MovieChat Forums > Cut Bank (2015) Discussion > Felt like a bad version of No Country fo...

Felt like a bad version of No Country for Old Men

posted 9 years ago by Jimbo_BSD
5 replies | jump to latest

Cut Bank was essentially an attempt to make a film reminiscent of No Country for Old Men only with a less talented writer and director. I'm not saying it's a ripoff of the Coen brothers film but it had some similar elements.

Simple small town folk stumble upon a plan to get some quick money vs simple small town guy finds money in the desert. A quirky antagonist with an unshakable focus on getting his package vs a quirky antagonist with an unshakable focus on returning the stolen money. Both had sheriff's investigating the crimes that are just one step behind the antagonist the whole time. Both films protagonist have a wide eyed girlfriend that's not quite clued in on her boyfriends dilemma.

The problem is that Cut Bank wasn't as witty or interesting as No Country. I don't have any qualms with the cast. Most of them are seasoned professionals and did a fine job. Liam Hemsworth is a bit bland though. I've seen him a few times and he just doesn't command the screen like you need a leading man to do.

It's not a terrible film. I didn't hate it. Just felt a bit lackluster.

5/10

[–] 9 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Edward_de_Vere 9 years ago

This was nothing like that stupid movie.
That movie was stupid; it did have a few good scenes.
Otherwise it was garbage.

This movie was perfect.

You sound like somebody who says that The Godfather was stupid garbage, while the dozen or so TV mafia movies of the week it inspired were "perfect."

If you can't see the obvious parallels between this film and No Country for Old Men and Fargo, you probably weren't paying much attention when watching any of them. Cut Bank is full of characters, references, and events that are obviously "tributes" to Coen brothers films. They're "tributes" the point that Cut Bank seems like a cheap imitation of a Coen brothers movie done by amateurs. What's missing the most is effective dark humor. You get some of it with Bruce Dern's scenes, but that's about it.

Having a mediocre (that's being genrous) lead actor and actress didn't help things either.

[–] Ilario1 9 years ago

I didn't think of No Country but I did think of Burn After Reading several times while watching. I enjoyed the movie though.

"What happens to a dream deferred?"

[–] flooptydoo 9 years ago

Osborne Cox! LOL! I thought of Burn After Reading, too.

[–] DoctorBuster 9 years ago

I thought it was more like Fargo. Another Coen Brothers production. But the film indeed felt like a Coen Brothers film.

My world is fire and blood.