MovieChat Forums > Dark Blue (2003) Discussion > 'Cancel his ticket'

'Cancel his ticket'

posted 20 years ago by soxfan2k3
7 replies | jump to latest

loved Dark Blue. Loved it.
my only question is why van meter wanted perry killed. it seemed to me he did everything he asked of him, even avoided going after orchard and sidwell.

[–] gerritsenbeachbk 20 years ago

I came to this message board with the intention of asking that exact question. I've watched the movie several times trying to figure out why Van Meter would try to kill his most loyal henchman, especially when Perry was completely in the dark about how bad Van Meter really was. It wasn't until Van Meter sent Perry into the ambush that it even dawned on him that Van Meter was in league with the killers.

I really liked the first half to two-thirds of the movie, but thought the plot really fell apart in the end. But even with that lame ending Kurt Russell's performance makes this movie pretty damn good.

[–] Kronocide 20 years ago

Perry is bothered by the fact that the real killers are on the street. He was bothered when he first realized it was them and then he brought it up again. The second time Van Meter decides that he can't trust Perry (and he is obviously right!). Perry knew Van Meter was involved with the killers, they were "his guys" and he was obviously protecting them. For once I had no problems with the plot at all, it held together to the end, and it was an excellent movie.

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[–] amos_mcelhone 20 years ago

Van Meter wanted Perry killed, because he was getting too close to figure out, that Van Meter was the man behind Orchard and Sidwell's crimes. That's why.

Amos McElhone

[–] SR2G80 19 years ago

loved Dark Blue. Loved it.
my only question is why van meter wanted perry killed. it seemed to me he did everything he asked of him, even avoided going after orchard and sidwell. <**better safe then sorry, no one to talk.

[–] 19 years ago

[deleted]

[–] dark_frances 15 years ago

The way I see it, it was like this: first meeting with Jack Van Meter shows JVM that Eldon and Bobby found out Orchard & Sidwell's involvement in the case. You see JVM's face fall when Eldon mentions that there is a witness, who identified the race. That was already way too dangerous for JVM, I believe he was already thinking to take Eldon down. Not to mention that neither Eldon, nor Bobby were happy when they realised that JVM was asking them to ignore the real (vicious) criminals, and pin the 4 murders on someone else, and JVM saw that too.

During the second meeting (after the Robertson murder), JVM tells Bobby and Eldon that Holland may have had witness. Now, all three of them knew that Holland did *not* have a witness, I don't even think that Holland had told JVM he had one; no, it was just JVM warning the boys that they were at his mercy. And Eldon sees that, which is why he brings up again the Orchard and Sidwell business - meaning to tell JVM that they also had something on him. Well, that's when Eldon's fate was sealed. Again, unless it had been sealed since the first meeting, JVM only letting them go that time because he needed the two to clear the case (pin the murder on someone else), having already decided to have Orchard and Sidwell kill Eldon Perry once the case was solved.

Really, the plot was surprisingly tight.

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[–] WildArt 14 years ago

Interesting analysis, although it seemed that Eldon really did (briefly) believe that he was going to the address in Juliet to kill a witness, at least until he checked on the names living at the address. But maybe that was a brief moment of uncertainty brought on by stress, booze, lack of sleep etc.

Compelling and somewhat disturbing film though. Been wanting to see it for a while since it's based on Ellroy and I've often seen it described as overlooked/underrated.