Such a vigorous depiction of the boundless loneliness is indeed the technique of many classic westerns. Such a harsh and lonely environment is to better set off the heroism of the protagonist: in an irregular zone like the end of the world, relying on all the skills and righteousness (perhaps a hint of cunning) to defeat the evil forces, and then ride alone to face the sunset Disappeared in a desolate twilight in the desert. This is in line with the perfect imagination of the vast majority of people for heroism.
But "Old Nowhere" can be said to be using classic western elements to deconstruct western films and even crime films of the same line. The classic structure of the confrontation between the two heroes seems to be similar in appearance in this film. The old cowboy Moss is almost a classic hero image: a retired soldier, superb marksmanship, courageous and strategic, advocating individualism, and believing that his own power can solve everything. The problem, coupled with the pursuit of wealth, is basically a representative of the American spirit.
But the difference lies in the other end of the "two heroes": the killer Chigursh. This assassin with an old-fashioned hairstyle and using a weapon that pulls the wind has actually escaped the duality of the two heroes and has become a more advanced and terrifying existence. We can see this from the poster: in front is a tiny desperate cowboy, and behind him, the killer's huge indifferent face almost occupies the entire picture. This implies that the relationship between the two is not equal. The killer is actually in a higher and more powerless position, and all resistance will be in vain.
The overwhelming status of the killer does not actually reflect the level of technical killing skills. In fact, in the face-to-face confrontation with the killer, the old cowboy is not at a disadvantage. The only real confrontation is that the killer flees in the end. But unlike the current popular trend of returning negative characters to humanity, Chigursh in this film has no humanity at all, and his breathless sense of oppression comes from this. This character is different from the traditional villain. He is bloodthirsty and even shoots birds on the side of the road while driving. If he has a character, it is basically one word: evil. And she practiced this character very technically: Although she wanted to kill the old woman who refused to reveal the Moss unit, she wisely gave up after discovering that it might cause trouble. There are numerous other details, such as being afraid of bleeding and blocking it with a shower curtain before firing, and starting from the bottom drawer to save time. His uniqueness is also reflected in the fact that, unlike other negative characters that are so badly attractive that they can cause Stockholm syndrome, Chigursh’s old-fashioned hairstyle and boots, his dark expression and the way he doesn’t smile when he speaks, and the vain attempt to play the role that determines the fate of others. God's role makes people feel extremely disgusted with him while creeping. Therefore, in the confrontation between the old cowboy and him, the audience is actually a clear-cut stand.
But the end was that all those who dared to confront him were defeated. Including the dragged invincible Harrison, they did you just sitting down. Because the cowboys are like invincible Harrison, no matter how awesome they are, they are still human, even if they are evil, they are not completely evil spokespersons. And Chigursh is, it can be said that he is 100% evil, the incarnation of Satan. And this kind of evil, no matter how powerful people are, they are powerless to fight against it.
In fact, from a certain perspective, the killer has the power to determine the fate of others. He is a powerful evil force, so evil that heroes must fight against, but so powerful that heroes are powerless to fight. The defeated hero highlights a huge desolation. This is a feeling of powerlessness that you can never get rid of when confronted with a force that is too much stronger than yourself.
The veteran police officer exists to express another level of desolation. He is almost alienated from the confrontation between the two heroes. To a certain extent, he is a character specially used by the Coen brothers to make questions. The story begins with his narration. The fathers of the police family have inherited the relationship, which brings out an unforgettable sigh. This kind of nostalgia for the past innocent age is also reflected in the old cowboy: when he returned to the United States and transited, it was the righteousness of his fellows who helped him. And we can see that although the old police officer is very good, in the entire film, he showed that he was completely unable to do what he wanted, and finally chose to retire. The film used his dialogue with his father and his dreams about his father to focus on the topic of "the old do not have anything to rely on", which embodies another great sense of sadness and powerlessness: everyone will eventually grow old. It will eventually lead to a tragic ending of powerlessness.
This is the final outcome that fate brings to everyone, irreversible and irresistible. The powerful power of the incarnation of evil mentioned above is desperate enough to make people unable to fight. Coupled with the more powerful power of destiny, this movie is actually completely black. Facing such obscurity and despair, mortals such as you and I are indeed powerless. Maybe they can only learn to be a cowboy wife. Faced with hypocritical choices and opportunities for change, it is actually a shameful mockery of evil forces to maintain their dignity. You can beat me, but you can't insult me. This is the best that a weak person can do.
The powerlessness of fate does not stop there. When the killer killed the cowboy wife and left, he suddenly encountered a car accident. And the seemingly omnipotent killer also had to ask the child for help, so powerful that he couldn't resist his fate. While destiny pulls you irreversibly towards the final tragedy, it also teased you with impermanence from time to time. It's like the two sides of a coin. The choices you think you have are in fact utter desolation on both sides.
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