MovieChat Forums > The Friends of Eddie Coyle (1973) Discussion > Coyle Knew, Right? (One Massive Spoiler)

Coyle Knew, Right? (One Massive Spoiler)

posted 15 years ago by M_Cobretti
20 replies | jump to latest

Just watched this amazing film for the first time and haven't done the commentary yet, so bear with me.

Big question: Am I to assume that Coyle figured they would pin him as the rat regardless if he was or not? Had he come to the realization that one way or the other his life was over - he either lived as a rat, went to jail or was getting knocked off? Did he firgure Boyle may be the one who would do it and therefore went to him to get it over with? Had he just given up on life??

Or...

Was he completely oblivious and just got drunk with the wrong guy?

Either one makes for an interesting ending and perhaps it's for us to decide. What's the consensus on this board?

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[–] jaygill-1 15 years ago

I'm not sure if I understand your choices correctly. However, I feel that he never thought he would be pinned as a rat until he decided to become one of course after Foley and he talked in the diner and it was made plain to him that the State wanted more info. from him in order to avoid jail time. However, when he did decide to talk, it was too late because the bank guys were already nailed. Being street-wise, he knew someone had done it and perhaps then it may have crossed his mind that he would be suspected (given he was the gun supplier and knew what they were doing). However, I don't think he thought that he was in imminent danger because he knew (and told all his "friends") that he was going to be doing the stretch. I also think he had no idea Dillion was going to kill him.

[–] M_Cobretti 15 years ago

Ok, so you picked the second choice, that being that he had no idea anyone was planning to kill him, least of all Dillion. Coyle just thought he was just going out for a fun night with a friend.

robably the more likely option, although I guess I was just hoping Coyle was a little deeper than that, the he had it all figured out and just gave up. The more I think about it, though, maybe he just was a schnook - simple as that.

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[–] trob226 15 years ago

I think that was the point about Eddie - he was just a regular small time hood trying to make it through life, not very bright, just making do. Everybody used him. He didn't have a clue anyone had fingered him for giving up the bank robbers, because (1)he hadn't done it and (2) he was careful about his meetings with Foley. He went out with Dillon just to have a night out at a hockey game. He was passed out when Dillon shot him and never knew who his friends weren't.

[–] M_Cobretti 15 years ago

Yea, agreed. I think we're just used to seeing characters who are smarter than they appear. Guess that's a big part of what makes Coyle so refreshing - he's actually as "regular" as we think he is. I'm sure his fate pretty much lines up with how most guys in his line of work meet their end.

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[–] mnoe 15 years ago

Coyle just thought he was just going out for a fun night with a friend.

Did it occur to anyone else that Eddie's only real betrayal in the film is what gets him killed?

Sure, he rats out the young gun dealer, but that kid is hardly one of his "friends." And weasels are machinating to put him in wrong with The Man to save their own sleazy skins.

But it's Eddie's decision to go along to see a couple of whores after the hockey game that puts him in position to get whacked.

last 2 dvds: Domestic Violence (2001) & High Hopes (1988)

[–] M_Cobretti 15 years ago

Interesting theory, although I think it's safe to say he was getting whacked that night regardless of whether or not he decided to party after the game. He was a dead man the second he walked into Dillon's bar.

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[–] trob226 15 years ago

Eddie was on the naive side. He really thought Dillon was his friend. Until Foley turned on him, he thought Foley was his friend, too. And, in a way, even Jackie Brown. But I don't think anything Eddie did in betraying anybody got him killed. He was just the patsy Dillon used to keep "the Man" from knowing it was Dillon who ratted out the bankrobbers. And Dillon comes out great! He gets paid to kill Eddie for something he himself did, and Foley's going to put him in witness protection so he can just go off and enjoy life!

[–] Byzantine15 15 years ago

"But it's Eddie's decision to go along to see a couple of whores after the hockey game that puts him in position to get whacked."

If I understand you, that seems like a pretty half assed attempt to turn this into the the most banal type of morality tale. His killing was poetic justice for considering cheating on his wife? Is that what you meant? His time was up. Whores or no whores.

"By God, I heard the crow call my name!" exclaimed Caw.

[–] mnoe 15 years ago

I don't think it was the filmmakers' (or my) "half assed attempt to turn this into the most banal type of morality tale."

I just thought it was yet another twist or layer in a fairly layered and twisty neo-noir.

Sorry my observation irritated you.

last 2 views: Too Many Husbands (1940) & If You Could Only Cook (1935)

[–] 15 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Nikon11 15 years ago

He definitely didn't know, and Dillon would've been the last person he'd have suspected.

[–] MudFlapp 15 years ago

No Eddie didn't know. However I never thought about him just giving up and acepting fate. Very interesting observation M Cobretti.
I must go to my DVD player a watch it again......

[–] MudFlapp 15 years ago

Okay I just watched it again with your question in mind. Eddie didn't know. Yet it's interesting to think after he finds his info to "Uncle" is useless, Eddie knows he is going to the bucket. He accepts that he is going to do at least 2 years in New Hampshire. The min he relaxes and let's that mind frame set in he goes out for one last hurrah with "Friends". Then BLAM.
I love this movie more and more everyday. Almost like Truffaut said about Citizen Kane. I don't think I will love a person the way I love
The Friends Of Eddie Coyle.
Wow that sounded pornographic.....
Great question though.

[–] Nikon11 15 years ago

How tough could two years in NH actually be, in the 70's?

[–] jaygill-1 15 years ago

He was more concerned about his wife and kids - especially his kids and the embarassement/teasing they were and would get over his stretch in the joint. He mentions it a few times in his discussions with Dillon and Foley.

[–] floyd1985 15 years ago

Eddie had some street smarts, but saw he had several options left, the one he made a play for was eliminated... and I think the best part of the movie was that he agreed to go to the hockey game with Peter Boyle. Whether he knew what he was getting into, or just thought it was a way to spend that night.. I think that might be the crux, or thesis of the movie, if there is one.. Do we ever really know what anyone else is thinking? We all look out our own window.

[–] itchyredness 10 years ago

As soon as he agreed to go out that night, that's what I was thinking. In the end, I don't think it's clear whether he knew or not.

[–] jeff-kutach 9 years ago

Was it Dillion or the arms dealer guy who ratted out the bank robbers?

[–] jpgiuliotti 9 years ago

It was Dillon. Jackie (The Arms Dealer) had no idea about the bank robbers only that the guy he was selling to was buying alot of guns. For that matter, though Coyle knew what they were doing, he had no idea of where and when. Dillon somehow found out and leaked it.

[–] Noir-It-All 9 years ago

So, Dillon was speaking to Foley and Eddie was speaking to Foley. Dillon's story was more valuable to the State than Eddie's story?

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