10 minutes ago, Blue Muton said:

Well, it's the used as the first example of the sub-genre when you search "Neo Western Definition".

Perhaps the better question would be "In what sense is No Country for Old Men not a "western"?

A neo-Western is

a subgenre that applies traditional Western themes—such as justice, revenge, and rugged individualism—to a modern-day setting, usually the American West. These films/series, which include examples like No Country for Old Men, Logan, and Yellowstone, replace horses with cars and frontier law with contemporary moral ambiguity. 

Certainly not worth arguing about for more than 5 minutes, but the "definition" above is general enough to be applied to numerous movies where justice, revenge etc are major themes.

I guess I'm old-fashioned enough to see "western" as evoking images of Clint Eastwood riding in to town alone and in time to sort out a bit of trouble in the neighbourhood.

43 minutes ago, Leopold Bloom said:

In what sense is No Country for Old Men a "western"?

Yes it does fall into the classification of a modern Western, not all Westerns have to be 19th century. Hell or high water is also considered a western, but it's contemporary.

On 3/13/2026 at 5:12 AM, bendejo said:

Atropia

per IMDB: Follows an aspiring actress working on a U.S. military base that simulates an Iraqi war zone.

One absurdity piles on to another, with a lot of subtle remarks that had me laughing out loud. US vets may get more out of this than the rest of us.

Currently watching Shock and Awe (Rob Reiner directed), about the press covering the US wars following the 9/11 attacks. Yet another political suspense movie so topical you just might slip a few times and think they are talking about what is happening now: "we are not stenographers for the administration."

Vice it's also excellent, about the Iraq deception and Cheney's control over Bush Jr.

You could almost substitute the Deep State for Cheney and Trump for Bush Jr. except Bush Jr. was significantly more intelligent than Trump, which is not a difficult thing to do. And yet they both got rope-a-doped into forever wars didn't they?

On 3/5/2026 at 10:33 PM, xylophone said:

Watched a good "western" movie which I have seen before, called. "Open Range" starring Robert Duvall, Kevin Costner, Annette Benning and Michael Gambon and imo it still stands as a good unerrated Western, with some excellent gunfighting scenes in it, for those interested.

Also watched probably Gerard Butler's best movie yet, called "Law Abiding Citizen" and really didn't like the character played by Jamie Foxx, but them's the breakes!!

You're right Butler reminds me of Nicolas Cage when he went through his gutter movie phase. I think he will do anything with a paycheck attached to it. I generally avoid any movie that he's attached to, and it's a shame because the guy can act, it's just that he sold his soul so you can't count in his movies anymore.

Open Range is considered by many to be an all-time classic, and perhaps one of the 20 greatest westerns done in the past 30 years. I don't even remember how many times I've seen it, and every time it it plays quite fresh.

This one was bizarre.

Keith and Sherri Papini's seemingly idyllic life is shattered when Sherri vanishes from their rural California neighborhood, triggering a frenzied search that becomes news around the world.

But once Sherri is found, a new nightmare begins.

10 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

You could almost substitute the Deep State for Cheney and Trump for Bush Jr. except Bush Jr. was significantly more intelligent than Trump, which is not a difficult thing to do. And yet they both got rope-a-doped into forever wars didn't they?

Trying not to go off on the politics of these things. I get the impression LBJ was also chumped into escalating VN, and him later realizing it is one reason why he dodged running for re-election. His political forte was congressional deal making, backroom talks over cigars and bourbon, and being thrust into international affairs put him out of his element.

"Truth" regarding Cheney will not be happening while the wife is still alive, and I doubt that the daughters will come to Jesus regarding Dad. Go to Wikipedia and type in

Fortunate Son (Hatfield book)

for an example of how things like this are done.

9 hours ago, bendejo said:

Trying not to go off on the politics of these things. I get the impression LBJ was also chumped into escalating VN, and him later realizing it is one reason why he dodged running for re-election. His political forte was congressional deal making, backroom talks over cigars and bourbon, and being thrust into international affairs put him out of his element.

"Truth" regarding Cheney will not be happening while the wife is still alive, and I doubt that the daughters will come to Jesus regarding Dad. Go to Wikipedia and type in

Fortunate Son (Hatfield book)

for an example of how things like this are done.

I agree. However I was pleasantly surprised by his daughter who did turn out to be somebody with a moral compass, which is astonishing considering who she was spawned from.

LBJ did a lot of remarkable things during his time in office, but you are likely right that he was rope a doped into the Vietnam escalation, which was a tragedy of epic proportions.

It somehow reminds me of the situation that little Donnie may have gotten America into right now, that the American people are being lied to about daily.

22 hours ago, Leopold Bloom said:

In what sense is No Country for Old Men a "western"?

It's set in Texas on the Mexican border.

Deus - Scientists sent to examine a black sphere near Mars which promises those who enter it a heaven-like experience. But is it really a eugenicist scheme?

1 hour ago, BritManToo said:

It's set in Texas on the Mexican border.

so - not "west" then.....

The Madison

TV series by Taylor Sheridon starring Michelle Pfieffer(?)

About a NY family moving to rural USA after a bad experience in the city.

3 episodes out.

IMDb

▶️ The Madison - Official Trailer

Watch Trailer | 2:07

Watch 'Spy Game' (2001, Tony Scott)

Robert Redford, Brad Pitt, Catherine McCormack + Watched 3rd time maybe, and still enjoyable.