Brief Screening Report: No Country For Old Men

Brief Screening Report: No Country For Old Men

 Llewellyn Moss is a persistent man and with the money in his hands he will do what he has to escape with it. An important scene that clearly shows this characters intent takes place in a hospital during a phone call between Llewellyn Moss, the man on the run who is a patient in this scene, and Anton Chigurh, the man who chases him. (Approximately 1 hour 23 minutes into film) Up till the phone call Moss has been shot and barley escaped death multiple times, yet he continues to run with the money without using creativity to escape or making a deal to trade the money for his life. When Moss finally comes to his senses he calls Carson Wells, the man who offered him safety and part of the money for the 2 million, but it’s too late. Anton answers the phone and gives Moss an ultimatum. Give his life and the money or his wife dies. Moss gets angry and turns down the offer and sends a threat to Chigurh. This just proves that Moss is persistent on keeping the cash, but willing to put his wife’s life in danger.

This scene is clearly important because it emphasizes Llewellyn Moss’s intent with the money along with proving he won’t take help from anyone and is willing to risk lives. Also being in a hospital wearing a gown is showing that Moss is in a weak state compared to his cowboy look. It makes the viewer think he is going to give up. But instead he fights on with the money.

This scene goes against what I expected to happen at this point. I thought Llewellyn Moss would give Carson the money right away. When he didn’t and the ultimatum was offered by Anton I thought he would proudly save his wife by facing Anton with the money.  Instead he tries to keep the money and plans to go after Anton.

Although Llewellyn Moss survives this scene, in a following scene his persistence and lack of a creative plan lead to a surprising demise for him and his wife.