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Hi All.
I am a die-hard Coen fanatic. I absolutely love them and their films. HUGE fan. Ok, so I saw NCFOM and walked away feeling blase about it. I liked the film technically speaking. Deak was great. The Direction was great. The acting was great. Somehow, the film didn't gel for me. I felt BORED several times in the movie. It felt too long. The book was much more gripping. Does anyone else feel similarly? Did I miss it? I don't understand the overwhelming glowing reviews. Compared to Fargo, Lebow, Blood Simp, Millers, Man Who, O'Brother...this film did not take me to that magical place those films did. Can anyone else relate or help me understand why this seemingly great film just didn't get there??

Could it be that the downbeat ending changed the way you felt? Were you enjoying it up the point where Moss left the story?

It's surprising, but interesting, to hear that someone didn't think it was as good as the consensus view.

I think my main issue was the pace of the movie was slow, but as we all know the Coens can stretch out a yarn. Look at Man Who Wasnt There- very slow pace, very little dialogue, and yet I was completely engrossed by the film. In NCFOM I felt itchy, like I wish something ELSE would happen. I loved Chigurh/Bardem- carried the movie, and Brolin did a great job. But Bell's character was almost a throwaway in terms of effect on the plot whereas in the book he was an all encompassing voice of morality. NCFOM played like one big chase scene which seems to have crippled to Coen magic of developing characters that are rich and funny and complex- you can imagine whole other movies about the characters they write. In NCFOM it was like a real stripped down essentials only style. Again, I appreciated the film for many of the things it was, I'm just saying I wasn't gripped/transported/amazed as I normally am. I'm wondering if anyone else can relate to that.