"I CAN'T BEAT IT"

Firstly what a PHENOMENAL film, there is so much greatness that simply cannot be understood and absorbed in one sitting - Not just in the classical sense of understanding the conflicts, story and world we are made to be part of, but the way it is made and edited to.

The thread title line had me pause in AWE, a hard thing for me to experience in most modern films of late.

Considering what we do seem to know about Lee's inner struggle and the lead up to it, he 'doesn't talk much' and is for numerous obvious reasons is always guarding his emotions and 'real' states of mind while facing both small and large conflicts that a presented to him (either by fate or based on his action).
We are given pulses into his mindset but never arriving, one moment he may be playing cool and calm, next - smashing a window or bar patron or daydreaming.

His nephews life seems to be a complete contrast to Lee and also an old snapshot of probably the naive life he lived before 'the plot thickened'

At one point on the phone he tells Michelle Williams that the nephew 'seems' okay but 'wont open up', but he has friends looking out for him. (sounds like the Lee we see?)

After all the turmoil and conflict in a seemingly normal moment at the house, Lee' takes off the mask and simply proclaims the hard truth of the situation.
The nephew, whether he didn't understand, was indifferent to the statement (or was busy thinking how to poison his girlfriend's mother), doesn't probe more from Lee.

I really think the character development in this film is what took it to 11, and I can't remember a conflicted character to producing a 'tell' to their inner soul so well and simply as three words.
More with less I suppose.


Hopefully this comes across as I intended, i have never really written much about characters.
(By the way - "if it flies, floats or focks, it's cheaper to rent.")