Llewelyn had killed in the unseen fire fight. DUUUUH. what gets confusing is that, even I, enitially thought Chigurh killed Llewelyn, even after reading the book. i had to give everything a second review. Chigurh was not there during the fire-fight. he caught up, long after Llewelyn was killed. heres another point where you have to be attentive. remember in the first motel scene where Chigurh kills the mexicans. he notices drag marks in the vent. SO, after stumbling accross the place where Llewelyn was killed, he checked the place that the money would most likely have been stashed. THE FREAKING VENT. thats why there was a coin in the room when sheriff bell revisited the scene. REMEMBER, Chigurh used a coin to open the vent in the first motel too. Chigurh got the cash. NOTICE WHEN HE GAVE THE KID A $100 BILL AT THE END!!!!!. Carla Jean was also killed, AND NOOOOOO, she was not in the car. just pause the freaking DVD to see that its some random freaking middle aged man that in NOOOOO way resembles any of the characters otherwise seen or explored during the film or book!!!. okay. sigh. So yes, Carla Jean's death. Anton killed her. he is very particular about blood. he pushed the curtain across a man to avoid spray; lifts his feet on a bed in another scene. places a plastic sheet down on the floor when he operates on himself; he disposes of potentially contaminated socks in another scene. after he exits Carla's home. did you notice that HE CHECKS HIS BOOTS. he was looking for blood. he freaking killed her. so thats that. the car was a random event. pure McCarthy madness. it insists that not even the most invincible, evil human being. someone who is a symbolic decider of fate, is free from fate itself. hence a random, horrible crash for poor old anton. i hope that enlightens some people. i’m going to be both gruff and blunt when it comes to a lot of facts surrounding No Country For Old Men. i own both the film and the book, and have enjoyed both, many times since their release.

some facts:

Llewelyn Moss is dead. He was killed by the Mexican drug dealers Posse. this is fact, so please listen to this. A mexican in a suit approached Carla Jean and her sick Mother at the airport; remember. They were heading to Llewelyn. The mexican simply asked where they were going, offered to help them, AND GOT THERE FIRST!!!!!!!!!!. can anyone not remember the mexican truck speeding away from the scene. not to mention some of the dead mexicans Llewelyn had killed in the unseen fire fight. DUUUUH.

what gets confusing is that, even I, enitially thought Chigurh killed Llewelyn, even after reading the book. i had to give everything a second review.
Chigurh was not there during the fire-fight. he caught up, long after Llewelyn was killed. heres another point where you have to be attentive. remember in the first motel scene where Chigurh kills the mexicans. he notices drag marks in the vent.
SO, after stumbling accross the place where Llewelyn was killed, he checked the place that the money would most likely have been stashed. THE FREAKING VENT.
thats why there was a coin in the room when sheriff bell revisited the scene. REMEMBER, Chigurh used a coin to open the vent in the first motel too.
Chigurh got the cash. NOTICE WHEN HE GAVE THE KID A $100 BILL AT THE END!!!!!.

Carla Jean was also killed, AND NOOOOOO, she was not in the car. just pause the freaking DVD to see that its some random freaking middle aged man that in NOOOOO way resembles any of the characters otherwise seen or explored during the film or book!!!.
okay. sigh. So yes, Carla Jean’s death. Anton killed her. he is very particular about blood. he pushed the curtain across a man to avoid spray; lifts his feet on a bed in another scene. places a plastic sheet down on the floor when he operates on himself; he disposes of potentially contaminated socks in another scene.
after he exits Carla’s home. did you notice that HE CHECKS HIS BOOTS. he was looking for blood. he freaking killed her. so thats that.

the car was a random event. pure McCarthy madness. it insists that not even the most invincible, evil human being. someone who is a symbolic decider of fate, is free from fate itself. hence a random, horrible crash for poor old anton.

i hope that enlightens some people.

]]> By: Mot59 http://www.ericdsnider.com/blog/2008/01/02/no-country-for-old-men-the-status-of-moss/comment-page-1/#comment-119950 Mot59 Tue, 08 Apr 2008 15:00:58 +0000 http://www.ericdsnider.com/blog/2008/01/02/no-country-for-old-men-the-status-of-moss/#comment-119950 Sarah, I have a 100million$ reasons why it "MIGHT" not be ridiculous to speculate about a sequel. It's always about money and if a new director decides it and gets backing (if the Coens say -no-) they will have an easy script to write. Way too many loose ends. I need to watch it once more to decide, first time, I could not hit pause and collect my thoughts (get a drink) now I can. :-) Like Doug mentions plenty of ammo to do another. That's absurd to think because a movie that grossed 74.1 mil it can't be sequeled. This movie is a thought provoker way more than a GREAT movie. GREAT movies do 200mil. This movie is a GREAT provker of thought, for sure! Sarah,

I have a 100million$ reasons why it “MIGHT” not be ridiculous to speculate about a sequel.
It’s always about money and if a new director decides it and gets backing (if the Coens say -no-) they will have an easy script to write.

Way too many loose ends.

I need to watch it once more to decide, first time, I could not hit pause and collect my thoughts (get a drink) now I can. :-)

Like Doug mentions plenty of ammo to do another. That’s absurd to think because a movie that grossed 74.1 mil it can’t be sequeled. This movie is a thought provoker way more than a GREAT movie. GREAT movies do 200mil.

This movie is a GREAT provker of thought, for sure!

]]> By: Doug http://www.ericdsnider.com/blog/2008/01/02/no-country-for-old-men-the-status-of-moss/comment-page-1/#comment-114270 Doug Wed, 26 Mar 2008 06:06:46 +0000 http://www.ericdsnider.com/blog/2008/01/02/no-country-for-old-men-the-status-of-moss/#comment-114270 No. I can't believe people can't see what is going on here. Moss is injured, again, but not killed. The Sheriff never tells Moss' wife that Moss is dead. Watch it again and see. We see him lying on the floor, sure enough. We see the Sherif in the morgue, but no close up of the body. So the Sheriff helps Moss fake his death to protect him. Moss' wife tells the Chigurh that she buried her mother. And that she has lost everything. But she does not mention losing her husband. Odd. So why not bury Moss also? That whole scene was a dead give away for a sequel. Moss' wife is not dead either. In fact, she is the one who slammed into him with the station wagon. See, Chigurh has figured out that Moss is not really dead and so that was his real motivation for visiting her. Have you guys never seen Kill Bill Volume 1 and 2? The way that movie back tracked and filled in detail. That's all that is going on here in this movie. There are way too many unanswered questions in this movie for it to be over. It is only half over. No. I can’t believe people can’t see what is going on here.

Moss is injured, again, but not killed. The Sheriff never tells Moss’ wife that Moss is dead. Watch it again and see.

We see him lying on the floor, sure enough. We see the Sherif in the morgue, but no close up of the body.

So the Sheriff helps Moss fake his death to protect him.

Moss’ wife tells the Chigurh that she buried her mother. And that she has lost everything. But she does not mention losing her husband. Odd. So why not bury Moss also? That whole scene was a dead give away for a sequel.

Moss’ wife is not dead either. In fact, she is the one who slammed into him with the station wagon.

See, Chigurh has figured out that Moss is not really dead and so that was his real motivation for visiting her.

Have you guys never seen Kill Bill Volume 1 and 2? The way that movie back tracked and filled in detail. That’s all that is going on here in this movie.

There are way too many unanswered questions in this movie for it to be over. It is only half over.

]]> By: Dutch http://www.ericdsnider.com/blog/2008/01/02/no-country-for-old-men-the-status-of-moss/comment-page-1/#comment-112097 Dutch Sun, 16 Mar 2008 02:15:28 +0000 http://www.ericdsnider.com/blog/2008/01/02/no-country-for-old-men-the-status-of-moss/#comment-112097 The old feller at the end of the movie is Barry Corbin. You might remember him from "Lonesome Dove" or "Southern Exposure". The old feller at the end of the movie is Barry Corbin. You might remember him from “Lonesome Dove” or “Southern Exposure”.

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