Been reading screenplays, with an eye on formatting. And noticed that, uniquely, in No Country for Old Men, the Cohens dispense altogether with INTS and EXTS and - days and - nights. They, of course, by now don't have to sell anything to anyone, and know exactly what they are doing, so this means nothing.
But one thing that hit me, on this reading, was the supreme importance of casting. For example I can't read this scene without hearing Javier Bardem as Chigurh and Jene Jones as the proprietor. I typed out the scene in FD, and attached it here, italicizing anything that did't make the film--just a few lines and it is better without them.
It is one of my favorite scenes of all time.
Occasionally, when meeting someone, they will ask, making conversation, something like "what do you do?" And the next time, I think I'll say, "What business is it of yours what I do. Friendo."
Edit: replaced my link with one to the whole script. The scene is pages 18-24)
and just noticed. In this one the formatting is what it usually is, so my original observation is probably not valid.
But one thing that hit me, on this reading, was the supreme importance of casting. For example I can't read this scene without hearing Javier Bardem as Chigurh and Jene Jones as the proprietor. I typed out the scene in FD, and attached it here, italicizing anything that did't make the film--just a few lines and it is better without them.
It is one of my favorite scenes of all time.
Occasionally, when meeting someone, they will ask, making conversation, something like "what do you do?" And the next time, I think I'll say, "What business is it of yours what I do. Friendo."
Edit: replaced my link with one to the whole script. The scene is pages 18-24)
and just noticed. In this one the formatting is what it usually is, so my original observation is probably not valid.
Last edited:
