At first, I thought the movie was set in the present day (at the time, 2007).
Nothing indicated -- to me, at least -- that we were watching a period piece. As far as I could tell, the story could have been set in 2007. So why 1980?
Because that's when it happens. It's an early eighties story.
Also, the movie makers didn't have to worry about factoring things like cell phones and the internet into their story.
And the eighties were just a cool time to set a movie.
I enjoyed the use of landlines with the curly cords of various lengths. Took a while for it to occur to me it was intentionally set in the recent past, but when they tied in the Vietnam War I realized it was going for a particular period. I'm old enough that seeing people talk on land lines doesn't strike me as unusual right off the bat. And the costuming wasn't odd looking either. I think a lot of people still dress like that, to a degree.
shareThe phone bill shows the date.
shareBecause that's when we started getting bad trouble on the borders which fits nicely with Bell's dilemma.
shareBecause that’s when the book is set. Also you have to take into account that the story is essentially a revisionist Western, and most of Sheriff Bell’s character development comes from being a WW2 vet, as well as his connection to the old timers, and drawing comparison between the modern times and the Old West days. In 1980, the tales of the Wild West (such as Ellis’s story about Uncle Mac’s killing in the year 1909) were still in living memory.
share^ best explanation
shareBecause Charles MacCarthy is a pretentious prick and thought it would make his book more interesting.
shareWhen Chigurh was paying at the service station in the first 1/4, the older attendant/ owner mentioned 1955 25 years ago. The guy was lucky….,he got to keep the coin
shareIt is a masterpiece that will live in perpetuity
shareIt's based on a book, and the book was set in that time
But I think the 1980 mark was chosen to juxtapose the changing of the eras. Sheriff Bell represents the past: he's a World War II veteran whose character is supposed to point to the outdated John Wayne-esque characters. Moss represents the present 1980, the rugged and hardened Vietnam-war veteran. Chigurh represents the future, where people reject heroism and glorify the dark and villainous. 1980, i guess, is the spot where all 3 can mingle
[deleted]