Has anyone read the book this movie is based on?
Does it cover how the deputy was able to get handcuffs on Anton Chigurh? Based on his activities during the rest of the story, I find it hard to believe he’d allow himself to be handcuffed.
Thanks,
SFP
If I remember right, Chigurh allowed himself to be handcuffed – he wanted the challenge of getting out of them.
I was just reading this part of the book today. Chiguhr wanted to see if he could escape through “an act of will”.
Interestingly enough, he was explaining this to Carson Wells right before he blew Carson away.
Thanks! I guess I’ll need to read the book to have a better understanding of some of the holes in the movie.
One more. How was Chigurh connected to the dope deal, and why did he kill the two old guys that took him to the scene of the shootout? From the movie, it’s implied that he knows the two guys and works for them… and they give him a transponder to find the money. So why kill them? He doesn’t yet know they also gave the Mexicans a transponder until he finds them at the first motel. So is the killing just so he can find the money and keep it for himself? Anton doesn’t seem to be motivated by money.
My guess is that Chigurh was hired by the buying side to find their money, and he seemed to short circuit in the desert. He certainly had a reputation, and people like Carson knew him, so Chigurh was out for hire… I don’t think killing your current employer would be good for future jobs, so I don’t understand the motivation… unless he’s just a sociopath. Any clues from the book?
It’s interesting to compare “No Country” to “Fargo.”
I mean, both are about small town cops who are forced to deal with horrible, sadistic criminals of a sort they’ve never encountered before. Marge Gunderson and Ed Tom Bell have been used to handling mundane, petty crimes, but must take on some truly violent, evil individuals.
Marge seems like such a silly character, while Ed Tom Bell looks cool and competent. And yet, in the end, Ed Tom Bell proves to be a weak, frightened old man, totally impotent in the face of Anton Chigurh. Silly Marge Gunderson proves to be a MUCH better cop, doesn’t she?
If Anton Chigurh had tried to commit his crimes in Minnesota, I suspect he’d have been gunned down or locked up by a chipper, pregnant cop.
Yah, you betcha.
Anton Chigurh is also unlike most Coen Brothers criminals - he’s actually intelligent and competent at what he does.
He really did mind riding bitch!
CMC fnord!
Haven’t read the book but,
[spoiler]It was his job and no one else was going to do it,Anton Chigurh: He gave the Mexicans a receiver.
[Anton sighs]
Nervous Accountant: He feels… he felt that the more people looking
[cut-off by Anton]
Anton Chigurh: That’s foolish. You pick the one right tool.It’s the same reason he kills the “Man who hires Wells” (Stephen Root) and Carson Wells. Anyone that got in between Chigurh and his goal, for any reason, had at best a 50/50 chance of taking another breath (even if that person was the boss or someone hired by the boss (I don’t think the “Man who hires Wells” was the actual boss, only the one responsible for setting the deal up and hiring Chigurh, the Mexicans, and Wells)).
Wells sums it up,Carson Wells: No no. No. You don’t understand. You can’t make a deal with him. Even if you gave him the money he’d still kill you. He’s a peculiar man. You could even say that he has principles. Principles that transcend money or drugs or anything like that. He’s not like you. He’s not even like me.But what really motivates Chigurh is still left as, basically, a mystery.[/spoiler]
I think it’s because they knew who he was and what he looked like, and he couldn’t have that. He needed to be a ghost. Remember the scene with the accountant?
Office guy: Are you gonna… kill me?
Chigurh: That depends. Do you see me?
crowmanyclouds, for someone who hasn’t read the book, I think you nailed Chigurh’s motivation.
I was going to put this in my OP as a joke… glad to know I am not the only one who had that run through his head!
This sounds like a must-read book to me. I enjoyed the movie, but based on this thread, I think the book will be better.
Thanks, all