MovieChat Forums > The Grifters (1991) Discussion > One illogical problem with this film

One illogical problem with this film

posted 17 years ago by pogostiks
17 replies | jump to latest

This film is truly enjoyable for many reasons. First, because Angelica Huston is brilliant...second because Pat Hingle creally gives it a creepy weight... and finally because it keeps you guessing and the final few minutes are trylu shocking.
HOWEVER...SPOILER!- there is only one thing that truly doesn't work in theis film... and it is important enough to destroy many other parts which flow from the error.
I am alluding to the fact that any broad as cool and professional as LIly would never open her trunk and count out cash from a hidden box in the middle of a parking lot where everyone (and especially Myra) can see her. It makes no sense at all. All she needs is for one punk to see her doing that, he waits til she leaves and he steals teh car... and he's got her entire fortune. no, any real professional would have counted out the oney in her room before going to the track - away from prying eyes.
So this is the one weakness of thei film. If LIly hadn't done something so ridiculous and unbelieveable, then Myra couldn't have ratted on her - she would not have had to flee in extremis... and all the end of the film would have been unnecessary.

Oh well, it was still fun - and boy does Huston have class!

[–] beauedson 13 years ago

yea that was stupid, shouldve figured out another way for benning to see huston with money

[–] anikor 13 years ago

Good point and even more than that: Would anyone keep their life savings in the trunk of a car that can be stolen at any time? Still a very good movie.

[–] 13 years ago

[deleted]

[–] jgroub 11 years ago

I'm almost 7 years late, but okay, I'll bite. She is not counting money out in the open. Think about the angle. If you're doing something in your trunk like that, NOBODY on ground level is ever gonna see anything, unless they're standing right next to Lily. If you're more than 10 feet away, the lip of the bottom of the trunk keeps you from seeing in and seeing what's going on - namely, that there's a ton of money in the wheel well.

The ONLY way that anyone would ever see what was going on in Lily's trunk is if you're looking down on the car from a high angle, and if you're using f'ing binoculars while you're looking. Well, that's exactly what Myra does when she's in the clubhouse. And what person that's in the clubhouse decides to take binoculars and look at someone's trunk in the parking lot anyway? From ground level, NOBODY can see into that trunk. Lily was not out in the open at all.

I want the doctor to take your picture so I can look at you from inside as well.

[–] Nikon11 11 years ago

I think that a lot of people bring binoculars to the track. Probably don't spend their time looking at the parking lot, though.

[–] mteel 9 years ago

The briefcase was stuffed full -- overstuffed. One latch on the briefcase was not closed. Also, with this kind of movie, you have to have a little suspension of disbelief. It is stylized like the film noir movies of the '40s and '50s where there would not have been as much attention to detail.

[–] Con-Deuce 8 years ago

A valid point but as others have pointed out, a necessary evil (or flaw) to move the plot along.