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Just a bunch of question about some scenes I didn't understand

posted 10 years ago by badida_1995
13 replies | jump to latest

1/ When Andy totally lost it when a friend of his was doing his makeup to hide the lesions, Andrew rushed to the bathroom. And then a bald-looking guy with a hat gets a close-up saying "does anyone want a bagel?" It wasn't important anyway in the movie, but I've always felt like it had some kind of subtext. What does it mean?

2/ Before Joe saw Andy in the library, he was there and taking a mouthful of bread (I guess it was bread), and a guy came by him and gave a dirty look, what did that guy want? What happened? I'm totally lost.

3/ The college student who proposed to have a beer with Joe said: "I don't pick up people in drugstores everyday", which was obviously offensive. But what did it mean? That he made people do some drugs in order to have sex with them ?

4/ The famous powerful scene where Andy is expressing his love for opera, and ultimately for "life. Joe left the house, and after a second he goes back, and at some point he tries to knock at Andy's door, he doesn't do it, and walks off saying "GOD". Why did he think about coming back to Andrew? Did he want something?

5/ -"What do you call a thousand lawyers chained together at the bottom of the ocean?" - "I don't know" - "A good start". THAT I NEVER GET, was it a joke or what? And then he left and at the elevator, he loudly said the question, just to get the exact answer from somebody there.

6/ After the opening scene, Andy and Joe go to the elevator, and there's a handicapped guy, and when Joe leaves after he had visited Andy in his so-called death bed, he finds in the elevator also a handicapped. Now THAT WASN'T COINCIDENTAL, there must be some subtext.

Please guys, answer those question. The ambiguity KILLS MEEE !!!

[–] bradleybaldwinbradley-ba 10 years ago

1/ I think the black girl who was doing his makeup, mentioned he cousin Fred (I guess that's the name), and the bald-looking guy is her sick cousin.

2/ I guess they're not allowed to have food in the library.

3/ Yes, that's exactly what he meant, that he doesn't get stoned men who would do anything with him.

4/ I think Joe was trying to console him, I don't know.

5/ I didn't get that one too.

[–] reyvgm 10 years ago

2: No food is allowed in a library.

3: The college student thinks Denzel's character is gay (for defending a gay person I guess?) and tries to hit on him.
He says "I don't pick up people in drugstores everyday" because they were in a drugstore and picking up chicks/guys at drugstores is not really something people do.
If they were at a Hospital, he would have said "I don't pick up people in hospitals everyday". It has nothing to do with doing drugs.

5: It's a classic lawyer joke. You know how people say they hate lawyers because of how sleazy they can be? Well, lawyers are so bad, that being chained at the bottom of the ocean is considered a good start (to a case, or career). Pretty much it's saying that lawyers are bad from the start and being chained at the bottom of the ocean is business as usual.

6: I think you're reading too much into things. It's a hospital, there's bound to be people in wheelchairs, specially in an elevator since they can't use stairs.
Also, hospitals make you use a wheelchair when you're getting discharged, so.

[–] montaltodalelynn 10 years ago

I would say the lawyer joke meant 1,000 of them at the bottom of the ocean was a good start to killing them all

[–] sherpa50 10 years ago

Yes. It's a reference to the line in Shakespeare's "Henry VI": "The first thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers".

"I bet you write wonderful letters."

[–] bobbymommytommy-47-339009 10 years ago

2/ The guy in the library was gay and he was cruising Joe for sex. He was checking him out, not giving him a dirty look.

6/ At the beginning, Joe chases after the guy on crutches and tries to solicit him as a client. This highlights his ambulance chaser tactics and portrays him as a less than upstanding lawyer. By the end, Joe has changed. This time, instead of trying to talk him into suing somebody, he merely tells a lawyer-bashing joke.

Hope this helps.

[–] webbrl 10 years ago

I thought he was sneering at Joe for being black, prepping Joe to be sympathetic when Andy is discriminated against by the clerk for being sick with AIDS.

[–] xepadrop 10 years ago

I agree, my first thought was a hint of racism at that sneering..

[–] Geeky Randy 10 years ago

by webbrl » Thu Jul 31 2014 09:50:20
IMDb member since September 2001

I thought he was sneering at Joe for being black, prepping Joe to be sympathetic when Andy is discriminated against by the clerk for being sick with AIDS.

^This was my interpretation too. Joe probably didn't really realize that Andy was actually a victim of discrimination until they were both discriminated by the same librarian.

Votes: 3,145
Website: (http://geeksteronmovies.blogspot.com/)

[–] facherz 10 years ago

I don't know if anyone else noticed this but the OP is clearly trolling with these questions. What gave it away was when he said "The ambiguity KILLS MEEE !!!" IMO The film, while good, was shallow, with under developed characters, simple themes and obvious take-aways. Oh let me guess, Denzel learns at the end that gay people aren't so bad after all. Just want to reiterate, good movie, but kind of shallow.

[–] mighty_frogman 10 years ago

I can only guess but...

1) The guy asking about the bagel was trying to distract the others from the obvious seriousness of the situation.

2) Not sure

3) I think Joe was offended that a gay guy tried to pick him up.

4) Again, not sure

5) The "good start" line was a gesture that 1000 dead lawyers was a start to getting rid of all lawyers.

[–] Oediface 9 years ago

2. It wasn't just a library, it was a law library, so almost everyone using it would be either an attorney or a paralegal assistant. Also, most attorneys in an area are at least somewhat familiar with the reputations of most of the others.

The attorney/legal aide who glared at Joe had seen his TV ads. "Legitimate" attorneys look upon "ambulance chasers" with disdain.

[–] Katiedidd 7 years ago

5/ -"What do you call a thousand lawyers chained together at the bottom of the ocean?" - "I don't know" - "A good start". THAT I NEVER GET, was it a joke or what? And then he left and at the elevator, he loudly said the question, just to get the exact answer from somebody there.

--What do you call a thousand lawyers up to their necks in cement?

Not enough cement.

--A busload of lawyers drive off a tall cliff. What could be the worst possible outcome?

If there were any empty seats.

I love lawyer jokes. 

[–] jasminenicolec 7 years ago

Better late then never but I'll address a few questions henceforth;

2) Joe initially refused Andys case, he did not want anything to do with it what so ever. That's why you see joe trying to duck behind the law books. Then as he sits there watching Andy being discriminated against--- here comes this jerk giving him an empty stare. That particular jerk was discriminatory against Joe because of his race. So due to that incident it reminded him - him and Andy have a lot more in common then he realized. He then became sympathic and decided to stand up for his associate.

3) he was flirting and wanted to hookup. - pickup line

4)Joe left abruptly because he didn't know how to handle the raw emotion Andy was expressing. Joe wanted to give Andy some type of comfort in his hour of need, but just couldn't fathom what so ever where to even begin.

5) it's an ON going joke that lawyers are sneaky, liars, and masters of manlipulation --- so in essence the only good lawyer is a dead lawyer. We don't need more people around that take advantage of others. Not my personal opinion, but I'm sure you understand now.

6 and beyond) I feel like you are somewhat genuine, but really just trolling... but I answered to the best of my ability just in case.