Is it possible to reason with death?
Do our actions matter, if it leads us to the same place?
The Coen brothers have their own idea.
Much has been said about the Coen’s masterpiece adaptation No Country For Old Men.
Plenty of scenes have been praised and examined. The opening arrest, the coin toss, both motel shootouts, Ed Tom’s dream, probably come to mind when thinking of the film.
On my latest rewatch Caron Well’s impromptu meeting with Anton Chigurh resonated with me on a similar level as those honored scenes.
The sequence exemplifies the film’s deconstruction of order, principle and logic.
Anton calmly gets the jump on Carson, of whom they have prior history.
Carson is a former Army colonel, who up to this point has shown a competent understanding of the matter at hand, gotten ahead of Chigurh, and nearly retrieved the money himself. He’s been tasked with sorting out this mess, however, has fallen directly into his demise.
Without struggle the two men sit facing on another.
Anton rests his silenced shotgun in his hand.
Carson’s calm and level headed bravado is rapidly fading away.
He’s nervous.
Chewing his gum in an attempt to ease his anxiety.
Anton is in full control, of not only Carson or the situation, but of the audience too.
When visiting Moss at the hospital, Well’s brought to his attention Chigurhs lack of patience. He warned him that it’s no longer about the money itself and that he won’t stop until he’s dead. Anton won’t make a deal, he won’t listen to reason, his code exceeds money.
Now when faced with imminent death, what does Carson do?
Tries to barter with him.
Offering Anton 14 grand, his slight smirk is only a cover up for what’s inside.
His understanding of this evil, wiped away in an act of self-protection.
The capable man is unable to change fate.
There is no reasoning with inevitability, no way of defining it.
Anton cuts the tension, questioning Carson’s position.
“If the rule you followed brought you to this, of what use was the rule?”
The phone rings.
Carson is blown away, and with him his logic and moral understanding.
Inevitability has listened to none of it.