Mike,
I agree with you that the ending is absurd, but to me it's
brilliant. Throughout the book you have all this paranoia and
mistrust between Doc and Carol - not sure whether they still
love each other or are going to betray each other. So what
happens at the end? They realize they do still love each
other but are going to have to try to kill each other to
survive. No question that it's way over the top and absurd,
though.
I highly recommend you try Savage Night, Hell of a Woman, and
A Swell-Looking Babe.
-Dave
-----Original Message----- From:
owner-rara-avis@icomm.ca [mailto:
owner-rara-avis@icomm.ca] On Behalf Of Robison Michael R
CNIN Sent: Monday, March 03, 2003 3:59 PM To: '
rara-avis@icomm.ca' Subject: RARA-AVIS: THE GETAWAY
(spoiler)
Dave wrote: Thinking a little more about Jim Thompson films,
the original "The Getaway" has to have the most perfect
casting possible with Steve McQueen as Doc McCoy and Al
Lettieri as Rudy. It's just too bad the movie had to ruin the
book's terrific apocalyptic ending.
********* To me, Dave, the problem with the ending is that it
is not true to the characters. The characters have
continuously exhibited extremely daring and courageous
behavior. Now that they are in Mexico and all they need to do
is get lost in the crowd, they turn totally gutless and sell
out to become part of some laughably absurd elite criminal
community.
I know that it's possible to advance the argument that the
gun- fight at sea simply robbed them of the last of their
nerve, and allowed them to get stuck in their final
predicament. I've rolled that around in my head a dozen
different ways, and I simply cannot buy it.
I know what he was trying to do. He wanted them to suffer for
their sins, but he was tired of the cliche shootout and
wanted to come up with something different. The problem is
that the one he chose is ridiculous.
He should have stuck with a shootout or let them get
away.
I am looking forward to reading POP. 1280 one of these days.
The only other Thompson I've read is KILLER INSIDE ME.
miker
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