midway through i came here to say that the scene where cassavetes exploits a retarded woman for sex was pretty gross... not because of the actual shock of the content but because it was, well, retarded. as in absurd. gangsters can do better.
I'm also half way through, also at the sex scene bit.. well, just past it, as I fast forwarded it as I found it very disturbing..I'm seriously rooting for the hit man to get Mikey as soon as possible.. and hoping that Nicky IS the finger man, so that me may survive the film. He deserves a break for putting up with (what so far looks like) such an objectionable person. But.. I also realise I've got about 40 mins to go, and a lot can (and probably will) change and develop in that time...
iono the film is nice fun to watch but it reaks of community theatre esque shlock ie over the top chracterizations and what have u. all that aside though i mean i really understood and digged the whole deflation of male myth and what have u i mean at the end of the day isn't crime the resort of the weak? or unless maybe u dig lars von trier's perspective about crime where criminal organizations are tantamount to a kingdom of heaven and the boss can be likened to a god figure? (james caan dogville)
Nellie herself is not retarded - she seems to be emotionally disturbed perhaps and unable to deal with her loneliness. Nicky is at his worst with her, exploiting her vulnerabilities and then goading Mikey to try her too.
Interesting that they both call her a girl although she is in her forties (Carol Grace was about 49 at the time of filming).