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Subtle touches that rewards those rewatching

posted a year ago by scannerdarkly (1280)
9 replies | jump to latest

Spoilers about the ending, do not read any of this further if you havent watched yet.

At the end when Bob shoots Eric in the face, when you first watch this you have a similar reaction to what Nadia had. You think, Bob is a psychopath in his own way and he could snap at any moment. Eric Deeds showed his aggression and nutiness on his sleeve right out in the open. You knew he was unstable. But Bob just comes off as a kinda slow fellow that is living with and around shady people just because thats how his life turned out. His parents died and his only family left was Marv a loanshark and shady bitter person who lost his small piece of turf to a much meaner criminal crew. Bob seems to do cold things out of neccessity, so when you him he flat out murder a guy and show no remorse. It hits you how maybe you dont see Bob as clearly as you thought. When Nadia shockingly says "Bob, you just fucking shot him". Bob responds "Yes I did, he was gonna hurt *our* dog". That "our" sticks out as he is claiming a togetherness with Nadia and its disturbing as Nadia probably thinks: Im trading one mean psychopath, Eric Deeds, with another more hidden psychopath Bob Saginowski. She freaks, she thinks Bob or the Chechens are gonna kill her now. If Bob could coldly do this, who knows what he is capable of?

But if you're paying attention to the movie, Eric Deeds shows up to Nadias house and breaks in and waits for her to come home. Eric picks up Bobs angel (unaware it isnt Nadias) and places in on the other side of the kitchen table as if he is pretending its her sitting. When Nadia returns home, she doesnt know Eric is there and she sees Bobs angel on the table and she actually smiles picking it up and upon seeing its Eric in her house she quickly becomes moritifed. Her first response is "I dont want you here, this is my house get out". Eric, being the emotionally unstable nutjob he is, snapped and she shut down as you can tell she is used to being abused.

But at the ending, I noticed that after Bob killed Eric Deeds, he let Nadia go and he left her alone for some amount of time. He talks to himself about how some things can never be forgiven (I dont agree) and this is a way to let the audience know that Bob is capable of carnage, but he wants to be a better person and he is a christian. He gave Eric Deeds every chance to leave him and Nadia alone, he even tried to warn Marv not to do something stupid just because hes bitter that he no longer has that small piece of power anymore. Eric kept pushing, and Marv refused to listen. Which ended up with both being murdered. When Bob finally goes to see Nadia, he tells her "I know when you left the bar it meant for me to stay away from you. I understood that. But you didnt say it. If you tell me to stay away, I will". Nadias expressions show that she still loves Bob. THIS is a nice juxtaposition from earlier when Eric was in her house, she tells him to leave immediately and he wont do it (he's an abuser and psycho). With Bob, he stayed away from her for some time, left her alone, but out of Love and loneliness he showed up for another chance but he was willing to leave her alone again as long as she outright said it. This proves to Nadia that Bob is actually a decent man and not abusive. She had time to think about the shocking events, and to see that Bob really did leave her alone. Bob is dangerous, if he isnt treated right. This is an excellent call back to the beginning when they are both cleaning the dog Rocco after Bob finds him. When Nadia tells Bob is a pitbull. Bob gets nervous and says "thats a dangerous dog". Nadia points out that its not dangerous if the owners treat him right. The dog shouldnt be blamed for owners being bad to it. THIS is exactly Bob! Marv abused Bob's trust and innocence by getting him to help him Kill Richie Wheelyn. Marv then betrayed Bob again by getting Eric Deeds to hold the place up, knowing Bob was already having problems with this unstable dude. Thats why when Bob answered Deeds phone after he shot him. He just stared hard because he knew it was Marv that set this up and placed him in danger just to get back at the Chechens. Its not how an uncle is suppose to raise and treat their mentally slow nephew.

The symbolism of Nadia offering to fix Bobs angel figurine stuck out to me this time. Nadia helped to "heal" Bob as she was someone who herself had been hurt, and Bob literally became Nadias guardian angel.

And it was someone else that pointed out before, Rocco is a representation of Bob himself. A breed that is dangerous if mistreated by its owners, yet can be loyal and a wonderful companion to those who love them right (Nadia).

Such a wonderful and good film, I rate it up there with Slingblade as an interesting slow burn character study : )

[–] BeaSouth (2829) a year ago

I really appreciate your posts. You genuinely try to contribute to the real purpose of this site and you don’t try to provoke people in a bad way. The acting in this movie was incredible. It is one of my top three favorites and I can watch it multiple times on the same day and not be bored. Think about it, each completely different character after the next was magnetic and all in a different way. Consider how menacing the Russian guy was vs. Eric Deeds but in completely divergent ways. The things you’re pointing out show the level of talent and thought that went into the writing and acting. My big question to you: what did you think of the way they filmed the reunion of Bob and Nadia at the end? Why did they film it in a way where you hear Nadia’s approaching steps but you see nothing other than Bob’s face? Why does she approach from the alley instead of the front door that she came out of just moments earlier? Very curious to me.

[–] scannerdarkly (1280) a year ago

Your question is something I kept in mind, before I rewatched the film this time, the supposed "ambiguous ending". I wanted to analyze the ending and see what I thought this time. At the beginning of the movie as Bob walked down the street, he hears whimpering and opens up the trashcan to find the dog inside. Nadia calls out "what are you doing in my trashcan"? Suddenly you see her looking around from the other side of the house with a cigarette in hand. Bob responds "theres a dog in your trashcan and ahhhh he looks bad". Nadia then proceeds to walk around and pulls out her phone to talk a picture of Bobs license. She came from the same area that she later walks to at the films end! So this is an area she uses and even hangs out at on occasion, Its quite possible she had her coat hanging at the back door. Theres some things I considered about this ending. Bobs internal reasoning that some things can never be forgiven could tie in with the initial uncertainty of the final scene. We have this kind of tension in the scene because we as the audience want Bob and Nadia together but the way they shot it leaves us uncertain until we hear her footsteps and then that nice music begins to play as we see Bobs face. I think they also shot it this way because at the films beginning Bob and Nadia were in a dark place both figuratively and literally within their first scene together. Nighttime, a dark alleyway, an abused whimpering dog, Bob and Nadia both lonely hurt people. But now cut to the films ending: its bright outside, Rocco is healthy and doing well, Bob is free of Marv and can find some peace knowing he freed Nadia, and Nadia is free of Eric Deeds stalking and abuse. They interact again and Bob is just putting himself out there to see if Nadia would forgive him and be part of his life again. In a way they can now find solice together. The abuse is over. As Bob approaches Nadia, notice even Rocco is whimpering toward Nadia and putting a paw at her fence like "I miss you".

[–] scannerdarkly (1280) a year ago

To me this ending was like the movie coming full circle with its themes but now they are both in a better place in their lives. I think they end up together : )

[–] scannerdarkly (1280) a year ago

I like that you pointed out how each character was played so well, and yes those two were menacing but in different ways good catch! Writing of Chovka (The head gangster) Another subtlety I caught was at the end when he was talking to Bob and they were cleaning up the murder, Chovka turns around and yells out "Andre"!? Because his henchman Andre was disposing of Eric Deeds' body with the door to the back wide open. Andre stops and closes the door. Chovka turns back to Bob and says "sorry about that". This tells us that Andre is so use to disposing of bodies that he doesnt think to close the door so a "regular guy" like Bob wouldnt have to see all that. I think Chovka knew from the beginning that Bob could be trusted more so than Marv. He seemed to treat Bob with more respect than he ever did Marv. Im sure Chovka was still surprised Bob killed Eric Deeds, but he seemed good enough at reading people that he understood Bob was not on the same level that him and his gangsters were. Bob had it in him, but thats not the kind of person he wanted to be. Thats why he assured Bob that "Yes you do have friends, *I* am your friend. Nobody is gonna bother you again". He knows Bob is a honest hard working guy that if treated right and left alone would be beneficial to him.

[–] scannerdarkly (1280) a year ago

One more thing...Thank you for writing that you appreciate my posts. It meant a lot to me to see that my writing meant something to someone. Sometimes I write posts and analysis on films and never get a response. I know Im not entitled to a response, but I do wonder what people may think. I myself have "lurked" and enjoyed posts without ever responding so I'll keep that in mind in the future posts I make. I hope you are doing well. The Drop is one of my favorite Tom Hardy films.

[–] BeaSouth (2829) a year ago

I’m sorry it’s taken me this long to write you back. First, I think you’re completely right that a theme of this movie involves things coming full circle. That is a great point you made about the relationship between Bob and Nadia starting and returning at the fence with her arriving from the same path; first in darkness and then in daylight. There is definitely something metaphorical going on. I’ve read many strange internet interpretations on why the camera only focuses only on Bob’s face at the end. I think the explanation is simple: the director was trying to show Bob’s subtle joy in reaction to the footsteps of his approaching happy future.

The guy who played Chovka was ridiculously fantastic in the role. A handful of scenes that you could not take your eyes off. He actually grew up in Miami and has acted in all kinds of roles unrelated to his ethnicity. I agree Chovka treated Bob fairly because he recognized that Bob abided by a code of straight-dealing and fairness just like you described. “Honor amongst thieves.” I think Bob developed this code because he hated his own unjust murder of Richie “Glory Days” Whelan who was only trying to repay gambling debts when Marv saw a chance to exploit a situation.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on the part of Detective Evandro Torres. He brought tension to every scene for sure.

[–] scannerdarkly (1280) a year ago

I think Detective Torres was compelled to understand who Bob was, that this was his driving force for solving the crime. The movie showed us a brief glimpse of Torres at the morning church service before we even know as an audience who he is. The priest says its time for communion and fellowship. Everyone gets up to hug and shake hands and talk briefly before lining up for the ceremony of red wine and bread (blood and body of Christ). We see Torres nods over to Bob smiling and Bob nods back but keeps his distance. We dont understand yet whats going on until Detective Torres shows up investigating the first bar robbery. Torres recognizes Bob quickly and asks him flat out "Ive been seeing you come to church for years, and you never take the sacrament, why is that"? This tells us that Torres has observed Bob for years and always wondered why this man diligently goes to church, but never ever accepts the blood and body of christ ceremony. This would be a conundrum and would tug at the mind f a christian, let alone a christian who is also a detective who observes and investigates people for a living. Bob going to a catholic church and not participating in the catholic ceremony is like someone going to a bar for years yet never drinking any alcohol, its odd. Torres would see Bob not accepting Jesus as his Saviour as not only perculiar but also as an acceptance of some sin that he didnt think is forgivable. He wanted to know "What did Bob do that has him coming to church but not accepting Jesus, what sin is Bob punishing himself over"? I believe this is why Torres was so determined to figure this out. Because all that happened was a bar was robbed. Nobody was killed in the robbery, and Bob didnt even have a criminal record, Marv did but even Torres said to the lady detective later that "Marv used to be a loanshark but lost his bar over nine years ago". Theres basically nothing there for a detective to keep pursuing, except Torres' fascination with Bob as a person.

[–] scannerdarkly (1280) a year ago

The kind of tension that Detective Torres brings could also represent that ever looming presence that Bob may feel that his soul will be judged for what he did to Richie "Glory Days" Wheelyn. Theres a prominent Christian theme in this film as the church is referenced many times. Bob even names the dog he found "Rocco" after he sees the dog at the feet of the statue of Saint Rocco. Its all about the choices we make in life and how we can gain forgiveness for making the wrong decisions. Being a Christian, Bob should know that all he has to do is accept Jesus and he will be forgiven. But a part of Bob wants to punish himself for taking someones life over such a greedy and selfish reason, and foolishly listening to his evil cousin Marv.

[–] SweetTooth43 (1798) 10 months ago

Good wrap up of this movie