Comments on: Hope Defered: No Country For Old Men

By: Richard Clark

Richard Clark — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 06:43:47 +0000

I finished this film tonight, and as you can see by the time this comment is published, it’s haunting me a bit. After reading this post I’m convinced this was one of the best films of the year. I’m sorry it took me so long.

David, Ben: Finally something we can all agree on!

By: Christ and Pop Culture | Whatever is Pure: Movieguide’s Faith and Value Awards

Sun, 24 Feb 2008 17:54:41 +0000

[...] it is far from a bad film, Amazing Grace simply does not measure up to the quality of Juno, No Country For Old Men, or some of the other films released in 2007. The choice of Amazing Grace over Juno and other films [...]

By: Rich Clark

Rich Clark — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 17:13:39 +0000

You know Matt, we hear that sort of thing all the time.

The truth is, as Christians part of what we ought to be doing is finding the truth and beauty (or common grace) in everything around us. Don’t read into or baptize films, but if there’s something good, why not praise it?

As far as the rest of your concerns, I agree with them. The thing is, they’re really individual issues. Do the CAPC writers, in general, know more about the latest movies and TV shows than the Bible? I’m gunna go out on a limb and say no. If you or any readers out there do, then close your browser and start studying.

Anyway, thanks for your comment.

By: Matt

Matt — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 14:05:55 +0000

I enjoy movies just as much as anyone else, but sometimes I think Christians try to find God in the movies too much. I went to a Catholic high school and there was a religion teacher who just showed movies and talked about Christ figures.

I guess he who seeks goodwill finds it. If you’re looking for God in the movies you can find his fingerprints, but you can also find a lot of other crap.

I guess if Christian young people are guilty of anything, it’s knowing more about the latest movies and TV shows than the Bible. I think the cultural ideas in film should be examined, but I there is an overemphasis in the church on being relevant and hip.

I wish more Christians would work on creating movies that aren’t cheesy. Movies that are up to industry standards and that have the truth in them.

By: Alan Noble

Alan Noble — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 03:51:48 +0000

-Jonathan
Glad you found the review helpful! If you enjoyed the movie, pick up the book. It’s well worth the read, although it might be the least of his works.

Hooser-
Actually, I think an OT reading is very appropriate. In many of McCarthy’s novels his included discussions on God’s judgement in the world. Often the discussion is centered around a specific, evil character who could either be a sign of the ultimate corruption and evil of humanity or a sign of God’s judgement–or both. If Anton is the embodiment of God’s judgement, there doesn’t seem to be any specific direction or purpose to his punishment. I guess I would be more inclined to see him as the embodiment of human evil and violence–as a symbol.

By: Hooser

Hooser — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 03:01:58 +0000

After I saw this, I sat down with the other folks I saw it with and discussed it for a while. We gave it a Jewish Old Testament interpretation of sorts. We thought that Anton was more of a judgement character (a tool of God if you will). Do you think there might be something to that? The Coen brothers are Jewish after all.

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 22:49:00 +0000

A helpful review, as I didn’t read this book but saw the movie. Thanks for filling out the ending and for your balanced comments.

By: Christ and Pop Culture « Creation Project

Christ and Pop Culture « Creation Project — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 22:40:24 +0000

[...] and Pop Culture—which looks fairly promising. As a burgeoning McCarthy fan, I found the review of No Country for Old Men very balanced and insightful. (Great film by the way, if you can stomach [...]

By: Alan Noble

Alan Noble — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 21:24:49 +0000

One of the key scenes in the film is when Bell goes to talk to his uncle in the wheelchair. His uncle tells him how his grandfather (I think it was grandfather…) died when some Indians rode up and shot him, and then just stood around watching him die.

During the whole film the Sheriff is convinced that things are getting worse, but his uncle’s story suggests that even if things are getting worse, they’ve always been pretty bad.

By: Ben Bartlett

Ben Bartlett — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 21:02:57 +0000

Great thoughts, Alan. I really enjoyed the movie, but the information about “missing chapters” and the contextualization of the Sheriff’s closing comments were really helpful and expanded my understanding of the movie considerably.

What did you think about the high number (almost all the major characters) of Vietnam vets?

The only area I differed from you is that I felt the presence of the vets, watching societal breakdown, was to highlight the deterioration of society rather than the continual depravity of society.

So, I saw the movie as expressing a downward slope more than a continual line of negativity. What do you think?

Again, thanks for the great review. What a terrific movie!

By: David Dunham

David Dunham — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 20:19:50 +0000

Well said Alan. I absolutely loved this movie!