The ending.

Considering that the treatment Terry Lennox dished out to Marlowe in the film, was essentially worse than anything our white knight had ever experienced in any book, his trigger-happiness makes more sense (not to mention Altman & Brackett were obviously out to make a larger point there through Marlowe`s character). Either way, there`s a wonderful quote about this ending situation by a Slant Magazine critic, but since I`ve already typed that quote about 95 times previously, I`ll just refer you to my post on the previous page.

And I don`t think the ending had any aspirations to be hip, as it were.



"facts are stupid things" - Ronald Reagan

I disagree. I would say that Marlowe plays it close to the vest. We aren't really let in on what he might be capable of. I don't think his murder of Terry came off as unbelievable in any way, though it was an absolute shock. That's what was so great about it. Brilliant writing on the part of Leigh Brackett. And Gould played it well.

'For a man to be betrayed by another man when the two held a previously honorable agreement is a moral crime, punishable by death'

I like this and i like reading dead posts from a long way back from older people who got the vibe of this film better than i or someone young and living in this era would be able articulate.

See i wouldn't at all get that he's a man from an older era plonked into a modern time.

It's funny i saw this film a few years ago and i didn't like it never clicked with me but i do like Altman and this film gets brought up a lot so i give it second go and glad i did i loved it this time round. I love PTA Inherent Vice one of my favs and i know he borrows a lot from Altman this one as well the similarities between Marlow and Joaquin Phoenix are there for sure

I literally couldn't remember any of this film from first watch but halfway through i suspected the wife was up to something but i didn't trust if that was intuition or i was getting recall from last time lol

I forgot ending but i started to piece it together this time round there were plenty of clues the wife's slip of tounge 'i i liked how you helped my friend' to the Mexican Police ' i do everything, i coroner, Doctor, i have list' ect i knew he wasn't dead and the ending hit hard like Inherent Vice you really have to roll with the character or the film make no sense

He wasn't passive purse but he had a philosophy and a code and he stuck to it and it really served him well despite the trouble he landed in his aggresssors were often blunted because he just wouldt react how they wanted to but he wasn't a mug and what Lennox did hurt him and him shooting him was saying

'fuck you i was a good, loyal friend who asked for nothing and you treat me like a cunt'

Fucking Liberal 70's he was so old fashioned even the gorgeous chicks across the place knew he was harmless lol

Great Character Great Film