During the gas station scene, the camera never faces the two fellows simultaneously. Instead, the over-the-shoulder shot is used for both, alternately. Like the faces on a tumbling coin---heads, tails, heads, tails, heads... The Coens are famous for this sort of scene.

@justinktobin

Жыл бұрын

Good observation! I’ve seen this scene maybe at least 100 times and wasn’t aware of that.

Anton's use of the coin is kind of pointing to him as an extension of the indifference of the universe, for those who are unfortunate enough to cross his path I think is one of the main reasons he's so terrifying.... wrong place, wrong time, and a bad toss and you're dead...

@justinktobin

Жыл бұрын

Interesting perspective. And yes, I have a friend who said that whenever Chigurh came on screen this sense of dread came over him.

@Iconoplastt

Жыл бұрын

@@justinktobin He's also one of the most moral characters in the entire piece, unyielding ethics

@kevinp3550

5 ай бұрын

Anton, in this Universe is nothing more, or less than a black hole headed for our solar system. Amoral. Which is why he's so unnerving. Great job, btw. I commented last year on your first NCFOM analysis, and I just learned how to find old comments.

@DARKBRANDON-2024

5 ай бұрын

​@@justinktobinthe old lady at the trailer park was not scared and u could tell it threw him off his game. People say he heard the toilet flush so he didn't kill her I do not believe this theory, what do you think?

@justinktobin

5 ай бұрын

@@DARKBRANDON-2024 You can hear the toilet flush in the background. I found that depending on the sound system, it can be not as pronounced and it just seems like he's looking off to the side. But the flush is definitely there. In the novel it's written that he hears a toilet flush and then decides to leave.

I must’ve watched this movie at least 5 times. I wonder why it’s so interesting? The philosophical elements? The uncanny plot twist? The cinematography? On another note, this scene makes you wonder if you could have ever encountered a person like chigurh in your life; someone extremely dangerous, yet passing you by on the street because you’re not a threat to them. In the places I’ve been, it’s likely I have passed someone like chigurh, even lived by them while overseas and in big cities.

In reading the book and watching the movie I get the impression that Anton doesn't respect Carson or the storekeeper but did respect Carla Jean.

@justinktobin

Жыл бұрын

Never thought of that! His words are certainly less harsh with Carla Jean, and he doesn't insult her like he does the proprietor, or seemingly taunt her like he does Wells. Although the proprietor certainly fared better since he survived.

1:10 I think he offers the gas station attendant a chance at redemption in a way. Yes he knows he isn't a threat but he says "You've been putting it up your whole life you just didn't know it." I think Anton is disgusted by how the man can barely conduct himself when faced with a little pressure, but he still managed to luck into the store from his Father in law. He didn't earn it in Anton's eyes. The attendant doesn't stand on any rules or solid principal and Anton can smell it on him.

@Torgo-and-the-Lucifer-Cat

Жыл бұрын

But he IS a threat....anton doesn't look at him twice until he asks if there's rain from the area he's from by looking at his license plate, thus being too nosy about where anton came from.

Trying to figure out Chigurh is damned near impossible…

@justinktobin

Жыл бұрын

It's a challenge for sure.

@Torgo-and-the-Lucifer-Cat

Жыл бұрын

It's best to think of him as a symbolic personification of the evil that destroys because of greed, rather than as a human. His hair, shape, and even his shotgun (black with silver, looks like a scythe) makes him look like the grim reaper

The store scene was perfect 🤩! I love ❤️ it!

To understand Chigur you must understand the judge. Both are paragons (from the Greek word for whetstone) of evolutionary and historical forces. The coin toss is like war for the judge in that it forces history and evolution to decide the path forward. For McCarthy, chance is the most important element in both history and evolution, at least somewhat. There are opposing forces (mostly Christian love and duty) but they are constrained by the overwhelming tide of chance or maybe it is God's will. This tension between the these two is the source of McCarthy's power as a novelist.

In the film we see him sitting there in her bedroom but his gun isn't in sight. How did he kill Carla? I thought he strangled her but him checking his boots for blood that doesn't seem likely. I thought her death was the saddest in the film. She stood up to him and was the only one who did along with maybe Carsson.

@candykkhorsesngp925

Жыл бұрын

In the book he shoots her I believe

@justinktobin

Жыл бұрын

He shoots her in the novel and it doesn't say which weapon he used. But it does say that Carla Jean goes for where she keeps her gun and Chigurh tells her it isn't there. So maybe he used her own gun on her?

@libradawg9

Жыл бұрын

I thought it was in view, but if it wasn't it's probably another part of his threat assessment. The reason it wouldn't be cocked and ready for CJ is the exact same reason he had it trained on Wells without offering a coin toss.

The threat is the information the man saw the car and Anton that's the threat. The man was unaware of the danger at present but could be questioned later about Anton

Notice: the instrument, the coin, is money. Money is the instigator of the violence here. Also, the coin toss is a "lady and tiger" choice, where the condemner is free from responsibility even though the choice is by chance.

@justinktobin

Жыл бұрын

Coin has monetary value like the cash, a lot less buying power than millions of dollars, but in a way the coin is more valuable because the one who calls it is potentially buying their life.

@pupper5580

9 ай бұрын

@@justinktobin Also a coin has a lot of connotations with death. E.g. you needed to have a coin for your ferryman. Or people would put coins on top of the eyes of someone who is dead. Also chance is associated with death. In Roman times there was an incident where they uncovered a (very large) plot and as a way of punishment they used chance (10%) to dish out death penalties to the ones involved.

great video, you deserve more subs

@justinktobin

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the kind and encouraging words!

There's no such thing as a "Dallas" plate, only Texas Plates. So unless there's something in the book, it must have been something else on the car.

It is not so much way of deciding things, but way of shifting blame of decision to something else. He can act decisively and shows it several times during film. To outside observer he is just stone-cold psychopath that murders people on whim.

I think the whole vulnerable thing is another reason why he killed the accountant as he literally saw him kill making him too big of a threat to give a chance, also I like the thumbnail

@bigboss4993

Жыл бұрын

I also find it weird that he gave Carla Jean a chance by this logic though as he entered her home illegally so if she won the coin toss what would've happened? Would he have trusted her not to tell or maybe it's a matter of her taking a chance if she expects him to take one

@justinktobin

Жыл бұрын

Yeah, the accountant is something not in the novel. I wonder if the Coens are on record saying anything about what happened after he asked if he could see him. Actually, I just realized something! When Chigurh hands the 100 dollar bill to the boys on the bikes he says "You didn't see me." So maybe if the accountant answers "no" Chigurh will let him live. Thanks for bringing this up. Haha. Seems I learn something new every time I view, read or discuss this story. Edit: And thanks about the thumbnail. I always though imagine stopping to to help someone who is staring at you like the way Chigurh is here. Would I just keep driving? Haha.

@bigboss4993

Жыл бұрын

@@justinktobin well the boys didn't see him do anything illegal not that he was in much shape to do anything about it if they did and ik they find a gun in his car and tell Tom Bell in book but Chigurh didn't know about that and he gave them the money so they'd be more obligated to do as he asks

@justinktobin

Жыл бұрын

@@bigboss4993 Another reason it's written into the story could be to show a small similarity between Chigurh and Llewelyn. Llewelyn gave 500 bucks for a coat when crossing the border while wounded and Chigurh gave 100 bucks for a t-shirt.

@bigboss4993

Жыл бұрын

@@justinktobin it's like they don't believe in human kindness it's funny that Chigurh does end up meeting nicer people than Llewellyn

One of the greatest Neo-Westerns out there, although I have to say that I am not a fan of McCarthy's writing- found Blood Meridian bloody boring. But here is my question about Chigurh- why did he let the woman at Llewellyn's trailer park live? He didn't seem mad or give his sadistic smile before he kills someone to her, and in fact he kinda looked a little taken aback by her words and demeanor. Just something that always puzzled me, especially since he killed the hotel clerk in where Llewellyn stayed at.

@justinmonisit5932

Жыл бұрын

She fought back and stood her ground, didn't engage in any small talk or plead. Presumably the hotel clerk didn't. It was out of respect

@justinktobin

Жыл бұрын

Good observation, but of you watch that scene again and listen closely, you can hear a toilet flush in another room, signalling someone else would be coming in the room. Chigurh probably didn’t want to deal with it, since the woman was no threat, just wouldn’t give him what he wanted. The novel puts emphasis on the toilet flushing too.

@Aquinas218

Жыл бұрын

@@justinktobin - Thanks for the response- I did watch the scene again and I have to say that I did miss the toilet flush and I guess I don't remember the description in the book- I listened to the audio book. And I think you are correct, it was not worth the trouble of having to deal with two people and possible witnesses. But I will also give credence to Justin Monisit's comment that she also stood her ground- she gave Chigurh the same stone-faced defiance and unyielding ethical stance that he displays throughout the movie. If you watch the scene, right before he turns around to leave, the lady leans forward and places her arms on the desk with an exasperated don't push it bud" kind of look. The body language on both of them say so much!

@justinktobin

Жыл бұрын

@@Aquinas218 I see the similarities. Her "did you not hear me" response is like Chigurh's "You're a bit deaf, aren't ya" response.

I notlcEed dat tune da very first time I waTcHed dis movie...

Why doesn't he want him to put it in his pocket? Cos its insignificant but also important?

I think it's cos Carlson is guilty that anton offers no coin. He knew what he was doing, he is directly involved this is where his active choices lead. The guy in the gas station and Jean get involved but not out of their own intent, they get involved by accident and just caught strays and chigurh was giving them a chance to dodge the stray bullet they didn't "knowingly" earn. The bullet comes out of nowhere "do you see me" like when he shot the bird. I do believe he's rooting for them cos he sees this bullet as coming to them and by holding his hand over the coin he is in fact holding the bullet back, giving them a chance to see it (pay attention to it) and dodge, this way whether their duck is successful or not is not his fault. I'm speaking kind of metaphorically. But maybe not cos then why didn't he spin the coin when he killed people for their cars. Maybe it just depends how much of a danger people are to him as you said. Clearly the victims of a hijacking are dangerous to him.

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