MovieChat Forums > Reservoir Dogs (1992) Discussion > The intelligence of Pink SPOILERS

The intelligence of Pink SPOILERS

posted 7 years ago by stevekaczynski
12 replies | jump to latest

Not the most likeable character, and he is no rocket scientist to be sure (none of them are) but I would say among the film's personalities, Pink is the most intelligent. He puts together quite a good defence of his anti-tipping attitude, then after the robbery he guesses (correctly) that the cops had inside information, whereas this did not seem to occur to White even though he had previously been in a situation where there was an undercover cop. He is astounded that White tells Orange his real name, and Pink clearly would not make such a basic mistake. At the end he is smart enough to take cover when it is clear that the others are about to shoot one another. He is alive at the end, although the soundtrack suggests the cops capture him.

"Chicken soup - with a *beep* straw."

[–] PreachCaleb 7 years ago

The anti-tipping was just him being cheap. Someone else was picking up the tab. If someone picks up your meal and says leave a buck for a tip, only cheapness would prevent that person.

But other than that, yeah, he's actually pretty spot on with what he figures out in terms of the inside man.

Seize the moment, 'cause tomorrow you might be dead.

[–] stevekaczynski 7 years ago

Yes, it was him being cheap. I thought the way he defended it showed some intelligence, however, although at the end of the day it was a smoke screen for being a cheap bastard.

"Chicken soup - with a *beep* straw."

[–] crackingup 7 years ago

I still consider him intelligent. When Mr. White and Mr. Blonde were about to go at it, he was the voice of reason. He seems to think things through.

[–] stevekaczynski 7 years ago

Yes. He decides Blonde is not the "rat" on the grounds that he is too homicidal to be working for the cops. This may in part have been because he was afraid of Blonde, but he was right on two counts - that Blonde is not the undercover cop and that he is someone to be wary of.
Also, his stashing the diamonds from the heist showed some forethought. He is not the weak link in the gang. Orange being enrolled in it even though Joe is not "100%" about him, White imparting personal information, Blonde being a maniac (which does seem to come as a surprise to those who know him) - all these were nothing to do with Pink. Having said that, there are screw-ups on the police side as well, like a massacre happening despite the inside info they had.

"Chicken soup - with a *beep* straw."

[–] PreachCaleb 7 years ago

Having said that, there are screw-ups on the police side as well, like a massacre happening despite the inside info they had.

I'm not entirely sure how that's the police's fault. Remember, Blonde was a last minute addition. And nobody knew he would become a maniac. His own partners were shocked by that.

Seize the moment, 'cause tomorrow you might be dead.

[–] purplebear17 7 years ago

Pink was the only main character I liked because he was the weakest link.

[–] lukas1985 7 years ago

How was he the weakest link?

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[–] stevekaczynski 7 years ago

Yes, he wasn't. Someone else was the undercover cop, Blonde was a psycho, etc.

"Chicken soup - with a *beep* straw."

[–] stevekaczynski 7 years ago

True, but I have the feeling that they would have some explaining to do after the bloodbath, and some department heads might roll. They can hardly claim the robbery took them by surprise.

"Chicken soup - with a *beep* straw."

[–] PreachCaleb 7 years ago

Of course not. It was a sting operation with an undercover cop. That means higher ups had signed off on it.

The bloodbath was not their fault.

In fact, as Pink said, they moved in as soon as the shooting started.

[–] atd8vii (592) 6 years ago

I believe his strongest suit was not letting his emotions get in the way of his work and maintaining a mostly sound mind during an extremely stressful situation. But that's part of the humour if his character, he's the only one who is dealing with the situation professionally and every one else treats him like shit. I love when he says to Eddie that he stashed the diamonds so as to make sure that the warehouse wasn't a police station and Eddie just blows it off with a "good for you" quip, lol.

[–] TaRaNRoD (1579) 6 years ago

"I believe his strongest suit was not letting his emotions get in the way of his work and maintaining a mostly sound mind during an extremely stressful situation. But that's part of the humour if his character, he's the only one who is dealing with the situation professionally and every one else treats him like shit."

Never looked at it in this way, interesting. And yeah now that I think about it...