Scum and Villainy
In order the spark some conversation, promote positivity, and geek out a little bit, over the next 10 days, I’m doing another top 10 list. These are my top 10 favorite movie villains. While villains are traditionally perceived as anything but positive, no movie, TV show, comic, or book would be very interesting without a solid antagonist. To me, the villain/antagonist is just as important as the hero (if not more so, after all, the villain will do just fine without the hero). I’m presenting this daily list in no particular order (except for my top three, which will be done at the end). I’ll add a little bit of explanation as well.
Warning: There will be spoilers! Let’s do this!
It’s been one week and now we’ve made it to the top three. Previously, I was listing the villains in no particular order. No longer. These are, at this point in time, my top 3 villains/antagonists!
So, without further ado…
#3. Anton Chigurh (No Country for Old Men)
Of all the villains on my list, I consider Chigurh to be the most complex and fascinating. Brilliantly portrayed by Javier Bardem, for which he deservedly won an Oscar, Chigurh is a predator who is tasked with retrieving a case full of drug money that went missing when a desert drug deal went off the rails.
In his pursuit of the money, and armed with only a shotgun and a captive-bolt stunner (look it up), Chigurh leaves a trail of bodies and destruction in his wake.
He is a killer. That is very clear from your first introduction with Chigurh.
However, he is neither random nor haphazard. He is methodical and always kills with a purpose. He also possesses a sense of morals, although they would be very different from most other people. Of all the villains on this list, he is probably the most moralistic and ethical. Imbued with a strong sense of honor, Chigurh will steadfastly abide by his beliefs, even when doing so is not to his advantage or benefit.
Chiguhr sees himself as a hand of fate and is a strong believer in destiny and that things happen simply because they must. Everything is pre-ordained. What him, or anyone else wants, is completely irrelevant. This is his code.
In his attempt to retrieve the money, he ruthlessly and efficiently dispatches anyone in his way. However, when a simple gas station clerk displays knowledge of Chigurh’s comings and goings, instead of murdering him (which would be the logical thing to do from an hitman’s point-of-view), Chiguhr allows a coin toss to decide. Fate dictated that the clerk would live, and Chiguhr readily (even excitedly) accepted that decree.
Throughout the entire movie, we encounter characters who are deceitful, dishonest, devious, selfish, manipulative, cruel, petty, and unethical. Chigurh is none of those things. While he is, by no means, a good person (we are talking about a stone cold killer without empathy or remorse), he is ethical, trustworthy, and honorable.
One of my favorite scenes, and a good example of Chigurh’s mindset, is this simple conversation between him and Carson Wells (a bounty hunter also sent to retrieve the money, played by a sleazy Woody Harrelson)
- Chigurh: And you know what’s going to happen now. You should admit your situation. There would be more dignity in it.
- Wells: You go to hell.
- Chigurh: Alright. Let me ask you something. If the rule you followed brought you to this, of what use was the rule?
- Wells: Do you have any idea how crazy you are?
- Chigurh: You mean the nature of this conversation?
- Wells: I mean the nature of you.
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“Alright. Let me ask you something. If the rule you followed brought you to this, of what use was the rule?”
-Anton Chigurh, “No Country for Old Men”
20Today in neo-western / crime thriller movie history: on November 21, 2007 No Country for Old Men debuted in the U.S..
Here’s a portrait of Anton Chigurh!
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Heads up! I just learned about a coffee table book that Oscar Isaac will be included in.
Entertainment journalist Ruben V. Nepales has just made available a full-colour coffee table book of photos and quotes of more than 200 celebrities he has interviewed from the worlds of film, TV, theatre and music over the years. Many of the photos have been previously unpublished.
(Disclaimer: I have not seen this book in person. I’m just passing along my discovery to you guys.)
Il materiale di origine: Through a Writer’s Lens by Ruben V. Nepales (Facebook)
You can access the Facebook page for more information and order the book through the source link below:
53Javier Bardem Gif Icons 100x100
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7Javier Bardem Gif Icons 100x100
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4Javier Bardem Gif Icons 100x100
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