Nice idea, but some questions:
- why would he hatch a heist when he could take Chris out to old Route 24 and shoot him dead?
- how could Chris remember when he didn't have the time to see who was the combine driver during the impact?
- the old man looks much older than he would be as Gary's father. He looks to be in his 70s if not more. I would agree if you had said he was Gary's grandfather.
The old man was't in a wheelchair. He was on a walking frame.
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The twist is how Chris uses the sequencing technique to resolve the situation. It's boring, comparing to yours, but it really is the film's twist. His disability saved the day.
That's why, in the end Gary says to Chris, "you really don't remember do you?"
He didn't say that. This is what he says: "Did you really forget?" This is a reference to Gary's earlier realisation, during the Mayor's Christmas tree scene, that Chris forgot where he buried the money. He thought Chris was trying to be clever by duping them into believing he forgot, but Gary came to realise Chris really did forget.
The film's main aim is, it seems, challenge our perspective of disabilities. People tend to equal a disability with low I.Q. or certain popular stereotypes, and so on. The film also tried to show disabled people's perspectives.
Examples:
- Luvlee's conversation with Lewis about his blindness and her eventual realisation Lewis isn't gullible or a needy figure (which Chris was at the start). Sure, he's blind but he's been around; just enough to recognize the likes of her and Gary.
- Gary's comment to Chris "Are you that dumb? Or are you really smart?"
- Chris's father believes Chris will always rely on him and is proven wrong
- Lewis and Chris's perspectives of disabilities: Chris sees his disability as a burden and a painful reminder of his mistake while Lewis accepts his as part of him, even though it reminds him of HIS mistake
- Gary's asthma, which has been subjected of many raging debates - is it a real disease or a psychological crutch. This film sides with the latter (remember how Gary desperately reaches for his holder during his last moment?)
- Chris's dream meeting with his old girlfriend Kelly. She shows him her new leg and says it's part of her. Acceptance of this means an acceptance of Chris's mistake, which would in turn allow him to accept HIS disability.
- Bank manager's unwillingness to employ Chris because of his disability, but made a U-turn when he finds Chris's introduction card
- the list is endless
In short, a disability isn't something you can predict so easily. Not all blind people are same. We look at Lewis and assume he was born blind or had some kind of a tragedy that rendered him blind. In fact, he was blinded as a result of his time as a meth dealer. Not all people with short-term memory disability are same, either. It varies from one person to another.
Yeah, each disability has a wide range of capabilities and limitations of its own for each case. That's a mistake Gary made. He thought he understood Chris's disability, well enough to know how to manipulate him, and the way he thought. That's what it's all about, IMO.
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gunneos
15 years ago
"- why would he hatch a heist when he could take Chris out to old Route 24 and shoot him dead?
- how could Chris remember when he didn't have the time to see who was the combine driver during the impact?
- the old man looks much older than he would be as Gary's father. He looks to be in his 70s if not more. I would agree if you had said he was Gary's grandfather. "
very good questions, might i add. although the first could have been because Gary wanted to get revenge, as well as money, out of the whole thing. or maybe he did not actually intend to kill chris at all, and the gun and the chemical in the boot of the car was just a precaution. although honestly speaking, it wasn't made clear how gary would deal with chris once the heist was over.
very good analysis and explanation there!
Nothing is more reliable than a man whose loyalties can be bought with hard cash.
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lillurr
15 years ago
"The twist is how Chris uses the sequencing technique to resolve the situation. It's boring, comparing to yours, but it really is the film's twist. His disability saved the day."
Which is what made my boyfriend call it Memento for idiots.
"We fell in love. I fell in love - she just stood there." / http://twitter.com/Marielind
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flashingturtle
15 years ago
I thought that they had just taken possesion of an old mans house while they scoped out the bank, hence why his confusion at seeing all the faces inthe house and being ushered away.
Was anyone else really annoyed with the tagged on happy endings?
Why quote other people when I like the sound of my own voice?
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Dubz1300
14 years ago
"Which is what made my boyfriend call it Memento for idiots."
sounds like it is your boyfriend who is the idiot here..
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!!!deleted!!! (5819949)
13 years ago
Which is what made my boyfriend call it Memento for idiots.
That pretty much sums up this movie! Chris should have wrote down. Take the money; screw Lewis; find redhead and the blonde; live it up with them in Vegas!
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Ziad-Khan
13 years ago
Its a better film than Memento :)
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13 years ago
[deleted]
Ziad-Khan
13 years ago
Hmmm well for you yes, for me no. Its okay I guess.
I actually like Nolan films, but Memento didn't click for me. One of looking at Memento for its 2 way story thing might make it a masterpiece for many, but from other angle, its just a plain and simple story of a man looking for the killer of his wife, presented in two way and both storyline meeting at the mid. Kind of simple thing for me :) It was an interesting idea, but somehow it was not as intense and breathtaking like his other films.
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blewellyn
14 years ago
>>>The film's main aim is, it seems, challenge our perspective of disabilities. People tend to equal a disability with low I.Q. or certain popular stereotypes, and so on. The film also tried to show disabled people's perspectives.<<<
I agree McVillain.
B
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daredevil1-1
14 years ago
I can't believe how many of you fools actually believe the OP's "stunning revelation" that the old man whose combine they hit HAPPENED to be Gary's father! Hence he hatched a scheme of robbing a bank and giving a share to Chris in order to seek revenge for a wrong he didn't even remember committing! ...I'm gonna have to say just no on this one.
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DMInfinity
14 years ago
Add in the fact that Gary had obviously been casing multiple banks in the area. Had this all been about revenge (with the added interest of scoring some cash) why would he have spent so much time planning a string of heists? I'd also question what the chances are of Chris's Mustang throwing a rider of a massive, motionless combine so violently off.
I'd say the answer to the Old Man is much more innocuous. Gary & Crew took over the house to plot the robberies because it was out in the sticks and occupied by a senile old guy = no fear of anyone stumbling upon the plot, guns, shovels, lye, etc... The pan to the combine wasn't to suggest that the Old Man was Gary's father/grandpa but to remind Chris of what the pain he caused others and himself in the crash.
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bing-57
13 years ago
> - why would he hatch a heist when he could take Chris out to old Route 24 and shoot him dead?
The plan really was to rob a bank. But one night while they were casing the bank that saw and recognized Chris. Gary decided to kill two birds with one stone. He was going to rob this bank and kill Chris.
> - how could Chris remember when he didn't have the time to see who was the combine driver during the impact?
Three years had passed. Chris and his lawyer most likely should have known all the details about the case, including that he crippled a farmer.
> This is what he says: "Did you really forget?" ... He thought Chris was trying to be clever by duping them into believing he forgot, but Gary came to realise Chris really did forget.
That's not likely. He had been hanging out with Chris for a few weeks and should have already known very well that Chris simply does not remember some things. That surely wouldn't be Gary's dying question.
But he might want to know if Chris remembered that the crippled farmer was Gary's father/uncle/grandfather and that Gary had a valid reason to want to kill him.
> The film's main aim is, it seems, challenge our perspective of disabilities.
And your examples show that this is the case. But that doesn't mean that every scene in the film is about disabilities. It has a bank-robbery plot that has nothing specifically to do with anyone's disabilities.
--
What Would Jesus Do For A Klondike Bar (WWJDFAKB)?
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