IMO, to heighten the sense of loneliness and emotion for Ray's character, it would've been better for Stevie's character to have bled to death in the car at the end of the movie. Especially after he makes the comment about always holding Ray back.
I love the movie but always consider this alternative when I watch it. Come on guys (and Antonia), bring on a sequel or prequel.
I know what you mean but it goes against the underlying theme of banding together for survival. He may seem in Ray's eyes as an annoying hanger-on but even when it comes to the worst of times, he never abandons his 'simple' friend. And similarly (yet in a completely selfless way) Steve never betrays Ray or ever uses him for his own ends.
Steve in his 'holding you back' speech ultimately does give the ultimate sacrifice by letting Ray go for his own survival (or so we are led to believe), but obviously Connie rescues both. And those few seconds of isolation you want for Ray do exist. He thinks Steve has left him, which is worse than him dying since it was a conscious choice. He's alone, with nothing, on the run and the police seconds away from him, frantically looking around the empty car park. He's all too aware of how selfishness and greed have left him.
Steve represents the core of the film's message. Everything he does is for the benefit of his friends. Nothing he does is ever self-motivated and money means nothing to him whether its the expected £500k, an actual £65k or £2k on a radio show. He treats it all the same - totally unimportant. What matters more is the friendship of Ray, Connie and the group. He knows he's far stronger with them than without.
Having Steve die, means that idea dies.
I agree with it enhancing the core of what I saw at the end of the film, but it would've also worked pretty well if he died, and all he had left was Connie. Did he meet Stevie before he became a criminal, and when did he meet Connie? Would work great if she was the only thing he had left before and after being a criminal.
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