ROGER EBERT: INCREDIBLY FULL OF PLOT HOLES - WHAT ARE THEY?
Ebert enjoyed the film but said just forget the plot - it is incredibly full of holes. What are the plot holes? I don't see them.
shareI don't know if it qualifies as a plot hole, but what was the deal with Marthe Keller's character - did she intentionally "lure" Dustin Hoffman's character at the library, and to what purpose? If she was supposed to find out what he knew in regards to his brother, there was apparently no progress on that front. We never see her questioning him about his family or anything else.
Also, why were Elsa and Babe mugged in the park, and Elsa's purse stolen by the thugs - what was the point of that?
One mo' thing - I don't know about safety deposit box rules, but couldn't Laurence Olivier just send a courier with his key to gain access to the box? And wouldn't there have been a less conspicuous way to convert his diamonds to cash than in person, on one street? He would get LOTS of unwelcome attention by fencing such a large amount of jewels.
On the second point, the mugging was (allegedly) arranged as a "warning" to keep Doc from screwing with Szell. I suppose Elsa's purse was stolen in order to make the incident look less suspicious and more like a random robbery.
On the third point, I chalk that up to Szell's paranoia. It was a big plot point that he trusted no one but his brother and himself with the diamonds. He eventually had everyone else in the little relay-system killed. Also, I don't think he was looking to convert them all to cash at the time. He just wanted an estimate of one of his diamonds' worth, though he was probably too eager to do that as well.
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"And where do you live, Smiley?"
"I'm hiding behind a Proxy... doc."
Dr strange has it correct-many people today do not listen they only watch
shareRoger Ebert died a brave and fearless saint, and had a helluva career as the richest and most famous film critic of all time...but he was often very wrong about plotholes. Usually, he just didn't understand movie plots.
Yes, Siskel and Ebert frequently blathered about what they called the "idiot plot", a title they gave to any movie where the plot would grind to a halt if the lead character stopped behaving like an idiot. As if people never behave like idiots in real life!
By this standard, S and E are dissing a lot of great stuff, nearly all of Shakespeare, and quite a lot of .... Hitchcock. (Wonder what they thought of Vertigo?)
Roger Ebert craziliy dissed Dead Poets Society, which he missed the boat on.
shareIf you read Ebert's review he ENJOYED the movie and didn't care very much about the plot holes. Many other times he mentions plot holes and then likes the movie anyway.
shareAlso, why were Elsa and Babe mugged in the park, and Elsa's purse stolen by the thugs - what was the point of that?
Think about it. Those two guys were secret agents or professional thugs. How many muggers are middle-aged white guys who come in pairs wearing suits and ties? And remember "Get the purse." "Huh?" "Get the purse!" As an afterthought, a formality. Someone obviously wanted to send a message or get a feel for someone up close or both, but if the dumbass NYPD beat cops are told "her purse was taken," they'll assume it was a random mugging despite all the glaring evidence to the contrary.
"Ass to ass. Ha ha ha ha. ASS TO ASS!"; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oa5z77EI8y0 share