Okay, let's talk about something important. Something profound. Something...long. I'm talking about No Country for Old Men.
Specifically, I'm talking about how long it feels. Not how long it is. There's a difference.
The Clock vs. The Feeling
I know, I know. It's like, 2 hours and 2 minutes, right? According to the internet, that's the official runtime.
But honestly? It feels longer. Much, much longer. Like a whole Texas summer long.
My Unpopular Opinion (Brace Yourselves!)
Here it comes. My hot take. My controversial statement. Are you ready?
No Country for Old Men...is kinda boring. Sometimes. Don't @ me.
I said it. The tension is great, Javier Bardem's haircut is iconic. But those long stretches of silence? Oof.
It's like waiting for a kettle to boil. Except the kettle might have a sociopathic hitman lurking nearby.
Silence of the…West?
The Coen brothers are masters of suspense. They know how to build tension with quiet moments.
But there are a lot of quiet moments. Like, a whole lotta quiet moments. Enough quiet to make you wonder if your TV is broken.
And sometimes, just sometimes, I wish someone would just SAY something! Or shoot something! Or…anything!
Maybe that's the point. Maybe the emptiness is supposed to reflect the moral decay of the West. But my attention span is decaying too!
Is It Just Me? (Probably Not)
I can't be the only one who feels this way. Right? Please tell me I'm not alone.
I love a good slow burn movie. There Will Be Blood? Masterpiece. But No Country? It's a slow burn that occasionally flickers out entirely.
It's like they took the "show, don't tell" rule and ran a marathon with it. A very, very quiet marathon.
The Verdict (Sort Of)
Look, No Country for Old Men is a great film. A modern classic. It won a bunch of awards.
But just because something is great doesn't mean it can't also feel long. Like a visit to your in-laws during the holidays.
Maybe it's just me. Maybe I'm too used to explosions and car chases. Maybe I need more stimulation.
Or maybe, just maybe, Anton Chigurh's menacing silence just lasted a little too long.
So, how long is No Country for Old Men? Officially, 2 hours and 2 minutes. In my heart? Forever. Or at least, a very, very long afternoon.
And let's be honest, the ending? That Tommy Lee Jones monologue? It just adds to the "longness," doesn't it? Don't get me wrong, it's good! But long!
Maybe I should rewatch it. Or maybe I'll just watch a cat video. Decisions, decisions.
