No Country for Old Men -- 7/8ths of a great movie

Which might explain how the movie title seems a shade clunky.

 

I read that story too, Jones. It sounds a little fishy to me -- how could they get far enough along in the process of casting a major motion picture, all the wy until rehearsals, with no one noticing they had the wrong guy?

 

Yeah, I doubt the Coens would offer the lead role in their biggest film in years to a prime-time soap actor whose best film credit in the last three decades was a cameo in "Pee Wee's Big Adventure."

 

Josh Brolin, meanwhile, has had an excellent past couple years.

How old is the character in the book?

 

No more than 30, I'd say. I know his wife was pretty young.

When I read that in Esquire, I assumed it was some kind of joke.

 

Sirs, Madames,

One other line didn't sound 1980: the green hair and piercing reference in the conversation between the two old sheriffs.

YD&OHS, etc

 

D&O?

 

Dr.,

See the dedication to Emma.

YD&OHS, etc

 

By 1980, the punk movement could have trickled into west Texas. ...

What year does the book take place? I also think that Esquire story sounds a bit like an urban legend. 1980 makes a lot of sense in the book because if it took place today, I can't imagine they'd be able to have those border scenes: the lax security guys, the throwing of the briefcase over the fence with no one noticing, etc. Also, if it took place today, the whole manhunt would be treated differently. Everyone in the country would know this guy. Helicopters would be flying over the crime scene. This wouldn't happen quietly.

 

Mr Kato,

Mohawk, maybe. Green hair, too early. Not that long after the Sex Pistols failed to get traction in the sunbelt.

YD&OHS, etc

 

ATMs were in Arkansas in the late '70s. Texas was big ATM country at the time. But the magnetic strips were alwas getting screwed up if you a leather wallet or some other exotic skin.

Which gave rise to the film's original title: No Country for Alligator Wallets.

 

The ending was perfect. Like an antidote. Much like the end of Magnolia, thematically.