NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN | Morality, Agency and the Inevitability of Death | EXPLORED

No Country for Old Men is a 2007 Neo-Western written and directed by Joel and Ethan Coen, based on Cormac McCarthy's 2005 novel of the same name.
If you enjoyed this, check out my Philosophy of movies - • Philosophy of movies
Patreon - / filmcomicsexplained
All music is sourced from Epidemic Sound. To try a free 30 day trial of their music please head here - share.epidemics...
Hey there folks!! My name is Niyat and this channel was created to assist in answering all your questions about Films, Comics, Games and Popular culture in a fun and engaging way!
ABOUT ME
Disclaimer: I do not own rights to any of the source materials I used in this work, appealing to allowance made for "fair use" purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research, under Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976.

[@arthur17718]

CORRECTION* Chigur didnt kill moss, it was the hired mexican cartel gang that eventually caught up with him and killed him in the motel. They were seen driving away from the murder scene. But, yes, hell of a movie

[@QuickLern818]

CobraForce I’m happy you pointed this out-that’s another way expectations are subverted in this masterpiece. The protagonist and the antagonist never settle things with each other once and for all.

[@towermoss]

I don't know how he missed that obvious fact.

[@spotlobac7694]

yup ! it was the cartel.

[@chino2620]

YT Waduhek not that part it’s almost shown when they kill him it shows the Mexicans escaping in the pick up truck with one on the ground Bleeding trying to crawl away...

[@gowthamgangaraju2881]

Yes and the Mexicans knew where moss was because of Carla Jean's mother.

[@devorizer5959]

Ever since I saw this movie if I ever come across a shitload of money imma check for a tracker lmao

[@Dangerdan223]

There was a game called time splitters that seems like a childhood fever dream it would be cool to see that explained.

[@thom2924]

Yes!

[@arthurballs7083]

Great call.

[@lorenzorushin1206]

I remember my cousin telling me I was too young to play it..one of the best games ever

[@DubbrRucky]

This! Robofish!

[@bergmansvea8739]

Really good game, the second one was legendary

[@Megatron_95]

Best film that the Cohen Brothers ever made besides the True Grit remake. Love this film and book!

[@drnolon]

Is the book worth picking up in your opinion? Is the movie based on the book, or the other way around? I realize I could just look this all up online but I like asking people's opinions.

[@TeaAndBunsMC]

@@drnolon I loved the book, it reads almost exactly like the movie, but with extended dialog. I think McCarthy has better books (blood meridian, the road) but that just goes to show how amazing of a writer he is. If you like the movie, give the book a read its great!

[@Allen-L-Canada]

and Fargo

[@coreycasciano3255]

Anton Chigurh is still one of the scariest antagonist in a movie I’ve ever seen, also great deep dive 👍

[@JetsareBack12]

wooooo perfecct for a rainy day! and im early for once!

[@freddykruger1086]

Lawl east coast power son 😋

[@willthomas3399]

Rainy day here in Bama!

[@ehodovic]

Freddy Kruger West is burning, East is flooding... And we have Tornado Valley in the middle

[@J_C_CH]

I literally just watched this film last night. Epic. I think you missed a few things however, most notably that Chigurh doesn’t kill Moss, and the money actually does end up in the former’s hands by the end, after retrieving it from the motel vent. He gave it back to his employer. Sheriff Bell is actually the main protagonist of the story as well, while Llewelyn is merely a decoy protagonist and the one who drives the plot. Bell’s struggle and inability to piece together the whole story is representative of his status as the true main character and an audience surrogate, merely witnessing a brutal fight between two other parties and trying to make sense of it all. Also, his status as a neutral observer in the story is best exemplified toward the end of the film when Moss is killed; Bell doesn’t witness him die, and so we, the audience, don’t get to see it either.

[@bruggeman672]

Is there a scene showing Chigurh returning the money? Cuz I have watched the movie countless times and don't recall that one....

[@J_C_CH]

@@bruggeman672 Chigurh isn't seen returning the money, no. However, he was hired to retrieve the case which we know for a fact that he does, and after he does that, he isn't seen with it again afterwards, not even when he gets out of his wrecked car and walks off. It can be highly assumed that he returned the money to whoever it was that hired him.

[@bruggeman672]

@@J_C_CH I didn't think so...

[@J_C_CH]

Edward Bruggeman You don’t need a scene for validation. It’s pretty obvious he gave the money back to his employer, he certainly didn’t keep it. Chugurh doesn’t care about what’s in the case.

[@bruggeman672]

@@J_C_CH so who are they then? He kills the guy who hired him...

One of my all time favorites movies. 2007 had this and 2008 was the dark knight sheesh great times in cinema.

[@EngineerSTG]

2007 also had There Will Be Blood, great year for cinema

[@JakeDriver]

This is one of those films were you come away from it wanting to know more about the bad guy.

[@taniasmith4021]

So true!

[@mock15halo]

Maybe it doesn’t mean anything, but at 12:22 , Chigurh attempts to kill the crow, in which the crow may symbolize death. He misses the crow, and I take it that even he isn’t able to defeat death.

[@MegaSolopolo]

Good eye for detail.

[@TheScottelias]

Nobody has mentioned the significance of Sheriff Bell holding his gun as he’s entering the motel room believed to have Anton in. At the start of the movie his monologue talks about the old timers not having guns, he’s not seen to use one up until he walks into the motel. To me this shows that even the old men are forced to bend to the Will of the world and highlights the affect Antons chaotic nature has on those around him, even the most stubborn of us are forced to bend to fate and the chaos around us. Or maybe Im just a pretentious ass that reads too deep into things.

[@arandomstormcloak8839]

My dad and I love this movie; every time it’s on tv or we see it on demand we’ll immediately drop everything to watch it. Such a masterpiece

[@mysteriousmurpp6631]

Gooood I love this film. I'm currently taking a Cinematography course in Uni and we've gone over this movie MULTIPLE times. Love it. Love it. Love it.

[@ffejpsycho]

Moss is actually killed a group of cartel gangers completely unrelated to Chigurh's relentless hunt... He wasn't able to collect the bounty on Llewellyn's head, by the narrowest of margins! Don't worry too much, though. He goes out of his way to make good on his promise regarding Carla-Jean, however... Good alternate title could have been... "No one gets outta here alive!"

[@richardharrow9776]

im wondering if chigurh killed the other guy in the buliding the one who asked if he sees him

[@apollo4657]

This movie is a fkn masterpiece. 👊🏻👌🏻

[@victor9sur768]

Managed to watch this in a couple of hours of procrastination during lockdown, honestly one of the best neowesterns I've seen, would most definitely recommend

[@matthewsims7817]

This is such a good film. Javier Bardem was a brilliant villain. The twist at the end was perfect. Where Its not always “the hero wins”. Bloody good film.

[@CatLady999]

The coin determines Chigurh's outcome during the coin tossing. Let us not forget a coin was used to open the vent. If the screw was not flathead, the coin would have influenced a different outcome.

[@Reereez4795]

I love any conversation about language and how it dictates the world we live in. This is one of my favorite videos from this channel. Love your work!

[@VincentJ274stoicsoldier]

Holy shit!! I absolutely love this film. Well done, Niyat.🤠 You should do a video for Hell or High Water, another Neo-Western.🔥🙌🏼👏🏼👏🏼 Love dissecting the idealism, philosophy, and the story of films. Have a nice Sunday, Niyat.

[@davidsuarez3344]

You should explain ‘The Book of Eli’ with Denzel Washington, I’ve always wanted to know the backstory of what happened

[@Mansini77]

Great suggestion.

[@JerryOviedo]

I did enjoy the film and though it’s been a while since I saw it I remember it left quite the impression. And your analysis really made me want to see the film again. Thanks for that

[@tylerschannel]

It was The mexicans who killed moss , not chigurh , the granny told the mexican with the suit about his location , They also took the money . So at the end chigurh is left broke ( money and his body ) to inform the audience that he is not a power of fate rather Just a crazy human ...

[@shainewhite2781]

Winner of 4 Oscars including Best Picture! Javier Bardem is terrifying in this movie as the villain Anton Chigurh, as he's a sadistic hitman for the cartel that is hellbent on retrieving the stolen money.

[@GarfieldRex]

I find this film the same as Pulp Fiction: great build up, fail to capitalize at the ending. You feel through the movie that something great is building up, and when the moment comes, there's no climax. It just ends. And I see the ending as the most important part of a film, the one you remember the most. And here, I really struggled to remember how these movies ended. But everything else is just greatly done.

[@RedAequus]

Thats the whole point of the ending, though. Life isn't some sci-fi epic where you blow up the bad guy in fiery pyrotechnics and fly off with some dime into the sunset. The exciting stuff happens halfway through, then once you get old enough you just sort of sputter off into your dreams. An ending doesn't have to be an action packed adrenaline fest to be good, especially in a noir.

[@redgraves4030]

The fact that you say that, shows that it did make an impact on you

[@bruggeman672]

So more like real life....

[@njabulodube1267]

One of my all time favorite movies of all time ,it’s a classic

[@njabulodube1267]

One of my all time favorite movies of all time ,it’s a classic

[@rubenvasquez8750]

Can Oedipus the king be compared to this movie? There are some similar ideas here.

[@cgarciahfcu]

*Trigger warning* This movie is overrated. It's got one of the scariest villains of all time, I'll give it that. But remove him from the film and you have nothing left but a pretentious bore of a movie.

[@ericcarlton87]

With all the great and impactful movies ever made it’s hard to put it, at least for me, at number 1 but it’s damn close. The writers did a fantastic job in every sense which made the actors job a little easier, along with a fantastic actor lineup the dialogue throughout the movie is A+z A Fantastic breakdown sir.

[@Ecw_Kevin_Torres]

Thank god you made a video of no country for old man I love the movie

[@camronlandrum6227]

Can you do a video explaining the splinter monster please and also love your videos💖💖💖😊

[@JustADioWhosAHeroForFun]

Not dying is just as terrifying as dying

[@darthjacobynum573]

Saw this movie for the first time when I wasn't old enough to understand it. At the end I was just like "what, that's it?" Re watched it a few months ago and thought "damn, this is just brutal" great analysis!!!! Would you consider exploring the Deathclaw creatures featured in the videogame saga "Fallout"?

[@mvolle1992]

Thank you! I never knew I wanted you to analyze this film until hearing you break it down. I would love to see your perspective on the game “What Remains of Edith Finch” if you haven’t played it, it is a doozy.

[@UnknownReloader]

I think the movie has a lot to do with people struggling with the silence of God, especially with Sheriff Bell. The first scene in the movie is him monologueing about the old days of some Sheriffs not carrying a gun and not understanding the fact that greed drives most people and that often just ends bad for them. It's the simplest things that most people struggle over but everyone can understand why the Cartel at the drug deal died, greed over money. Now when it comes to why did the "good guy" have to die? He was selfish. Why did the bad guy get away? No one was strong enough to stand in his way. Why do old men get depressed about the things they couldn't accomplish? Because they were too weak to focus on doing as much good as they could and being content with what they have. All simple answers but people sometimes just can't cope with the fact that that's just how things turned out and there's nothing more they can do.

[@MegaSolopolo]

I'm was puzzled to the fact nobody didn't report a jean jacket pants wearing bowl cut hair style stranger walked around with firearms in such a small town. But then again most people would just mind their business.

[@TerryTurner]

Great movie! 😎

[@RedAequus]

I think a lovely thing about this movie is just how well it flows while following the perspective of so many characters at different points. Many movies have incredible trouble nailing pacing and balancing character screentime. NCFOM flows so well that i didn't realize how odd it was until I tried to describe the movie to someone else and realized I didn't really know who the 'main character' was since all three of them fit so perfectly into the structure of the film. Its very difficult to balance that sort of thing and we often only notice when it goes wrong, so I'd like to just give props to them here for pulling it off. "When you do everything right, it's difficult to tell that you've done anything at all" applies so well to all the subtle things like that that this movie pulls off.

[@nukaemillange6371]

Greetings from Greenland, big fan. Would it be possible to do a philosophy of the Witcher 3 dlc Hearts of Stone?

[@specialonyoutube]

@@fafnirthedragon2992 Patreon

[@sergiomotaferreira7124]

@@fafnirthedragon2992 Maybe the place where he is is earlier in hours?

[@nukaemillange6371]

@@fafnirthedragon2992 I watched it at around 5 in the morning from where I am... And I am unfortunately not a patreon supporter due to economical reason

[@specialonyoutube]

@@fafnirthedragon2992 It says on his Patreon that you get early access to videos like this one

[@ryandonovan5205]

Enough time has gone by so now it's safe to say its one of the top 20 films ever made

[@bigsanrio]

Do "hell or high water"

[@gabrielb.2695]

If you're doing Cormac McCarthy, do The Road next, please

[@wesleykim6523]

Ah yes. The movie with the coin toss.

[@Reclusive247]

Moss's mother gives up their location to the cartel, the guy who helped her with her luggage. That's how the cartel found and killed moss

[@Reclusive247]

The money was recovered by moss and then taken back by the cartel. I'm only 2 mins into this video and im wondering if you were paying attention or on your phone. This doesn't seem up to your usual standards tbh

[@The.Nasty.]

Since Halloween is close, you should consider doing a video on Trick R Treat. Fun movie about the spirit and traditions of Halloween.

[@Sainte305]

All-time favorite film. Perfection.

[@xblitzx394]

I called it that you’d make a video on this masterpiece.

[@sebswede9005]

Well done.

[@mikebasil4832]

No Country For Old Men really makes me rethink everything in my life. Especially thanks to Anton.

[@TreborPaulson]

What if he just took a little? Say 1/10 You think they would have came after him?

[@filmcomicsexplained]

Yes it’s not about the money. It’s about sending a message!

[@thecatwiththegat5187]

Awesome! One of the greatest!

[@beaulavin8455]

I can't wait when you do another creature explained those are probably my favorite of your channel

[@whitecat1441]

i never watch the movie only has seen the trailer on KZbin a long time ago i always thought this movie is literally the title of the movie its about a psychopath man that dislike old man and enjoyed kill them and the detective is on the hunt to find the killer. after watching niyat video i was 200% wrong and planning to watch it soon thanks to nyat video

[@ffejpsycho]

You shan't acquire any disappointment on this movies behalf!!

[@NobenStudio]

Ed Tom sounds kind of like "Entomb".

[@komrad1983]

Anton is not bad character, he is in some way metaphoric Nietzsche Overman. Coen did not mean to set him in triangle of good, bad and man.

[@RyanPerrella]

Incredible film, pretty good breakdown. One of my favorite things about this film is the dialog of all the salt of the earth humans that are in it; the trailer park lady “Did you KNOT hear me, I cant give out no INN-Formation” The hotel lady “It’s got 2 double beds.” And the store owner who says “its unusual” to the half naked man. I always remember these small performances from this film.

[@HIMMBelljuvo]

Anton Chigurh is terrifying AF

[@thefootage7399]

That truck set up was in gta 5😧

[@keegan6863]

No Country is in my opinion one of the best films ever made

[@bruggeman672]

Language is just as precise, or opaque, as we allow it to be. If the person attempting to convey the idea in question hasn't a proper grasp of language, than yes, it can be jumbled. Or it can intentionally cryptic, to force each person to grasp their own meaning from what is being said.

[@bubby-un34benny-un46]

Can you do video on rampage

[@kirbymarchbarcena]

MARLBORO MAN: Come to where the flavor is, come to Marlboro country CORMAC MCCARTHY: I'll probably die of respiratory diseases if I''ll stay there, there is no country for old men....hey, wait! That's a good name for a novel!

[@jameswcoppedge]

Chighur would actually be neutral (the coin toss). Sheriff Ed would be bad because he doesn't understand the world (the only true evil is ignorance). Llewelyn would be good, because he understands the world and moves accordingly.

[@TY-km8hj]

Interesting way of putting it💯

[@MegaSolopolo]

Brother you just flipped the board. Lol

[@HerrscherOfTuna]

Great film

[@damianstarks3338]

Alright another great analysis of a great movie.

[@elle9594]

You are my new favorite movie reviewer. I just found your channel and its great!!!! Love it. Please do the Fly and the Fly 2.

[@HunterPrimeVA]

Can you do videos on stuff from avatar the last airbender? Like: Bloodbending Metalbending The fire nation All the fire lords All the avatars Ect.

[@jc-hf1bk]

I highly recommend the book too. It's barely different but gives more info on the sheriff's past.

[@staceyboomboom8031]

As a multi lingual student of linguistics, it's imperative I point out the fundamental error in this analysis pertaining to ALL language being one thing or another. Firstly, not all language is spoken. Secondly, different languages are part of their own culture and history. The assertion that language is a monolith with only an english meaning is not only inaccurate, it's deeply offensive. This is an American-Mexican Western. The languages are Spanish and English. Context matters .

[@armyofninjas9055]

Hated this movie. There's NO WAY the protagonist wouldn't count the money. The tracker in the case would be found.

[@reycesarcarino4653]

Good Friend-O

[@darrylbowman110]

Humans are the most intelligent species on the face of the earth. But we are also the most dangerous species on the face of the earth aswell.

[@MegaSolopolo]

Yes dangerous to ourselves.

[@darrylbowman110]

@@MegaSolopolo And other people aswell.

[@harleydavidsonmotors2000]

Can you please do “Dark was the night” next?

[@FeedMeSalt]

i would 100% have climbed over that railing and jumped after that money. Are you fucking kidding me? Im not gonna be able to work by the time im 40. I would kill for half a mill.

[@MooncubedesignAu]

Another bloody brilliant film and another great analysis! Thaaaaanks

[@BovineDesigns]

Chigurh made a bad coin toss on his last haircut.

[@KarasuKage10]

🤔 He took his right hand off the coin to eat something, which would have shown the coin to the clerk...

[@donvalharris9819]

Hi how are you doing, hope you are keeping safe. I'm wondering if you have done any videos on Waterworld , yes that kevin costner flop I liked the movie but didn't fully understand the plot.

[@Daniel-os1er]

100/10 movie, if you haven't seen it I highly recommend it.

[@craig221]

Thanks Niyat!

[@wilsonwade2970]

Still waiting on a video on In the Mouth of Madness boyo.

[@michaelhowell2326]

I don't think the fact the money is "blood money" or "earned in the right way" matters one way or the other. Money just is. If it had belonged to a pharma company there wouldn't be a problem.

[@thecopperiris]

The only thing Moss did wrong was come back to the crime scene after finding a bag of cash and a mp5 machine gun.. should have went home, packed up, and moved tf away

[@KEVMAN7987]

Tommy Lee Jones as some kind of Lawman is always the best.

[@njongomato]

Recently discovered your channel. I love your work sir!

[@kalpeshmanna7233]

Anton didn't kill moss. Please understand the movie yourself before explaining it to others.

[@horseheadkid]

every single breakdown i've seen of this depresses me. no, not depresses, but makes me feel isolated. to me, the meaning is very clear, but everyone seems to layer nonsense upon nonsense all over it.

[@Steampunkzter]

I’ve finally seen the truth ... YOU HAVE NETFLIX lol

[@tauceti8060]

What year does the film take place in?

[@jquinlan]

1980. The gas station scene will explain.

[@robbnagle]

Crappy Movie with no redeeming qualities. There, its Explained! ha

[@nathanwindom3978]

Never seen the movie, but I just finished the book and I’m a little confused on what the whole point of Moss’ story was

[@justincholos.balisang6884]

Cigurh reminds me of Harvey Dent, if he lived in Texas. And looking so 70s.

[@frankernest3712]

Anton hunter Moss, but the Mexicans killed him in a shootout. That is a glaring mistake in your analysis. Still like the channel, just pointing that out

[@Alvarezpl]

Moss and Chigurh are the same person with a split personality.

[@justincraig398]

If I was at work and this dude with a sick hair cut came on threatening me like that, I’d just be like bro kill me, fuck it dude this is taking forever.

[@whiskeyweekly7533]

I've been waiting for this review, so cool, thank you!!!

[@stillchaos]

This is not a good guy movie & if you have seen the movie you know it's the best bad guy movie you may ever see.

[@CBRN-115]

Personally the movie is wayy better than the book. This is such a phenomenal movie

[@yksvoisrem3418]

Dude I’ve never been this early to one of your videos ever I just want to say I love your videos love everything u do my good guy

[@chibicthulhu4382]

I’m not scared of death but I’m afraid to die. I know that probably doesn’t make any sense but emotions rarely do

[@johnherrera5261]

Bro what are you talking about? chigurh definitely gets the money in the end and he isn't the one that killed moss where did you come up with those two pieces of info?