No Country for Old Men thoughts

In the film No Country for Old Men, directed by the Coen brothers, the audience is treated to an exciting yet disturbing and uncomfortable string of events.  The film is categorized as a thriller suspense genre, however there is more meaning to this film than an individual may pick up on.  The film focuses on the main protagonist character, Llewelyn Moss, as well as the other protagonist, Ed Tom Bell, as they interact with Anton Chigurh, the antagonist.  An individual could take the movie for what it is, an exciting chase movie, based on money, or they could look deeper.  The film has an underlying theme of death and no escape.  Throughout the film Chigurh chases his target without rest or remorse.  Also Chigurh does not hesitate to kill those who cross his path.  Often Chigurh will flip a coin, allowing whoever he has crossed a chance to live.  This takes death out of Chigurh’s control and instead leaves it to chance.  Chigurh appears impossible to kill as well and does not show reaction to pain.  Almost as if he is already dead.  Chugurh is a representation of death, chasing man and never resting.  Chigurh is described as a ghost my Ed Tom Bell (Tommy Lee Jones) at one point in the film, which points further that Chigurh is a supernatural being.  However, the film does not focus entirely on Chigurh, but instead on Llewelyn Moss and his actions and how they affect those around him.   At the beginning of the film Llewelyn is hunting a herd of animals, making him in control of death and killing, however when Llewelyn finds a case full of two million dollars, he takes a chance, and risks it all for it.  He put everything on a coin toss.  Llewelyn had to call it, for Chigurh could not call it for him, take the case or leave the case.  He chose the wrong choice, and for that death must come and take him away.

What makes the Shining Shine?

Stanley Kubrick's The Shining was a film that changed the thriller/horror genre forever.  Its considered one of the grandaddies of the modern day cinema and an instant classic.  Kubrick’s interpretation changed the story of a man losing his mind, into a subliminal thrilling joyride to the audience.  The film is full of many subliminal images and metaphors, so there is no real "right" way to view the film, as everyone will have a different interpretation. However some ways to view its meaning are the feminist view, a view on racism towards native Americans and the Constitution, and the power of the human mind and how it can bring nonliving things to life.  The film overall is fantastically well done, Kubrick really knows what he is doing.  With amazing performances, mind bending messages, subliminal onslaught, terrifying music score, uncomfortable camera angels, and a fantastic story this film is well worth seeing.  Its a movie that has left an imprint on me and makes me crave more on the edge of my seat.  I defiantly recommend it.