Don't know if this has been mentioned but...

I heard the Coens say that this film was their Western version of Bresson's Balthazar (Au hasard Balthazar). At first this sounded like an off-handed remark upon closer inspection there are certain traits they share with Besson's film. The only thing I will say is that there is a connection between Chigurh and Balthazar as they are both anchors for their respective films, yet not the main ptotagonist in either.

I won't go into a diatribe on film theory at the moment but I thought it was funny that they named one of the extras on the DVD "Diary of a Country Sheriff" similar to Bresson's film title Diary of a Country Priest.

As I mentioned before, hope I'm not being redundant here nor stating the obvious.

With the Coens, there is always something hidden just beneath the surface. I love that about their films...

Very interesting! I shall have to track down the movie.

_________________
Paul

Web overlord of youknow-forkids.com

Don't be too disappointed. The similarities are not on the surface at all but more in the deconstruction of the film. I will give another clue: Both deal with the old timers (and their inflexible views of life) being replaced by a new (and in many ways crueler) generation.

Also Bresson loves shots of feet walking or people in their environment. Think of Tommy Lee Jones shown sitting as his desk. Not as a closeup but looking through a doorway at him. Also think of the feet shots in NCFOM and Blood Simple too. Sound is also used similarly in Coen films and the films of Bresson...