preview

No Country for Old Men Scene Comparison Essay

Decent Essays

Scene Comparison: The Coin Toss The award winning film, No Country for Old Men, adapted from Cormac McCarthy’s 2007 novel, is a riveting tale of a brutal chain of events related to money, murder, and drugs, which rolls through West Texas in the 1980’s. Told through the perspective of the stories three main characters – a soulless killer, an old time sheriff, and an experienced country boy – both the novel and the film keep the audience anxiously waiting for the next gun fight or brutal killing. Amazingly, the film’s adaptation, directed by brothers Ethan and Joel Coens, manages to capture the themes and overall essences of the novel by maintaining all distinguishing mannerisms and dispositions of the characters; while also keeping the …show more content…

The directors chosen camera technique, a simple two composition that progresses the scene a steady pace, forces the audience to feel a part of the awkward exchange; obviously, a quality of film that could not be as profoundly achieved through the narrative in the novel.
In addition to the benefits of camera techniques, the Coean brothers’ add in subtleties that in enhance the overall eerie feel of the scene, aspects that are not included in the novel. One of the most well thought out and creative addition, is the hanging electrical wires on the back wall, just behind the proprietor head. Unarguably, each one looks like nooses. No doubt, this inventive visual enhancement was intentional and it most definitely heightens the aura of death in the scene.
Another technique not seen in the novel that serves to heighten the tension felt in the scene, is the un-crinkling of the Chigurh’s cashew wrapper. This seemingly simple aspect does wonders at adding suspense to the scene and demonstrating the strain and uncomfortableness for the gas station attendant and perhaps even the irritation of Chigurh. The excruciating, drawn out rustle of the cashew wrapper also brings to the attention of the audience that this scene, like many others in film, has no music; consequently, the only sounds are the tense dialogue and the exaggerated chewing of Chigurh. The fact that the awkwardness can be felt throughout this

Get Access