MovieChat Forums > The Rock (1996) Discussion > Paxton question (spoilers)

Paxton question (spoilers)

posted 9 years ago by Olddawg90
8 replies | jump to latest

By the end of the movie, Goodspeed covers for Mason, saying that he has been vaporized, and there is no body to collect. When he informs Paxton of this, Paxton takes it in stride without asking any questions. If I remember correctly, he might have even cracked a half-grin in that end scene. Now, knowing that Paxton took (small) issue earlier with the fact that Mason was locked away for 30 years without a formal trial, do you think he truly believed Goodspeed? Or did he perhaps not believe in Goodspeed, but not really care, covering for them both anyway?

It's been a long day, so my thoughts are not as well-formed as they should be.

[–] ecvz 9 years ago

I could see it both ways. Paxton does seem to sympathize with Mason once he hears the whole story from Womack:

"So you held this guy without trial his whole life? No wonder he's pissed."

The first time I saw the movie, I didn't think Paxton knew at all, but watching it again, I think Paxton gets the gist from Goodspeed.

[–] Olddawg90 9 years ago

Exactly! I think Paxton is somewhat complicit with Goodspeed's lie, which makes me respect him all the more. Womack, I personally have very low regard for and was glad he was lied to about Mason.

All in all, this was just an interesting perspective that made me appreciate the movie even more.

[–] mikeyg24 9 years ago

I don't know if he's complicit as such but figures that's all he's going to get from Goodspeed so why get all worked up.

I've had a lot of sobering thoughts in my time Del Boy, it's them that started me drinking!

[–] termigreen 8 years ago

I thought it was made pretty clear that he knew Goodspeed was bluffing, but he didn't want to press on the matter any further because he, like Goodspeed, didn't think Mason deserved whatever was going to happen to him if he stayed.

[–] Olddawg90 8 years ago

That's exactly how I see it as well. Paxton's quote of "He spent half his life behind bars. No wonder why he's pissed," seemed to indicate that he was definitely for Mason being free at the end.

[–] termigreen 8 years ago

That is true. Add to that, he also witnessed Womack tearing up John's pardon. Taking that, plus Womack holding John without trial, he most definitely garnered sympathy for the man and probably a dislike towards Womack.

Throughout the movie, you can see that Paxton and Womack disagreed on things in various degrees of subtlety. It isn't out of the realm of the possibility that they probably clashed even more off-screen.

At the start, he's a hard-ass cop using tactics towards Mason in the interrogation room, yet still following the rules, and states that he doesn't like Mason and vice versa. Then at the end, you notice a stark contrast when he takes an outlandish vaporized claim at face value and even walks away shortly after Womack approaches. It was like a transition from desk mind to soldier mind.

[–] Olddawg90 8 years ago

Very wonderful observations termigreen. I'm glad I'm not the only one who studies and analyzes movies to this degree.

[–] rshettybar 8 years ago

He definitely knew... 'Vaporised huh.. Poor bastard'.. With the grin he was obviously in on the ruse. Paxton was a good bloke