Javier Bardem revealed that the Coen brothers decided to film only a few takes of the coin toss scene in No Country for Old Men.

This neo-western crime thriller brings the classic Cormac McCarthy novel to the screen. Much like the novel, the film includes many iconic scenes that show Bardem's unhinged character building a sense of dread through his nuanced performance.

In 2008, Javier Bardem earned much-deserved praise and acclaim for his performance as Anton Chigurh in No Country For Old Men. Written and directed by the Coen brothers, this neo-western crime thriller brings the classic Cormac McCarthy novel to the screen.

Much like the novel, the film includes many iconic scenes that show Bardem’s unhinged character building a sense of dread through his nuanced performance. We never see Chigurh scream or be aggressive like conventional villains do. That makes him all the more terrifying.

Yet, according to a Vanity Fair interview from 2019, Javier Bardem felt insecure while working with the filmmaking duo. At the time, the actor opened up about his experience filming the iconic “coin toss” scene. He said:

“They decided to do only two takes of the same scene. Usually, you do more takes and try different ways of approaching the scene or parts of it. But they stopped at two takes, which made me feel a bit insecure.”

Usually, actors feel most comfortable when they can experiment more and try out different approaches to get into a role. However, the Coen brothers decided to stick with their vision and didn’t film any more takes than necessary.

That is not uncommon for actors, who want to put their best forward with their performance — and more takes can often help them in that direction.

However, in the interview, Bardem felt similarly anxious while filming No Country for Old Men, despite having three decades of acting experience and an Oscar nomination under his belt by then. The fact that he mentioned it showed his humility. At the same time, it showed how great actors strive for better, even if they are as accomplished as Bardem.

Since starring in No Country for Old Men, Bardem has received two more Oscar nominations: the first for Biutiful (2010) and the second for Being the Ricardos (2022).

What is the coin-toss scene in No Country for Old Men about?

Javier Bardem’s Oscar-winning turn in No Country for Old Men is still seen as one of the finest portrayals of psychotic serial killers. However, as said before, that’s because he never overperforms and strikes just the right balance between intensity and aggression.

The film includes many classic scenes — whether it’s the motel shootout with next to no dialogue, or the tense motel scene between Bardem and Woody Harrelson. However, one scene that has struck a chord the most is the one in the gas station where Bardem’s Anton Chigurh speaks with the store owner.

On paper, it may seem monotonous. After all, it’s just two strangers talking about uneventful stuff. However, Bardem and his scene partner gradually amp up the tension with their clever back-and-forth. It begins when the store owner tries to make small talk. Chigurh seems almost offended by the owner’s line of questioning. So, their seemingly simple conversation turns into something like a chess game as they both try to figure out each other’s next move.

What stands out is the palpable fear in this scene — and Bardem credits his scene partner. In line with this, Bardem told Vanity Fair:

“He brought such a sense of dread to the scene. It wasn’t acting; it was just him being scared, which made me feel like I was in danger.”

Bardem also spoke about how this clever scene partner in No Country for Old Men informed his acting choices:

“He was reacting in such a vivid way to everything I was doing. It made me want to adjust my performance to keep the energy going.”