NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN NOTES

NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN

Anton Chigurh - Javier Bardem 

Llewelyn Moss - Josh Brolin

Sheriff Bell - Tommy Lee Jones

The Coen brothers directed this film in 2008.

The film is set in 1980's Texas and Mexico. 

The 1980's social, cultural and historical contexts focus on moments of comparison and reflection.

For example the idea of the 'old' pioneer which dominated classical westerns, the archetypal characters - hero, anti-hero, villain, helper. 

Sheriff Bells's wife has a typical woman role in the 1980's. 

Spectatorship

Spectatorship is inherently driven by our moral values and ideologies - which determines how we interact and engage with the narrative and the characters' actions, reactions, motives.

Llewelyn could be considered to be the villain, Anton could be a metaphor for society as the new world is corrupting the American Dream. 

Moral Ambiguity

Anti-hero's and Villain's. 

FOCUS ON OUR ALIGNMENT AS SPECTATORS

We align with the voice over as we understand his point of view on the changes of the world. 

Sheriff bell's voice over helps the spectator to suture us into the film.

We start as passive spectators.

THE PRESENTATION

'THE DISCOVERY'

Micro Elements

- Slow paced editing,

- He is mostly in shot,

- Diegetic sound,

- Multiple tracking shots,

- Close-up,

- The brightness of the trees emphasise his new path of life, the darkness around him is brightened up by the new money,

- The camera shot makes it look like we are watching what he is watching,

- The shiny gun expresses how the new world is affecting the old world in a bad way.

- Huge colour contrast. 

Spectatorship

- We start as a passive spectator and we watch Llewelyn look for the 'last man standing'. 

- We become an active spectator as we start to wonder why the man has the money, and start to think about why Llewelyn takes the money. 

Ideology

- The old world affects the new world, and Llewelyn is stuck in between. 

- Later on society punishes him because he tries to reach for the American Dream, by stealing the money that is not his. 

CROSSING THE BORDER

Micro Elements

- Over the shoulder the shot 

- Kuleshov effect

- Long cuts

- Bright green compared to bland colours.

- America is greater and brighter than other places. 

- Very quick speaking, confrontational.  

Spectatorship

- Siding against the officer, due to his confrontation. 

- Passive spectator, towards the end we become active because we anticipate a reaction from the officer. 

Ideology

- American is greater than other countries. 

- People gain special treatment due to the wars they fought.

- The old world is deteriorating, as the new world do not praise those who fought for the country in the past. 

COIN TOSS

Micro Elements

- Kuleshov effect

- Slow paced editing

- Over the shoulder shot

- Slow talking, building up suspense

Spectatorship

- We are an active spectator, his hectic nature is unhinged - we cannot anticipate his actions

- Passive spectator when they are talking, we just listen to what they are saying

Ideology

- He uses the coin as a tool to demonstrate his philosophy of life, especially the ways in which fate, chance, and free will function in determining the outcome of one’s life. 

- He uses the coin as a way of taking responsibility of his actions. 

- In one sense, the act of choosing heads or tails is a hyperbolic example of the way in which each and every choice we make has outcomes, which lead us toward our end. 

SEQUENCES

YOUNG SHERIFF SEQUENCE

- The colour difference between Anton and the Officer. 

- The voice-over expresses a sense of calmness as 

- Distinguish the antagonist: (Good vs Evil)

- Law vs Outlaw

UNCLE ELLIS

- Míse-én-scene - makes you feel sorry for him. 

- Old vs New - Outlook/attitude/values

- Things changing / getting worse

- Bell is overwhelmed

- Sheriff looks to Ellis for support as a mentor

- 'This country is hard on people' 

PARAGRAPH - NCFOM

The scene in which Llewelyn finds the last man standing, sitting by the tree, we are shown the main ideologies that the cohen brothers want to express towards the spectator. We start as active spectators as we begin to wonder what goes through Llewelyn mind as he contemplates whether he should take the money. The brightness of the trees emphasise his new path of life, and the darkness around him is now contradicted by the light that comes with the new money. This is also shown through the shiny gun compared to the old hunting rifle, which ultimately expresses how the new world is affecting the old world in a bad way and that the American dream is becoming corrupted. When Llewelyn takes the money, the spectator becomes conflicted as we are unsure what is right and wrong within the scene. 

COIN TOSS SCENE - SOUND

- Lack of sound: intensifies the scene.

- Booming voices

- Long silences

- Hyperbolic sound of the wrapping

- Dissonant sounds that are increasing in volume - expressing his unpredictability.

- Differences in voices: Dark and light. 

How far do your chosen films demonstrate the importance of visual and soundtrack cues in influencing spectator response?