Bah to Mr. Chute. I firmly believe that the Coen Bros., excellent film-makers, made that movie precisely as the novel was written by Cormac McCarthy, an excellent writer, because to do otherwise would have been a travesty beyond words.

And look! People actually like it! Even hayseeds like me, who haven't been to a theatre in 5 years. Who would've ever thought that NOT screwing around with a piece of literature would work so well?

As for art film and award winner, I'll leave that to the dorks who care about such things and the reverse-snobs, like Chute, who think it somehow lessens the achievement.

Posted by: Scott on December 4, 2007 9:49 PM

It's true the Coens were faithful to the novel. I remember having to go back and re-read that part thinking: McCarthy just didn't kill the guy "while I was walking to the ice machine in the motel." Sure enough, he killed him without us (the readers). Now, I could make up or interpret several reasons (good reasons, even) for that, but the bottom line is: I was cheated. What sort reader (viewer) doesn't want to be with that character at his death?

We could take more twists and say, if you didn't feel cheated, maybe you're missing McCarthy's point.

Posted by: sN on December 4, 2007 10:58 PM

Bless you, Mr. Blowhard.

And for the record, I thought No Country was perfection, bleakness and all.

Posted by: communicatrix on December 5, 2007 12:34 AM






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