No Country for Old Men - a discussion of the ending (spoiler)

Being new to Spout, I am not sure if spoiled discussions are allowed - but I would love to discuss the end of the film and how people read it.

With that in mind;  I am fascinated by the moment where Sheriff Bell is pausing before entering the hotel room where (supposedly) Chigurh lies in wait.  The image of the orange light emanating from the blown out lock hole.  The moments where we see Bell decide whether his life is worth finding out what really lies behind this door.

What does Bell decide?  Does he really enter the room?  Was Chigurh in the room?  What is the significance of the dime on the floor and the open vent?

I am also fascinated by the final scene with Chigurh.  How does everyone read the moments where Chigurh watches the boys in his rear view mirror and then is hit by the car.  Is it simple distraction?  Is there a point behind having the young boys help him?  Why, theoretically - not within the story, does the car hit him?  

Take a listen to this - http://www.nocountryforoldmen.com/podcast/ - and come back with reactions.

Jed

Re:No Country for Old Men - a discussion of the ending (spoiler)

I've actually been meaning to see the film again, because I think the ending is fascinating as well...lots of mystery.  If I make it in the next week or so I'll try and chime in again with some thoughts.

Thanks for the link to the podcast, very cool stuff.

Re:Re:No Country for Old Men - a discussion of the ending (spoiler)

The podcast has a great moment when some alludes to the car being driven by God - defending this comment by saying we never see the driver or repercussions of the accident.

 I don't necessarily belive it is God, but I am fascinated by the notion that something is punishing Chigurh - or attempting to stop him.

Re:No Country for Old Men - a discussion of the ending (spoiler)

Bell does enter the room.  Chigurh was in the room, after taking the money from the vent (the dime on the floor, alluding to the first hotel).  Chigurh does not kill Bell because Bell does not see Chigurh, thus the good guy never catches or even sees the bad guy the entire movie.  Chigurh lives by a unique and twisted code, but a code nonetheless.  Because Bell did not see Chigurh, he does not "need" to kill him.  This point is made when Chigurh goes back to the 13th floor and kills the man who hired him. The other man asks, "Are you going to kill me?" and Chigurh responds, "That depends.  Have you seen me?" 

I believe the kids in the rear view are nothing more than an expository set-up to the final scene.  The light was green for Chigurh.  He was not at fault in the accident.  The message, which ties to the central theme in this movie and most of McCarthy's books, is that nothing can stop evil.  It (Chigurh) persists no matter what time, place or situation, and it will always exist.  I think the car hitting him is one more example of this theme.  The young boys are innocence and, perhaps innocence and evil are intricately tied somehow, at least in McCarthy's mind.   

Re:No Country for Old Men - a discussion of the ending (spoiler)

My feeling is that the final few scenes really serve to hammer home the true meaning of the film, which is, in the words of Chigurgh: "you can't stop what's coming."  Our man Anton, despite always seeming to be on top of things, can be foiled by something as simple as a man failing to notice a red light, meanwhile Sheriff Bell now realizes that even though he has retired from a position that puts his life in danger, he cannot prevent his own death.

I wasn't sure so I posed to question to my high school philosophy teacher and fellow film buff, who had this to say.  "The words 'you can't stop what's coming' I think are pivotal to the meaning of the film and it's grim fatalistic outlook."