This question arose as the movie progressed. While Joe's dream is diminishing, there are plenty of opportunities in New York that can get him quick cash. I was wondering why he couldn't just work as a stripper. This may be a realistic answer to his job situation but it may not (and obviously didn't) coincide with the message of the film. I just thought a stripper wouldn't be as deviant from his original plans. And it would probably get him way more money than trying to find women for real.
On the relationship between Joe and Rizzo:
I really don't see a homosexual connotation between the two characters. Joe's ambiguous orientation may be because of what he went through with his girlfriend. From his flashbacks it appears that both he and his girlfriend were sexually assaulted. because of this, his relationship with men may in some way be altered.
I think Rizzo longs for someone to care for. His character proves to be very deep, and the disintegration of his health progresses as Joe's dreams may be evolving. Although this connection cannot be made with confidence because we do not yet know whether anything will work out for Joe. From the scenes in the apartment, Rizzo becomes a sort of mother figure for Joe, making him food, taking his shoes off when he sleeps. Maybe Rizzo does this to complete something that was lacking in his life. The daydream that he has of Florida just started off weird because Joe was running through the sand with really tight ... tights? Someone pointed out that Rizzo was not "crippled" anymore as well, but this happens in dreams. Rizzo was sort of acting as Joe's character. While Joe was the doll that attracted all the ladies, Rizzo dealt with the business. He perhaps considered himself to be the more important one in the relationship, because for one it was his daydream, and because he was the management of the hustler. He was in a way living through Joe in the sense that while Joe had the good looks, he had the swift and savvy mind that the "ladies" loved. He was the one admired in the combination because he was the go to man for anyone who wanted Joe. I think in a way Joe completed his dream of becoming loved and appreciated. Joe was a way for Rizzo to feel like that. What made this dream better for Rizzo was the fact that Joe was his friend, and wouldn't intentionally hurt him.
Also, in one of the scenes when Joe was walking around NYC he saw many other men dressed as cowboys. I'm not sure what this could imply. That he's not one in a million, or that anyone can dress as a cowboy and not be legitimate. This could relate in the reality of the storyline. But for the viewer, I thought it represented his loss of self. As so many people in NY are trying to establish an image for themselves, here he is thinking that his image will get him where he wants. But as he walks, he sees that anyone can dress up as a cowboy, and this will not distinguish him from any other shmuck in NY.
What I love about this movie is not only that its unique, but part of its uniqueness lies in the absence of predicting the upcoming events. There are definitely some things that can be predicted, such as the failure and/or success of Joe's dream. But for the most part, I had no idea how the characters were going to be developped, or the general storyline. I think this is what I admire most about this film, the ability to experience something unpredictable.
CORRECTION:
ReplyDeleteRizzo was sort of acting as Joe's character.
I meant to say:
Rizzo was sort of action as Joe's manager.
I completely agree with what you said about Ratso's sexuality. I don't think he has any sort of homoerotic attraction to Joe, at least thus far. Rather, I think Ratso just needs to be needed. It seems that people have always dismissed him or looked down upon him (granted, he is a crook), but he is just desirous of companionship and wants to feel as if he has some purpose in life. Also, I like what you said about Joe's loss of self in New York. At first, I thought maybe the film was commenting that the image one projects, after all, is only an image, but perhaps the film is saying that even so, it's all about the image and personal/inner qualities seem secondary. The way everyone treats Joe in New York is based on his image. The same could be said of Ratso.
ReplyDeleteI like a lot of the points you bring up, and hadn't thought of many of them. The idea that Joe was assaulted could have altered his relationship with men but also his idea of sex, which could be one of the reasons why he views it as a way to make money and become successful in New York. Also, I like your idea that Joe seeing many cowboys symbolizes his loss of self. Perhaps this also represents his realization that his dream of coming to New York as a cowboy and being something different, leading to success, was unreasonable.
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