I just saw No Country For Old Men. It is a powerful and sobering statement on the role of chance in our lives. The Coen Brothers are at their best. The acting is superb.
But dagnabbit, I have had it with movies that depict motels in the American Southwest as killing fields. My goodness, you'd think that no one ever gets a decent night's sleep in motels anywhere near the border, with the gunfire spraying from room to room, usually after the check-in guy has been dispatched.
It's too bad because I used to love family vacations, barreling into motel rooms (oftentimes with my stuffed bear Sam) in sleepy towns, after eight hours in the car. All that has been ruined by the terrifying image of motels in movies like No Country. (Hotels are generally spared the bloodletting.)
Or maybe Southwestern motels are slaughterhouses. Truth be told, I've stayed in plenty of motels, but never in that part of the country. There was only one way to find out...
I called back with one other question...
So what do you think? Is it safe?
Mo Rocca has appeared on a bunch of shows, including 'The Daily Show,' 'I Love the 80s,'...
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No Country For Safe Motels?
Posted Feb 18th 2008 12:00AM by Mo Rocca
Filed under: Mo's Videos, Mo Rocca, No Country For Old Men
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Mo Rocca appears on a bunch of shows, including CBS News Sunday Morning (with the indescribably wonderful Charles Osgood), The Tonight Show on NBC, and NPR's Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! He's a sometime judge on Iron Chef and was featured on Telemundo's Amore Descarado. Last year he starred on Broadway in the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. His expose "All the President's Pets" was published by Crown in 2004.
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Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 3)
1. DON'T GO, MO! I don't trust his voice. It's a trap!
Kristen at 12:34AM on Feb 18th 2008
2. Sounds like that John Cusack motel blockbuster thriller - Identity... it's so scary that it becomes bland and you end up a fat bald white man in a straight jacket.
James Stephen at 2:02AM on Feb 18th 2008
3.
My dearest Mo,
Could also be The Lost Room.
Make sure you bring the key...
Andrea at 4:57AM on Feb 18th 2008
4. Bless you Mo,
with this year's flu, we're finding the secondary infections to be actually worse and more lengthy-than the initiating flu.
try to be patient...:)
Well, Mo-it is a matter of perspective. You asked the owner of the Ranch Motel, of whom I'm thoroughly convinced is, in fact, Eli Wallach.
That giggle "Mike" had is all the proof I NEED to substantiate my theory.
http://pop.youtube.com/watch?v=5_j8Skugm5U&feature=related
Safe? heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh!
************************************************
Loved the Incubus poster-great movie!! Right up there with "The Manitou!" Has William Shatner in it!
ah,Clem at 7:12AM on Feb 18th 2008
5. Hmmmmm....he did seem a little nervous....and not to know coyotes? What about polecats? Or sidewinders for that matter? Are there scorpions? Is there maid service? Are call girls available? Is there a 7-11 nearby? What about laundry? Do you have to share a bath - foot fungus is no laughing matter and nearly impossible to get rid of. These are all important safety questions. Further research, Mo! Forewarned is forearmed!
gabrielle at 8:25AM on Feb 18th 2008
6. I stayed in a motel in western NY a few years ago because it was incredibly cheap - $25 a night. It still had a vending machine that dispensed soda in glass bottles and similarly was a mom and pop, with mom and pop being in their 80s. I was kept awake all night by the occupants in the next room who were planning a robbery. Needless to say, we ducked out of there quickly the next morning. I'm sure the Ranch Motel is fine and the owner sounds young enough to realize if there are problems in any of the rooms, but I would be wary of staying in another motel after that experience.
mrec at 8:31AM on Feb 18th 2008
7. Aw Mo,
Yeah, it sounds kosher to me.
Just to be on the safe side, I better go with you.
Next time you call, see if they have any
board games.
JG
John Giza at 10:19AM on Feb 18th 2008
8. Let's Go Roccats!
Start booking rooms at the Ranch.
We'll make this Mike's biggest payday since
he entered the Witness Protection Program
six years ago.
JG
John Giza at 10:32AM on Feb 18th 2008
9. This isn't the best time to ask me. I just saw 1408
Esther at 10:35AM on Feb 18th 2008
10. Aw Mo,
This will be a good opportunity for you to read the Bible cover to cover while I watch the door.
I'll take the first watch, Clem, Andrea, you got the next two. And hey, don't get trigger happy. That person screaming and banging on the door just might be Blayze.
JG
John Giza at 10:43AM on Feb 18th 2008
11.
Mo~
I think I caught your flu.
And you weren't specific when you asked about the coyotes. Did you mean the four-legged sort or the two-legged sort? You also might have asked about javelinas.
My creepiest motel experience was when I spent the night in Ocean City, NJ on a high school trip. No Sopranos-style bloodbath, just a less than stringent eye on cleaning and maintenance.
slackferno at 11:00AM on Feb 18th 2008
12. Ladies and Gentlemen,
Let's get going here; time is not a luxury
we can afford.
Will, you cover the roof.
Doug, get background on the maid service.
Andrew, coffee, cream, no sugar.
JG
John Giza at 11:02AM on Feb 18th 2008
13. Gaby:
Can you fly a helicopter?
John Giza at 11:14AM on Feb 18th 2008
14. I cannot - however, I CAN "lure away" the pilot AND the helicopter from a certain hospital I know....>:)
Someone else must be responsible for the chili cheese fritos and chocolate covered pretzels - as well as the "Coyote-Away!"
G. A. Barakas "I love it when a plan comes together!"
gabrielle at 12:19PM on Feb 18th 2008
15. Mo,
2am.
*KNOCK!* KNOCK!* KNOCK!* KNOCK!*
"HOUSEKEEPING!" (pause)
heh heh heh heh........"I mean Pizza!" heh heh heh
*********************************************
My father, every the one to save a buck to keep his large family afloat would check us in at CHEAP motels across the country on family vacations.
My siblings and I would scratch messages on the "scummy film" that covered the lining of the shower curtain.****charming, I know,but whataya want****
Most of them were clever and funny and slightly risque.
We always encouraged our parents to take their showers first.
slackferno.....Ocean City -been there!!!!-but not over night!
J.G. --Wholesome Boy has a "SpongeBob Monopoly" set-I'll bring it, I get to be Squidward tho.
ah,Clem at 12:30PM on Feb 18th 2008