Home Theater Forum › Home Theater Forum › Entertainment › Movies (Theatrical) › NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN...New COEN BROS film considered a smashing return to form
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN...New COEN BROS film considered a smashing return to form

post #1 of 21
5/18/07 at 11:34pm
Thread Starter 




Based on Cormack McCarthy's novel, it's in competition at Cannes and the buzz is building (Could they win the Palm d'Or again? First time since Barton Fink in 1991).

I skimmed Variety's review and was taken by this quote:


Quote:
For their part, Joel and Ethan Coen, with both credited equally for writing and directing, are back on top of their game after some less than stellar outings. While brandishing the brothers' customary wit and impeccable craftsmanship, pic possess the vitality and invention of top-drawer 1970s American filmmaking, quite an accomplishment these days. It's also got one of cinema's most original and memorable villains in recent memory, never a bad thing in attracting an audience, especially as so audaciously played by Javier Bardem

http://www.variety.com/index.asp?lay...117933677&cs=1

First time they are taking a co-directing credit!

Javier Bardem's performance said to be amazing (Oscar buzz)



Josh Brolin and Tommy Lee Jones also said to be excellent.


Up until their last two flicks, I had never missed a Coen bros film in the theater. Methinks the time is ripe for the next great phase in their careers.

My favorite Coen Bros (in order)

1. Miller's Crossing

2. Barton Fink

3. The Big Lebowski

4. Fargo

5. Raising Arizona

6. Blood Simple

7. The Man Who Wasn't There

8. O Brother Where Art Thou?

9. The Hudsucker Proxy

10.Intolerable Cruelty

11. The Ladykillers
Reply
post #2 of 21
5/19/07 at 1:19am

Re: NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN...New COEN BROS film considered a smashing return to form

Quote:
First time they are taking a co-directing credit!

Nope, they were credited this way on "The Ladykillers".

It's all a matter of semantics anyways, they've always co-written, co-directed and co-produced (and often co-edited).

In any case, I'm very, very excited about this movie. I'm a huge fan of the Coens and I read "No Country For Old Men" about a year ago when I heard they were doing it as their next movie and became a Cormac McCarthy fan in the process.

I'm sorta hesitant to call it a "return to form" when it's an adaptation of McCarthy's novel as opposed to an original Coen story and script that brings them back to their roots but I'm definitely looking forward to this movie regardless.
Reply
post #3 of 21
5/19/07 at 2:38am
Thread Starter 

Re: NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN...New COEN BROS film considered a smashing return to form

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill GrandPre
Nope, they were credited this way on "The Ladykillers".

Oops...well, like I said, I didn't even see it in the theaters. That's my excuse. Perhaps it's their credit for adaptations/remakes.

Quote:
It's all a matter of semantics anyways, they've always co-written, co-directed and co-produced (and often co-edited).

I know.

I've always thought that because Joel is technically the film student, he took the credit as director. Ethan's just a Philosophy major (Ha Ha). But of course they're the two-headed director on the set.

It's just one of those technical things that fans (like me!) will fixate on - like how they alternate "Joel & Ethan" and "Ethan & Joel" for the screenwriting credit.


Quote:
(and often co-edited).

Of course, the wonderful Roderek Jaynes (their Acadmey award nominated editor!).

For those who don't know...

http://www.allmovie.com/cg/avg.dll?p=avg&sql=B95930


Quote:
I'm sorta hesitant to call it a "return to form" when it's an adaptation of McCarthy's novel as opposed to an original Coen story and script that brings them back to their roots but I'm definitely looking forward to this movie regardless.

I'd consider it a "return to form", if it's the classic/masterpiece the buzz at Cannes is indicating.

BTW, I've read the script for their next film (Burn After Reading). It's hillarious and yes, 'original' material. Great ensemble (Fargo-level). Could also be a hit for them (in Coen terms) with Clooney and Pitt in those roles. Frances McDormand and John Malkovitch have also been cast.
Reply
post #4 of 21
5/19/07 at 7:20pm

Re: NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN...New COEN BROS film considered a smashing return to form

The funny thing is...

I was asked to attend a test screening of this movie this past Wednesday and I had to decline mainly because I had to work. At the time, I didn't know it was a Coen Brothers flick. The moment I found out, I wanted to shoot myself. I should've agreed to go and called off work that day.

Now with the critical acclaim it has received at Cannes, I feel even worse for saying no.

The only good thing that comes out of this is that at least I can see it in November.
Reply
post #5 of 21
5/19/07 at 8:18pm

Re: NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN...New COEN BROS film considered a smashing return to form

I had no idea this was done.

I read the other day we can expect 3 films from them in the next 3 years.
Reply
post #6 of 21
5/23/07 at 9:50pm

Re: NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN...New COEN BROS film considered a smashing return to form

Some clips available here....

http://www.commeaucinema.com/bandes-annonces=76586.html

Definitely looks more like Millers Crossing and Blood Simple type film compared to the stuff theyve been doing since Fargo.
Reply
post #7 of 21
5/23/07 at 10:07pm

Re: NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN...New COEN BROS film considered a smashing return to form

Quote:
Definitely looks more like Millers Crossing and Blood Simple type film compared to the stuff theyve been doing since Fargo.

Having read the book twice and having seen the 5 clips it really shouldn't be like "Miller's Crossing" in any way.

When I think of "Miller's Crossing" I think of fast-paced dialogue and a very stylized (borderline-romanticized) sense of visuals and actions and "No Country" is the antithesis of that.

I think it'll be most like "Blood Simple" and "Fargo" but like I said earlier when I said I hesitate to look at this as a "return to form" because this isn't an original Coen story nor does it appear as though it's a "Coenization" of something previously established like "O Brother" or "The Ladykillers".

They really seem to be doing a great deal of justice to Cormac McCarthy's book and as such there's really no precedent for a film like this in their filmography. At best you're gonna find hints of it in stuff like "Blood Simple" or "Fargo".
Reply
post #8 of 21
5/26/07 at 3:34pm

Re: NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN...New COEN BROS film considered a smashing return to form

JonZ,
Thanks so much for those clips. The "coin toss" clip was amazing. Looks like a return to what the Coen brothers do to perfection: crime/thrillers, with very interesting characters. Fargo, and Blood Simple were awesome, but from watching the clips of this film, I believe Joel, and Ethan will win an Oscar for best picture. Just a hunch.
I can't wait until November
Reply
post #9 of 21
5/26/07 at 10:11pm

Re: NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN...New COEN BROS film considered a smashing return to form

Quote:
It's all a matter of semantics anyways, they've always co-written, co-directed and co-produced (and often co-edited).

Actually putting up the 'co' credit is more of a matter of the Director's Guild of America being a complete pain in the ass about a co-directing credit, there's literally mountains of paperwork and 'proof' that has to filed as well as some sort of on set inspection/oversight, iirc, to make sure the movie is actually being co-directed. A complete nightmare to deal with, from all I've heard. So while they've always codirected coeverythinged their films, they haven't always split the credit because of those issues, rather than pure semantics, and likewise the reason they can't/haven't been credited for for editing, or Soderbergh for DPing/editing is because credit is the most valueable commodity in the industry and noone wants a precedent created of allowing directors to easily horde all the 'treasure' for themselves.
Reply
post #10 of 21
5/27/07 at 8:18am

Re: NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN...New COEN BROS film considered a smashing return to form

I've missed the last two films I think.
Reply
post #11 of 21
6/15/07 at 1:03pm
Thread Starter 

Re: NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN...New COEN BROS film considered a smashing return to form

Trailer

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/no_c...n/trailers.php
Reply
post #12 of 21
6/15/07 at 10:17pm

Re: NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN...New COEN BROS film considered a smashing return to form

I still stand by what I said about this not being a "return to form" for the Coens.

The movie looks great, and as a fan of the book it seems like every single shot in the trailer comes from a memorable part of the book and they seem to have captured the tone perfectly, a lot of it looks almost exactly as I pictured it as I read it.

That said, it still doesn't feel like a Coen brothers movie to me. Don't get me wrong, I'm still tremendously excited for this movie but I think they've done like Sam Raimi did with "A Simple Plan" (which is like "NCFOM" in a lot of ways), they've sorta allowed their own style to take a back seat for the sake of the film itself.
Reply
post #13 of 21
6/16/07 at 12:47am
Thread Starter 

Re: NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN...New COEN BROS film considered a smashing return to form

When I say a "return to form", I mean a return to being a great screenwriter/director team again. Regardless of whether they're adapting someone else's material this time, great filmmakers have the potential to not only accomplish a great adaptation, but make the material their own as well. (ie:Kubrick - a great influence on them, btw). Make the adaptation fit in their oeuvre snuggly, while also transfering the piece of literature into an absorbing cinematic narrative. And just because it's a "great book", doesn't make it an automatic great cinematic experience. Skilled filmmakers (like these particular filmmakers in their prime years) could pull that 'trick' off. If there was a return to that earlier form.

And don't forget, the Coens were kinda adapting great authors in their prime years too. These authors were definitely their muse on these projects.

Blood Simple (James M. Cain)

Miller's Crossing (Dashiel Hammett)

Barton Fink (Nathaniel West)

The Big Lebowski (Raymond Chandler)

So now for the first time they are doing a literal adaption. Big deal. Based on this trailer, my opinion is they could have filmed this between Fargo and Big Lebowski, and it would not have have stood out as un-Coen-like (Especially if you never knew the original source material it was based on.). So I definitely completely disagree with you there, Bill. If anything, the Hudsucker Proxy would be the one to stick out in that era, based on the Raimi-influence and 40+ million swank visuals.


Hell, Fargo hoaxed a "based on a true story" (Ohmygoddd, a first for the Coens!!!!!), and that aspect didn't stand out for me either at the time.
Reply
post #14 of 21
6/16/07 at 6:31am

Re: NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN...New COEN BROS film considered a smashing return to form

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill GrandPre
I think it'll be most like "Blood Simple" and "Fargo" but like I said earlier when I said I hesitate to look at this as a "return to form" because this isn't an original Coen story nor does it appear as though it's a "Coenization" of something previously established like "O Brother" or "The Ladykillers".

They really seem to be doing a great deal of justice to Cormac McCarthy's book and as such there's really no precedent for a film like this in their filmography. At best you're gonna find hints of it in stuff like "Blood Simple" or "Fargo".

It's a return to form in that they are making great films again (instead of just good, or okay). And it's still to the Coen Bros' credit to produce a great adaptation of a great book. It's not a guarantee that books translate to films.

By the way, I really enjoyed their segment in Paris, je t'aime.
Reply
post #15 of 21
6/16/07 at 8:17am

Re: NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN...New COEN BROS film considered a smashing return to form

I don't know why the obsession with the phrase "return to form". The point to me seems to be that they are returning to good filmmaking. To me, the only film this looks at all like is Blood Simple, since it seems to be pretty serious.

I'm looking forward to it.
Reply
post #16 of 21
6/16/07 at 3:29pm

Re: NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN...New COEN BROS film considered a smashing return to form

Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnRice

I'm looking forward to it.

Me too.

The comparisons to Blood Simple (1984) [still not available on home video] and Miller's Crossing (1990) have me more interested than usual.
Reply
post #17 of 21
6/16/07 at 4:30pm

Re: NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN...New COEN BROS film considered a smashing return to form

I have Blood Simple on DVD. Did it go OOP?
Reply
post #18 of 21
6/16/07 at 5:24pm

Re: NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN...New COEN BROS film considered a smashing return to form

Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnRice
I have Blood Simple on DVD. Did it go OOP?

John,
I also have Blood Simple on DVD, but, trust me, we don't have the 1984 theatrical version on DVD. Not even close.
Those that think the differences are minimal are ignorant savages and should be shunned.
Reply
post #19 of 21
6/16/07 at 10:08pm

Re: NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN...New COEN BROS film considered a smashing return to form

Quote:
The comparisons to Blood Simple (1984) [still not available on home video] and Miller's Crossing (1990) have me more interested than usual.

It's really not like "Miller's Crossing" at all. That's a comparison that won't be made once the movie is released.

It's remarkably different than any of their movies but if you had to compare it to their previous work it's most like "Blood Simple" and "Fargo".
Reply
post #20 of 21
6/20/07 at 10:32am

Re: NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN...New COEN BROS film considered a smashing return to form

Let's face it, Crime/thrillers are what the Coen brothers do better than anyone. I can't wait for this, but it's a shame it's so far off. Oh well.

As far as Blood Simple I copied my vhs version to dvd, because it's the only one I will watch. The official dvd release was awful.
Reply
post #21 of 21
6/20/07 at 4:30pm

Re: NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN...New COEN BROS film considered a smashing return to form

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bryan^H

As far as Blood Simple I copied my vhs version to dvd, because it's the only one I will watch. The official dvd release was awful.

You were always my favorite HTF member Bryan...always.
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Movies (Theatrical)
Home Theater Forum › Home Theater Forum › Entertainment › Movies (Theatrical) › NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN...New COEN BROS film considered a smashing return to form