Comments on: ‘No Country for Old Men’: Bell and Chigurh and the motel room http://www.ericdsnider.com/blog/2008/01/07/no-country-for-old-men-bell-and-chigurh-and-the-motel-room/ Eric D. Snider's blog. Fri, 05 Sep 2008 09:39:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: MW http://www.ericdsnider.com/blog/2008/01/07/no-country-for-old-men-bell-and-chigurh-and-the-motel-room/#comment-154220 MW Sat, 09 Aug 2008 03:49:24 +0000 http://www.ericdsnider.com/blog/2008/01/07/no-country-for-old-men-bell-and-chigurh-and-the-motel-room/#comment-154220 I just watched it for the first time. I think J$, above, might be right. Sherrif Moss's description of his dream, not being able to sleep, always beeing on the run, etc. seems to indicate the paranoia of having the money and knowing he'll be hunted for it. That and his retirement. Then there's always the chance that the lady at the motel took it before anyone arrived. "You know where beer leads..." I just watched it for the first time. I think J$, above, might be right.

Sherrif Moss’s description of his dream, not being able to sleep, always beeing on the run, etc. seems to indicate the paranoia of having the money and knowing he’ll be hunted for it. That and his retirement.

Then there’s always the chance that the lady at the motel took it before anyone arrived. “You know where beer leads…”

]]> By: J$ http://www.ericdsnider.com/blog/2008/01/07/no-country-for-old-men-bell-and-chigurh-and-the-motel-room/#comment-138627 J$ Thu, 22 May 2008 16:50:37 +0000 http://www.ericdsnider.com/blog/2008/01/07/no-country-for-old-men-bell-and-chigurh-and-the-motel-room/#comment-138627 Bell ends up with the money. The money was in the vent. There are two areas where the dust is parted which we know from earlier scenes is the sign the money bag was there. When Bell is having coffee with the other police guy he gets afraid at the descriptions of Chigurh's crimes, after coffee he is in a rush to recheck the crime scene to see if the evilness will now follow him, since he now has the money. He sees the locks blown out and knows that Chigurh has been there. He checks the place and sits on the bed, he then sees the vent opened and knows that Chigurh's knows that the money had been there, he then knows that he may figure out that Carla Jean had called him. This is why he puts his head in his hands. When visiting his uncle after all this there is a comment by the uncle in the conversation just after the "how many cats do you have .." thing where he says out of context - "I got it safe". I think the uncle is leery about Bell retiring because people may wonder where he got the money (since his wife still needs to work). God did not come into his life because he stole the money. He asks the uncle if he would shoot the guy that put him in the wheelchair to see if he would want revenge. Bell sees taking this money as revenge for the cruel world that has been created for old men and wants to justify it. The dream was him trying to deal with why he took the money. Bell ends up with the money. The money was in the vent. There are two areas where the dust is parted which we know from earlier scenes is the sign the money bag was there. When Bell is having coffee with the other police guy he gets afraid at the descriptions of Chigurh’s crimes, after coffee he is in a rush to recheck the crime scene to see if the evilness will now follow him, since he now has the money. He sees the locks blown out and knows that Chigurh has been there. He checks the place and sits on the bed, he then sees the vent opened and knows that Chigurh’s knows that the money had been there, he then knows that he may figure out that Carla Jean had called him. This is why he puts his head in his hands. When visiting his uncle after all this there is a comment by the uncle in the conversation just after the “how many cats do you have ..” thing where he says out of context - “I got it safe”. I think the uncle is leery about Bell retiring because people may wonder where he got the money (since his wife still needs to work). God did not come into his life because he stole the money. He asks the uncle if he would shoot the guy that put him in the wheelchair to see if he would want revenge. Bell sees taking this money as revenge for the cruel world that has been created for old men and wants to justify it. The dream was him trying to deal with why he took the money.

]]> By: Mike Bravo http://www.ericdsnider.com/blog/2008/01/07/no-country-for-old-men-bell-and-chigurh-and-the-motel-room/#comment-133275 Mike Bravo Thu, 08 May 2008 05:28:52 +0000 http://www.ericdsnider.com/blog/2008/01/07/no-country-for-old-men-bell-and-chigurh-and-the-motel-room/#comment-133275 Chigurh and Bell is/are the same man... Chigurh and Bell is/are the same man…

]]> By: AJ http://www.ericdsnider.com/blog/2008/01/07/no-country-for-old-men-bell-and-chigurh-and-the-motel-room/#comment-132993 AJ Wed, 07 May 2008 18:23:55 +0000 http://www.ericdsnider.com/blog/2008/01/07/no-country-for-old-men-bell-and-chigurh-and-the-motel-room/#comment-132993 Does anyone know what motel was used in the film at El Paso. Was it on Alameda Ave? Does anyone know what motel was used in the film at El Paso. Was it on Alameda Ave?

]]> By: JohnH http://www.ericdsnider.com/blog/2008/01/07/no-country-for-old-men-bell-and-chigurh-and-the-motel-room/#comment-123176 JohnH Wed, 16 Apr 2008 06:18:24 +0000 http://www.ericdsnider.com/blog/2008/01/07/no-country-for-old-men-bell-and-chigurh-and-the-motel-room/#comment-123176 The El Paso motel room scene possesses great ambiguity, yet we know instinctively that it has great significance, that in it lies the "key" to the film. That's why it has spawned much speculation, some entirely wild and totally unsubstantiated elsewhere in the film, i.e., that Sheriff Bell took the money earlier, that Bell and Chigurh were working together, that Chigurh may have been chased down by ambulance drivers. Come on. If the Coen Brothers had intended any of these wild, unsubstantiated possibilities, they would be bad film makers indeed. They're not. Outcomes must be the inexorable result of prior events and the actions of the characters must be consistent with their character as revealed earlier. What happens must result from the internal logic of the film or it is a bad film. Questions like "Could the money fit in the vent?" are interesting but entirely trivial. Is it really important whether the money was in the vent or whether Chigurh got it from there or at all? Not at all. This is not a caper movie. It's a movie about living in a world full of unpredictable danger, a world where "you can't see what's coming next," as the girl at the swimming pool tells Llewelyn right before they are both killed. As some have pointed out, Chigurh is like the living embodiment of this. He is like God or the Grim Reaper. And Sheriff Bell goes back to the room that night for only one reason--to confront Chigurh. He suspects he's there because right before that scene the local lawman reminds him that Chigurh has gone back to the scene of the crime before. What is important to ask is what makes Tommy Lee Jones so despairing at the end? What makes him quit sheriffing? What makes him visit his uncle who he hasn't seen in a long time and question him about what he would do if he encountered the man who shot him and talk of his disappointment in not finding God? What makes him dream of death at the end? Sheriff Bell has undergone an enormous emotional/spiritual change. He can no longer go on. What caused this? There are too possible theories. For the sake of my argument, assume that Chigurh is in the room when Sheriff Bell enters. The Coen brothers have gone to great pains to show us he's in there and that he didn't exit from the window. Chigurh hides under the bed or in the closet but doesn't emerge while Bell is there. Sheriff Bell leaves and the change that comes over him is merely because he finally has grown weary of the country that has become no place for old men, a world he no longer understands and no longer wants to be part of. We know that Chigurh is in the room hiding and he is lucky that he didn't kill him, but Sheriff Bell doesn't know that. It is a tense scene but otherwise hasn't much significance. It is a scene where something big almost happens but doesn't. But I think there is more depth there. I think the coin we see at the end of the scene is a clue. The camera stays on the coin for a long time--three seconds--before the scene ends. Why is it there? It's not there to show us Chigurh had been there. We and Sheriff Bell already know he was there because the lock was blown out by his bolt gun. We but not Sheriff Bell know he is still there because we saw him in two separate shots and we know the window is locked. What if the coin is there to remind us of the God-like choice he foisted on the store clerk earlier in the film and does later on to Carla Jean? Think about Chigurh's character. When elsewhere in the movie has Chigurh hid from anyone? Why should he suddenly do so here? He's God, the Grim Reaper. He has no fear. It doesn't make sense. The interpretation that works best for me, that answers all the questions I've asked above is that after Sheriff Bell holsters his pistol and sits on the bed, Chigurh emerges from the closet or from under the bed and has the drop on him. Like he has done before and will do again, Chigurh makes Bell call the coin toss. He is lucky and Chigurh lets him go. But he is shaken by his so close encounter with sure death and feels weak and helpless. He also feels ashamed because of his cowardice in submitting to Chigurh's test. (Only Carla Jean shows the courage to defy him and refuse to play his game.) That's why he no longer feels up to the job and quits. That's why he feels "overmatched." That's why he tells his uncle he thinks God has a low opinion of him. That's why he asks him what he would do if he encountered the guy who shot and paralyzed him. That's why he dreams of death at the end. The El Paso motel room scene possesses great ambiguity, yet we know instinctively that it has great significance, that in it lies the “key” to the film. That’s why it has spawned much speculation, some entirely wild and totally unsubstantiated elsewhere in the film, i.e., that Sheriff Bell took the money earlier, that Bell and Chigurh were working together, that Chigurh may have been chased down by ambulance drivers. Come on. If the Coen Brothers had intended any of these wild, unsubstantiated possibilities, they would be bad film makers indeed. They’re not. Outcomes must be the inexorable result of prior events and the actions of the characters must be consistent with their character as revealed earlier. What happens must result from the internal logic of the film or it is a bad film. Questions like “Could the money fit in the vent?” are interesting but entirely trivial. Is it really important whether the money was in the vent or whether Chigurh got it from there or at all? Not at all. This is not a caper movie. It’s a movie about living in a world full of unpredictable danger, a world where “you can’t see what’s coming next,” as the girl at the swimming pool tells Llewelyn right before they are both killed. As some have pointed out, Chigurh is like the living embodiment of this. He is like God or the Grim Reaper. And Sheriff Bell goes back to the room that night for only one reason–to confront Chigurh. He suspects he’s there because right before that scene the local lawman reminds him that Chigurh has gone back to the scene of the crime before.

What is important to ask is what makes Tommy Lee Jones so despairing at the end? What makes him quit sheriffing? What makes him visit his uncle who he hasn’t seen in a long time and question him about what he would do if he encountered the man who shot him and talk of his disappointment in not finding God? What makes him dream of death at the end? Sheriff Bell has undergone an enormous emotional/spiritual change. He can no longer go on. What caused this?

There are too possible theories. For the sake of my argument, assume that Chigurh is in the room when Sheriff Bell enters. The Coen brothers have gone to great pains to show us he’s in there and that he didn’t exit from the window. Chigurh hides under the bed or in the closet but doesn’t emerge while Bell is there. Sheriff Bell leaves and the change that comes over him is merely because he finally has grown weary of the country that has become no place for old men, a world he no longer understands and no longer wants to be part of. We know that Chigurh is in the room hiding and he is lucky that he didn’t kill him, but Sheriff Bell doesn’t know that. It is a tense scene but otherwise hasn’t much significance. It is a scene where something big almost happens but doesn’t.

But I think there is more depth there. I think the coin we see at the end of the scene is a clue. The camera stays on the coin for a long time–three seconds–before the scene ends. Why is it there? It’s not there to show us Chigurh had been there. We and Sheriff Bell already know he was there because the lock was blown out by his bolt gun. We but not Sheriff Bell know he is still there because we saw him in two separate shots and we know the window is locked. What if the coin is there to remind us of the God-like choice he foisted on the store clerk earlier in the film and does later on to Carla Jean? Think about Chigurh’s character. When elsewhere in the movie has Chigurh hid from anyone? Why should he suddenly do so here? He’s God, the Grim Reaper. He has no fear. It doesn’t make sense.

The interpretation that works best for me, that answers all the questions I’ve asked above is that after Sheriff Bell holsters his pistol and sits on the bed, Chigurh emerges from the closet or from under the bed and has the drop on him. Like he has done before and will do again, Chigurh makes Bell call the coin toss. He is lucky and Chigurh lets him go. But he is shaken by his so close encounter with sure death and feels weak and helpless. He also feels ashamed because of his cowardice in submitting to Chigurh’s test. (Only Carla Jean shows the courage to defy him and refuse to play his game.) That’s why he no longer feels up to the job and quits. That’s why he feels “overmatched.” That’s why he tells his uncle he thinks God has a low opinion of him. That’s why he asks him what he would do if he encountered the guy who shot and paralyzed him. That’s why he dreams of death at the end.

]]> By: mike0 http://www.ericdsnider.com/blog/2008/01/07/no-country-for-old-men-bell-and-chigurh-and-the-motel-room/#comment-122629 mike0 Mon, 14 Apr 2008 15:43:52 +0000 http://www.ericdsnider.com/blog/2008/01/07/no-country-for-old-men-bell-and-chigurh-and-the-motel-room/#comment-122629 My theory is that Bell and Chighur were working together. They split the money and that is why Bell could retire. Chighur was the type of person that would not work on his own, but may have struck a deal with the Sheriff who saw his chance to get out. My theory is that Bell and Chighur were working together. They split the money and that is why Bell could retire. Chighur was the type of person that would not work on his own, but may have struck a deal with the Sheriff who saw his chance to get out.

]]> By: Chandani http://www.ericdsnider.com/blog/2008/01/07/no-country-for-old-men-bell-and-chigurh-and-the-motel-room/#comment-118935 Chandani Mon, 07 Apr 2008 01:46:22 +0000 http://www.ericdsnider.com/blog/2008/01/07/no-country-for-old-men-bell-and-chigurh-and-the-motel-room/#comment-118935 One of my BIGGEST questions is how did Moss know FOR SURE there was $2 million dollars - he couldn't have counted it or he would have found the transponder earlier - no? I don't think Bell could have possibly made any "deal" with Chighur (for the money) - remember the conversation in hospital "No, you DON'T understand - he doesn't make DEALS". I'm more confused now than when I started trying to analyze this film!! One of my BIGGEST questions is how did Moss know FOR SURE there was $2 million dollars - he couldn’t have counted it or he would have found the transponder earlier - no?

I don’t think Bell could have possibly made any “deal” with Chighur (for the money) - remember the conversation in hospital “No, you DON’T understand - he doesn’t make DEALS”.

I’m more confused now than when I started trying to analyze this film!!

]]> By: Chandani http://www.ericdsnider.com/blog/2008/01/07/no-country-for-old-men-bell-and-chigurh-and-the-motel-room/#comment-118863 Chandani Sun, 06 Apr 2008 19:24:09 +0000 http://www.ericdsnider.com/blog/2008/01/07/no-country-for-old-men-bell-and-chigurh-and-the-motel-room/#comment-118863 My theory is that Chighur LOOKED in the vent, but didn't find the money - it wasn't large enough to house the satchel. I think the Mexicans got it, which is why they were shooting their way out of the crime scene - they would shoot anyone who came near their vehicle because they HAD the money (maybe Moss hid it elsewhere in the room). Whether Chighur was REALLY in the room or not - I go for the "all in Sheriff Bell's imagination" - Chighur HAD been there, but left. The mother? - she died later, of "the cancer" - remember her complaining about having "the cancer". Chighur killed the wife because her husband tried to save the money rather than his wife's life - he had to make that point; he had to win - it was in his psychopathic makeup. Another theory is that perhaps Sheriff Bell DID somehow get the money and knew that Chighur KNEW he had the money - which is why he wanted to know what TIME of day/night did his father die. He was afraid of his own death - which is why he imagined Chighur behind the door - it was the reason for his "dreams" too - the money his father "lose" was metaphorical for Sheriff Bell having FOUND the money. But he also knew he would have to "pay" (with his life) for double-crossing Chighur, so he saw his father "lighting the way" to his death My theory is that Chighur LOOKED in the vent, but didn’t find the money - it wasn’t large enough to house the satchel. I think the Mexicans got it, which is why they were shooting their way out of the crime scene - they would shoot anyone who came near their vehicle because they HAD the money (maybe Moss hid it elsewhere in the room). Whether Chighur was REALLY in the room or not - I go for the “all in Sheriff Bell’s imagination” - Chighur HAD been there, but left. The mother? - she died later, of “the cancer” - remember her complaining about having “the cancer”. Chighur killed the wife because her husband tried to save the money rather than his wife’s life - he had to make that point; he had to win - it was in his psychopathic makeup.

Another theory is that perhaps Sheriff Bell DID somehow get the money and knew that Chighur KNEW he had the money - which is why he wanted to know what TIME of day/night did his father die. He was afraid of his own death - which is why he imagined Chighur behind the door - it was the reason for his “dreams” too - the money his father “lose” was metaphorical for Sheriff Bell having FOUND the money. But he also knew he would have to “pay” (with his life) for double-crossing Chighur, so he saw his father “lighting the way” to his death

]]> By: poppyseed http://www.ericdsnider.com/blog/2008/01/07/no-country-for-old-men-bell-and-chigurh-and-the-motel-room/#comment-118696 poppyseed Sun, 06 Apr 2008 03:03:29 +0000 http://www.ericdsnider.com/blog/2008/01/07/no-country-for-old-men-bell-and-chigurh-and-the-motel-room/#comment-118696 Hi am I the only one here who thinks it was totally ludicrous to think that Moss would have returned to the drug deal gone bad scene, to deliver water to the guy that was most likely going to be dead before he got there???? Hi am I the only one here who thinks it was totally ludicrous to think that Moss would have returned to the drug deal gone bad scene, to deliver water to the guy that was most likely going to be dead before he got there????

]]> By: Gladys W. http://www.ericdsnider.com/blog/2008/01/07/no-country-for-old-men-bell-and-chigurh-and-the-motel-room/#comment-114287 Gladys W. Wed, 26 Mar 2008 07:03:52 +0000 http://www.ericdsnider.com/blog/2008/01/07/no-country-for-old-men-bell-and-chigurh-and-the-motel-room/#comment-114287 Did Moss really retrieve the money? I must have missed that crucial one then...didn't even remember anything of the sort...thanks for the clarification! watching the movie again.. Did Moss really retrieve the money? I must have missed that crucial one then…didn’t even remember anything of the sort…thanks for the clarification! watching the movie again..

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