Inside the Coen Brothers’ Cinematic Universe: How Authority Figures Shape Their Darkest Stories
Leo relies on Tom for advice and thus needs him. Caspar’s goal is replace Leo, so he wants Tom on his side. Thus, Tom is stuck in the middle between two characters who are more powerful than he and in very real ways control Tom’s destiny.
Tom has managed to survive life in the underworld by doing one thing: Keeping his head. That’s why he is Leo’s trusted adviser — because of his smarts. The story kicks into gear when Leo rejects Tom’s advice about Bernie. In that moment, Leo makes a decision based on his feelings, his romantic attachment to Verna overruling the logical choice which would be to fulfill Caspar’s demand that Bernie be killed.
Post Comment