BajaNomad

is 'no country for old men' bad for baja's reputation?

rome778 - 4-19-2008 at 02:13 AM

if you haven't seen no country for old men yet, the movie's plot in a nutshell is about a drug deal gone wrong which takes place in a mexico-us border town. i loved the movie. love love love. yes it was quite disturbing but i loved it.

the thing is though, it made me wonder how it would affect people's views about mexico border cities security? last eyar and until now, we get to read and watch a lot of sensationalized news about baja crime rates and drug dealings. united states even warned its citizens against vacationing in baja norte. so how do you think no country for old men would affect directly or may be indirectly the viewing audience's opinion of baja safety?

rpleger - 4-19-2008 at 06:31 AM

Good news if they come...

Better news if they stay away...

David K - 4-19-2008 at 07:22 AM

You loved THAT movie??? It didn't have an ending... no conclussion... wide open for sequels maybe? Saw it with three others, we all looked at each other when it was over and :barf::barf::barf::barf:

It was based in Texas... I see nothing that affects Baja travel in that movie...

However, I do see real crimes (against tourists and innocent locals) in Baja affecting Baja travel A LOT!

capt. mike - 4-19-2008 at 07:28 AM

DK - you missed entirely the point of the ending.
It is the sheriffs character, played by Tommy Jones, simply resigned to the fact that what he does means little in the grand scheme. And that the crime and drugs etc will just continue as it did back when his own father was the cop before he got in trouble. The movie was 100% noir, that dark depressing ending as he mused said volumes.

i'll admit it took me a while to get it though.

David K - 4-19-2008 at 07:40 AM

Thanks Mike... Yes, that was what happened. However, way too many unanswered questions. I wasn't the only one disappointed Mike... Perhaps we will rent it and watch it again... but it didn't wrap up what happened to the nut case... anyway, let's not spoil it if others haven't seen the thing!

capt. mike - 4-19-2008 at 08:00 AM

yeah, i agree witcha there. it left a few wonderings. i sometimes wonder if directors do that on porpoise just to eff with us.

weird movie tho.

bufeo - 4-19-2008 at 08:22 AM

The book was even rougher, but at least one can re-read parts for a better understanding of McMurtry's focus.

DENNIS - 4-19-2008 at 08:23 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by rome778
we get to read and watch a lot of sensationalized news about baja crime rates and drug dealings.


Sensational, maybe. Sensationalized? Perhaps you could give us an example of where factual reporting stopped and hyperbole began. Over-exposure may apply but, we just happen to have a lot of news sources, each trying to bring us news of the day. For me, that is far better than little or no news at all or the sterilized, government approved crap that comes out of Mexico. We should be thankful that we're hit from all directions with the same story because even those who don't want to hear it, will. Everybody is entitled to the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

DENNIS - 4-19-2008 at 08:28 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by bufeo
The book was even rougher, but at least one can re-read parts for a better understanding of McMurtry's focus.


Cormac Macarthy?

bufeo - 4-19-2008 at 08:47 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by DENNIS
Quote:
Originally posted by bufeo
The book was even rougher, but at least one can re-read parts for a better understanding of McMurtry's focus.


Cormac Macarthy?


Absolutely. My goof. Apologies to Macarthy. Hope he doesn't read this forum.

A.

McCarthy It Is

bajajazz - 4-19-2008 at 08:54 AM

Yes, written by Cormac McCarthy whose ex-wife, Lee McCarthy, visited La Paz from Bakersfield, California, a few years back and while here gave a poetry reading in the Hitchc-ck's backyardo.

Capt. Mike's comments are right-on. To get the point of the movie think of the title, it speaks volumes. Recall also the voiceover narration at the beginning of the film, in which the sherriff recalls the days when his father and a few other sherriffs didn't even wear guns to do their job. But the world changed quickly, descending into a chaos of insane violence and the sherriff retires because his Texas town had become "No Country For Old Men."

vgabndo - 4-19-2008 at 09:47 AM

David K...I have a movie recommendation. Rent and watch
"Limbo" I predict you'll LOVE it. :P

toneart - 4-19-2008 at 09:57 AM

I read the book. The movie came out while I was/am in Baja so I haven't had a chance to see it yet.

To answer the question: Yes, it may affect those who are easily influenced by their own fear gripped lives. Overall, the news is what it is; border violence is what it is...probably not a Country for Old Men or anyone else who allows fear to sway their free spirit (and how they vote).

To comment to the story, the book ending is just as nebulous as those reports of the movie's ending; not very satisfying, as entertainment. I think the sheriff's point is that (the drug culture) violence has escalated beyond what used to be the norm. The ethic (if you can call it that) is more ruthless. Like many other generational changes, the new is difficult to comprehend. For any of us to venture into Baja, it is a personal decision. We have the option to not go. For the character in the movie, his conclusion (the title of the book) is an occupational one. Why would he want to continue risking his life every day in these times?

Cormack McCarthy is one of our hottest novelests at present. These writers have to have the commercial angle of a screenplay in mind while writing. It sure looks like a set up for a good sequal.:light:

shari - 4-19-2008 at 11:52 AM

I look forward to seeing the movie..glad you loved it...now I am all for truth...and don't give a pinch of coon crap what people might think or how it will "affect" tourism....what IS crucial is that visitors see films like this and
UNDERSTAND what can and does happen, the REALITY of border town crime etc...and not come to mexico with some la-dee-da head in the clouds idea but with truth so they can be prepared and make sound decisions and take precautions....it's OK that mexico is not for the faint of heart or wooseys....viva la verdad

Santiago - 4-19-2008 at 12:12 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by shari
and don't give a pinch of coon crap what people might think


you can take the girl out of Ontario but you can't take Ontario out of the girl.....

bajabound2005 - 4-19-2008 at 10:36 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by rome778
if you haven't seen no country for old men yet, the movie's plot in a nutshell is about a drug deal gone wrong which takes place in a mexico-us border town. i loved the movie. love love love. yes it was quite disturbing but i loved it.

the thing is though, it made me wonder how it would affect people's views about mexico border cities security? last eyar and until now, we get to read and watch a lot of sensationalized news about baja crime rates and drug dealings. united states even warned its citizens against vacationing in baja norte. so how do you think no country for old men would affect directly or may be indirectly the viewing audience's opinion of baja safety?


No, but it sure is a crappy movie...can't believe it won BEST PIC!:?:

Mexitron - 4-20-2008 at 04:46 AM

I've read other Cormac McCarthy books--they generally leave a lot of loose ends too, but life's often more like that than the simplified movies we mostly see. He reminds me of Steinbeck in how he takes a slice of life and just tells it how it is rather than making it all neat and tidy.

Naw, don't think the movie will affect the impression of Baja--like DK said--its West Texas and 30 years ago.

DENNIS - 4-20-2008 at 07:01 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Mexitron
I've read other Cormac McCarthy books--


"Blood Meridian" was a gory piece of literature, first of the Border Trilogy that I read. I passed on the other two. Maybe later. Macarthy certainly has a way with words.

David K - 4-20-2008 at 08:29 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by vgabndo
David K...I have a movie recommendation. Rent and watch
"Limbo" I predict you'll LOVE it. :P



Hmmm...

On Baja Nomad, I can recommend some movies!:

1) Bajo California: The Limit of Time

2) Corazon Vaquero

3) Dust to Glory









[Edited on 4-20-2008 by David K]

rome778 - 4-24-2008 at 12:25 AM

i liked the ending. anti-climactic yes but it did seem like a fluid conclusion and its hard for me to imagine it ending any other way

David K - 4-24-2008 at 09:00 AM

How about "what happened to the nut job with the air gun"?

Mexitron - 4-24-2008 at 10:31 AM

The dude with the air gun walked away, same as many of the people in that industry do...Cormac likes to tweak our pre-conditioned sensibilities and perhaps show the reality of the situation.

marv sherrill - 4-24-2008 at 01:11 PM

Just saw the movie yesterday (movie night!) I just gotta agree with David - it needed a little (a Lot) closure -kind of thought I wasted a couple of hours...Tommy Lee jones character didn't even need to be in the movie -what a nothing - OK Gene Shalot I'm not. Don't see how it could affect Baja though.

David K - 4-24-2008 at 05:49 PM

Marv, you and Gail come on by... I'll make the pop corn... We have a real nice collection of GOOD movies on DVD... the kind that leaves you happy or fullfilled after watching! LOL

Decent Movie-Crappy Ending

MrBillM - 5-9-2008 at 12:39 PM

Having read about it, I didn't think that I would care for it. However, I watched it on PPV the other night and then watched it a second time late in the evening. Other than the noted futility, it really didn't make any new points. Everybody who pays attention is aware of the ruthlessness of the Big-Time Drug trade. You need go no further than the Daily News to OD on that.

However, its unremitting graphic violence did place it at the entry level on my "Watch Again and Again" list along with "American Gangster". Whether or not, it will ever reach the heights of "Pulp Fiction", "Full Metal Jacket", "Blackhawk Down" and "ZULU", only time will tell.

My biggest disappointment lately was "There Will be Blood". Although Daniel Day Lewis turned in a good performance, the movie was B-O-R-I-N-G, especially at 2.5 + Hours. One of those flicks where you kept waiting for the REAL Blood to start rolling in buckets, but it never did. It also ended strangely.

TMW - 5-9-2008 at 05:41 PM

I thought it was a dumb movie. Only cheap thrillers have the plots etc like this one. And why would you want to go back for the guy in the truck? If you couldn't help him when you first was there forget him. Some of those trucks probably had water in the radiator, drain some and give that to him. How dumb can you be to sit in your car while a deputy walks up with an air tank and hose and kills you. Hit the petal and don't stop. How hard is it to get lost. He ain't running from the cops that could trace his movements from many sources. Get in your car and go and pay cash for services and don't stop. You ever watch an old mummy movie. The mummy is walking after the girl dragging his leg and she is running, usually in high heels and he still catches her. Dumb, Dumb, Dumb.

Don't Hold Back.

MrBillM - 5-9-2008 at 09:03 PM

Tell us what you really think.

These things aren't meant to be taken seriously and it was worthwhile if only for the gritty violence.

Actually, the news is filled with "Stupid Criminal" stories everyday about guys just that dumb.

Going back to the original premise of this thread, it's hard to see how this movie, even if taken seriously, could impact opinion on Mexico in a negative way given that ALL of the events took place in Los Estados Unidos and the setting was 1980.

TMW - 5-10-2008 at 10:49 AM

I did get off the original question. I agree, it'll have no impact on Baja.

conquestkm - 5-10-2008 at 11:25 AM

Well I read some where that the USA has 1/6 the world population and consume 90% of all the illegal drugs in the world . What do we expect

vandenberg - 5-10-2008 at 11:47 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by conquestkm
Well I read some where that the USA has 1/6 the world population and consume 90% of all the illegal drugs in the world . What do we expect


Don't know where you got that information, but knowing something about Europe, that 90% has as much chance applying to them as the US.

Cypress - 5-10-2008 at 03:00 PM

I'll take my chances along the US/Mexican border.:DThe odds are you'll be OK and if you have problems there are plenty of of good guys that will help you.:D There are neighborhoods in the USA where a wrong turn could be a death sentence.:lol:

toneart - 5-10-2008 at 03:46 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Mexitron
The dude with the air gun walked away, same as many of the people in that industry do...Cormac likes to tweak our pre-conditioned sensibilities and perhaps show the reality of the situation.


This is probably the best analysis....and succinct too! Thanks, Mexitron:!:

DENNIS - 5-10-2008 at 04:08 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by conquestkm
Well I read some where that the USA has 1/6 the world population and consume 90% of all the illegal drugs in the world . What do we expect


Do you believe that? With the size of the Orient and all the opium dens therein, doncha think the numbers might be different?

CaboRon - 5-10-2008 at 04:56 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by conquestkm
Well I read some where that the USA has 1/6 the world population and consume 90% of all the illegal drugs in the world . What do we expect


Just because you read it "somewhere"

Doesn't mean it is worth "something"

CaboRon