Yeah, so TTG made me watch this film the other night. It was ok, but man, it was VIOLENT.
I watched it because I rather like Tommy Lee Jones. His films are usually hits with me.
It’s not that NCFOM was bad exactly, but I went through the entire film thinking, what the fuck?
And the ending? Absolute crock of shite.
Javier Bardem totally deserved his Oscar though, he totally scared the shit out of me. He had serial killer written all over him.
Anybody else seen it?
Nora Roberts
June 20
11:19 am
Huge Coen Brothers fan here. HUGE. And so is my husband. Also big TLJ fan.
And we both were WTF with this movie.
On the other hand, my son loved it.
Scott
June 20
11:39 am
I thought it was pretty good. I knew it was going to be violent from the start, so it didn’t surprise me. I have heard that the book is even MORE violent then the film. Not the greatest thing I have seen, but still worthy of it’s praise.
And is it just me, or did Woody Harrelson’s performance in this movie prove that he can act or what? I was rather impressed with his all too small role.
sula
June 20
12:57 pm
Haven’t seen it and since it’s violent and scary, I won’t be seeing it. That kind of stuff just doesn’t cut it for me, no matter how great the storytelling. I can’t scrub the visual images later on. My BF netflixed it and liked it though.
Shiloh Walker
June 20
1:14 pm
I loved Tommy Lee Jones. Don’t so much mind violence, but I’m getting tired of movies that leave going… WTF?
Like…oh, say… THE MIST. Just watched that last week and I’m STILL wondering why I bothered.
So, not in the mood for another any time soon. Probably won’t mess with this one. 😐
Ghetto Diva
June 20
1:20 pm
I’ve seen it. Javier was awesome in his role. I’m interested to see what his next movie role would be.
Shreela
June 20
1:49 pm
It reminded me of my second literature class when the professor made try to figure out the author’s message (theme) for the entire story, and also for the main characters. Not only were those literature stories dreadfully difficult to finish, but then we had to theme everything out. And to this day, I find myself doing the same with movies, just not as intently as in that class. Thanks a lot professor, sigh!
The main story’s theme: The world is getting more violent and scarier than anytime in recent history despite stand-up guys like TLJ’s character’s dogged determination to set things right.
TLJ’s character’s theme: Doing what his father, and his father’s father, did just doesn’t cut it any more these days. Going above and beyond the call of duty doesn’t make as much difference as it did back then. In current times, heroic people’s wills and determination can be broken until they just want to bury their head in the sand to mentally escape it all (retire to the ranch).
Bardem’s character’s theme: Intelligent person with a different set of morals — who would feel worse by not following the flipped coin’s outcome than about taking another’s life — can move about society — only triggering the occasional odd look from most people that aren’t his victims — puts chills of fear in the viewers. What’s even scarier is that deviant psychopaths like him are becoming more and more common in real life.
Well, at least that professor didn’t grade us when she made us tell everyone what we thought the themes were, because according to her, no one was wrong as long as they read the story (or watched it). Hopefully the net will be as forgiving with my NCFOM themes.
katiebabs
June 20
1:59 pm
I am with you Karen! After I watched the movie, I turned to the people I was with and we all went “WTF?”
I enjoyed the first part but by the middle I was so confused! And I took film classes in college! Shame on me 🙁
But I love Javier’s air gun. That is an awesome weapon!
sallahdog
June 20
2:34 pm
My hubby watched it, told me it wasn’t my kind of movie (I don’t like violence in any form, I even have a hard time watching those reality car chase shows). I remember watching Fargo and thinking, this is a great movie but why do I feel so crappy? and I couldn’t even watch Pulp Fiction, so I just say no to movies that I know are going to freak me out, and violence of any kind always does.
Anne
June 20
3:02 pm
Yep. Watched it with Bob for about 15 minutes, then I opened a book, but he continued to watch the whole thing and I saw lots of bloodshed out of the corner of my eye. He, like you, HATED the ending. I don’t know what happened, but it really must have sucked if he walked away from the DVD player muttering, “What a shitty movie.” Because he likes funky stuff like that. *shrug*
Ally Blue
June 20
3:46 pm
I haven’t seen that, and don’t actually want to. Steven King’s original short story is still one of my favorites, but IMHO his works don’t translate well to film. No idea why, but there ya go 🙂
I haven’t seen NCFOM either, but would like to, if only because it’s caused such strong reactions in opposite directions from various people. A downer ending (if that’s what this is) doesn’t really bother me as long as it follows logically from the story. This is why I’m the only one in my house who actually liked the ending to 28 Weeks Later. It was the only ending I would buy considering the story up to that point. We’re not discussing the massive plot holes in the rest of the movie, however. Blech. I hate plot holes.
Monica
June 20
3:54 pm
Watched it. Hated it. Don’t care how well it was done.
AztecLady
June 20
4:27 pm
Not going to watch it.
Used to be I could watch those deep movies that supposedly were intended to make you think deeeeeeep thoughts and wax philosophical about life and humanity and crap.
These days? I need some optimism in my entertainment.
Linda Mooney
June 20
4:36 pm
Just FYI, if you’ve read King’s original novella, the movie has a different ending. 🙁
THE MIST is one of my favs of King’s, but this movie didn’t quite do it justice, IMO. Altho Marsha Gay Harden had an Oscar-worthy performance.
I’m sorry, but these movies now featuring so much computer-generated creatures is too hokey. If I can’t believe it’s a real monster or boogey man, I can’t get “into” the movie. And I LOVE horror movies.
Jody Wallace
June 20
4:49 pm
Thanks for the multiple warnings — don’t think we’ll be Netflixing this one!
Randi
June 20
5:06 pm
I think I may the only person who watched it and liked it. I thought the dialogue between the two cops was really smart, and that was really the bedrock of the the whole movie. It’s a Coen Brothers movie so I was expecting some odd plot details, and they were there. But I left the theater totally satisfied. What can I say…
Katrina Strauss
June 20
5:46 pm
I’m a fan of both Cormac McCarthy (who penned the original novel) and the Coen Brothers, but for various reasons just haven’t gotten around to seeing the film version yet.
Heather Holland
June 20
6:16 pm
I LOVE Tommy Lee Jones. I will watch ANYTHING with him in it, but this movie totally bombed with me. We didn’t even finish watching it. The other movie he has out, In the Valley of something or other wasn’t much better, IMO. I’m so ready for him to have another good movie out. These bad ones are so depressing.
Sarah McCarty
June 20
6:27 pm
I’m with you Karen. I love Tommy Lee Jones, but this was definitely a wtf film.
Leslie Kelly
June 20
9:03 pm
Yeah, ditto. Saw the movie and had to read the book to see if it really ended the same way–or bothered to explain anything. And said WTF to both.
But Tommy Lee Jones is worth watching in anything. Family and I are in the middle of re-watching Lonesome Dove this week since I finished re-reading the book last week. He and Robert Duval were just magnificent in those roles.
PS: The Mist–I actually liked the movie, until the stupid “let’s shock everyone” ending. It was ridiculous and manipulative.
Ebony
June 20
10:17 pm
I haven’t seen this movie. Leslie, I saw The Mist too…loved it…except for the ending…the ending made me mad.
Lynn Emery
June 20
11:31 pm
Ditto, was shaking my head trying to figure it out as the credits rolled. Ditto reaction to There Will Be Blood. For those who don’t like violence, oh yeah, baby. There was blood! Especially at the end. LOL
Ann Cory
June 21
1:44 am
My husband and I watched this late at night and it had me on edge. The killer scared the crap out of me. Very suspenseful and had great acting, though there was more blood in it than I had expected.
Both hubby and I were stunned with the ending. I need more closure than that I guess.
Jill Sorenson
June 21
5:15 am
I absolutely LOVED this movie. The last half hour was kind of a WTF, but for the first hour or more, I was on the edge of my seat. I thought it was brilliant, suspense at its best. And Javier Bardem–my god. Violent, sure, but deep? Nah. Just dark.
Ccch
June 21
8:27 pm
Can’t wait to see this…….love the Coen brothers and Tommy Lee Jones….together….magic……
Keishon
June 21
11:05 pm
The ending was a WTF moment. I was like what the hell? That is it? That’s all? WTF?
He deserved the Oscar. Oh hell yeah.
violent lover
June 22
10:05 pm
Hmmmm kinda sick of people saying they hate films leaving them thinking WTF? certainly No Country For Old Men.
Its the kinda film that requires a little thought! or perhaps simply 1/2 a brain!
Then again I guess most bloggers are far too busy setting the planet straight and talking thta high interlectual BULLSHIT tro understand such a film.
Ok… lesson time.
serial killers, general violence and mindless killing are not supposed to be rational acts… Can you ever get insoide why, what & how serial killers act?
No I didnt think so… so instead of dissing great films such as:
Resevior Dogs
Jackie Brown
Pupl Fiction
Taxi Driver
NCFOM
Confessions of a Window Cleaner
baby goes it alone
and many more simply fantastic films showing killing, violence and hard core sex “usually leaving the female co-star” in total uncontrolable stress…..
shut TF up
AztecLady
June 22
10:07 pm
violent lover sayez,
Why?
Karen Scott
June 22
10:08 pm
Awww that’s so cute, we have an illiterate arsehole amongst us.
Randi
June 23
3:24 pm
Yeah, there was a wayyyyyyyyyy better way of saying that.