There are no clean getaways...

No Country For Old Men was the best film of 2007, or 2008, whichever way you wanna call it (It was released 07 in the states and 08 in Hong Kong). It's probably on the short list of the greatest films this decade. The thing is an instant classic that requires multiple viewings to absorb it all. I had been wanting to read the original Cormac McCarthy novel for some time but haven't gotten around to it because I'm too busy reading crap like WWTDD.com.

Today I was at the book store and I had a chance to read a chapter of the book. McCarthy structures it in a way that it kinda reads like a play, or a script. There are no quotation marks. It can be a bit confusing, especially for a FOB like me, but it makes the back and forth exchange between Lewllelyn Moss (played by Josh Brolin in the movie) and Anton Chigurgh (Quite possibly the greatest cinematic villain since Hannibal Lecter in 91) that much more compelling.

You know how this is going to turn out, don't you?No. Do you?I think you do. So this is what I'll offer. You bring me the money and I'll let her go. Otherwise she's accountable. The same as you. That's the best deal you're going to get. I won't tell you you can save yourself because you can't. Filmmakers/storytellers should learn from No Country For Old Men. What makes someone terrifying is his premeditated intent. Here, Anton Chigurh knows exactly what's gonna happen. He tells Moss straight out he's already dead. The best scenario for him is to save his wife. Chigurh saying that line calmly is more chilling and threatening than say, a typical evil villain with the snarls and the bulge eye.

And as much as I loved The Dark Knight, Chigurh's cointoss scene (with the poor schmuck at the gas station) is about 1000 times more intense than Harvey Dent's cointoss scene. Again, it's not about anger or the gun. It's the dead silence that's chilling.

What's the most you've ever lost on a coin toss?Sir?The most. You ever lost. On a coin toss.I don't know. I couldn't say.Call it.Well...um... we need to know what we're callin' for here.You need to call it. I can't call it for you. It wouldn't be fair.Look... I need to know what I stand to win.Everything.How's that?You stand to win everything. Call it, Friendo.  You know what... I'm tired of typing when videos can do it justice.

Watch the coin toss scene here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYoNJ4Sv2fU

The movie is a masterpiece. Modern day classic. There are so many layers to it I'd say it needs at least three viewings. And that ending... oh my god. I spent hours reading/discussing/debating that thing with other film geeks on web forums. I think I "get" the film now... but I'm not even sure. I wish there was someone in HK I can talk to about this. Preferrably in Canto, so we can throw in cuss words in between.

And Javier Bardem! Guy was so good in the role of Anton Chigurh. Not only did he give a mesmerizing tour-de-force of a performance in No Country, his next movie... he made out with Scarlett Johansson AND Penelope Cruz. He may be the coolest man alive.

So yeah...rant over. I'm going back to the bookstore to buy the book tomorrow. And I'm gonna read it during two sittings while taking a dump.