Script to Screen: “No Country For Old Men”

The coin toss scene from No Country For Old Men (2007), screenplay by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen, one of the most riveting moments in the movie.

Setup: A vicious killer Anton Chigurh (Javier Bardem) escapes from the law and stops for gas.

Here is the scene in the movie:

At :41 they cut out this:

CHIGURH: I guess that passes for manners in your cracker view of things.

A beat.

PROPRIETOR: Well sir, I apologize.

By not including the apology from the Proprietor, it makes him a bit more defiant. He’s not yet understanding the gravity of the situation.

Why is the fact that he “married into it” important? My opinion is that Chigurh is looking for a reason for the coin toss. Oddly enough, he can’t justify it until after he finds out about the marriage. He’s working himself up to the “act” and that is symbolized by eating the cashews. He finishes the bag and it is empty right before it is “time.”

The interesting thing that is not in the script is how Chigurh is acting when he says “Call it.” He sighs. It’s like an outside force is making him do this. It’s almost like he doesn’t want to but it’s a compulsive behavior. That is underlined when he says “I can’t call it for you.” Some “rule” that he has to follow even though he is forcing this game onto an unwilling person.

Also notice the slight zoom in at 3:18. The cinematography relieves the tension just a tad right there to emphasize the line “You been putting it up your whole life. You just didn’t know it.” It makes us go “A-ha, is that what it’s about?”

And then he mentions the date of the coin like it’s some profound statement about how long it has traveled to get there. In Chigurh’s mind, he is still looking for reasons to justify his behavior. He seems to be searching for meaning. Same thing with the coin getting “…mixed in with the others and become just a coin.” Is that his way of saying that he is not like other people? This is his power, what makes him unique?

And then finishing off with “Which it is.” Life is unpredictable. Violence can happen anywhere when you least expect it. The coin is Chigurh mixing with the other “coins.”

It’s a long scene but I don’t think any line here is a throwaway. Every single one has subtext and goes to showing Chigurh’s character. It’s done in a way that makes us question his intention and motivation. It’s unsettling. The writers are fucking with us as well.

The Coens show that they have complete control over not just the mise-en-scene but control over us as an audience. They got us right where they wanted. It’s brilliant filmmaking.

I especially resonate with the sigh, as if “he doesn’t want to but it’s a compulsive behavior.” I think that’s a fair comment.

Speaking of fair, interesting to have a coin flip such a prevalent bit of business in both No Country for Old Men and The Dark Knight, and both of the key characters talk about fairness:

Any other coin flip moments of note in movies?

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