MovieChat Forums > Nurse Betty (2000) Discussion > Politically correct hitmen?

Politically correct hitmen?

posted 19 years ago by esbie44
7 replies | jump to latest

This was a fairly entertaining movie. It should at least get high marks for its originality. Yes, the scalping scene was gratuitous. But what was more disturbing was the favorable portrayal of the hitmen played by Freeman and Rock. Granted, this is a dark comedy, but besides Betty, the hitmen are the most sympathetic characters in the film. Betty's husband is a lowlife, low rent, lowbrow drug dealer. During the commission of a drug deal with the hitmen, the husband refers to American Indians as dumb. This is when Rock, the paid assassin, becomes so morally indignant that he pulls out a knife and scalps the husband. The film seems to mitigate Rock's gruesome murder by the politically incorrect aspersions of the husband. Thankfully, the husband did not reference Asians as Orientals -this would have provided Rock with justification to castrate.

[–] futuramafan105 18 years ago

I partially disagree. I didn't find Rock all that sympathetic, just because he got offended over a politically incorrect term doesn't really mean anything. If anything, the film sided with Rock scalping him because Eckhart's character was an even bigger *beep* than he was. However, I did find Freeman's character sympathetic, as I think it was meant to be. His monologue to Betty during the climax of the movie was absolutely terrific.

[–] ijonesiii 18 years ago

The fact that the hitmen were made so sympathetic was definitely one of the more entertaining aspects of this underrated charmer. Morgan Freeman, who couldn't give a bad performance if he tried, is particularly charming in this film. I love the way he treats Betty like a complete lady throughout the film. He is so polite and respectful of her to the point where Rock is getting fed up, but he knows Betty is an innocent bystander to the reason they are there and makes it clear from jump that he has no animosity toward her and treats her so kindly. The brief relationship that surfaces between Zelwegger and Freeman is so lovely.

[–] 18 years ago

[deleted]

[–] AckleyKid1990 18 years ago

have u ever heard of the word SPOILER?

[–] jezzyt_14 17 years ago

((SPOILER))

Firstly, it was Freeman's speech to Eckhart that motivated Rock to do the scalping. You can tell Rock had never scalped anyone before, as evidence from his reaction.

I agree that Freeman played quite a sympathetic character because he never really intended to kill anyone, but he had to because of his knucklehead son.

I felt sympathetic for Rock, because if Freeman had followed Rock's instincts, then they would not have been killed. Its when they find the drugs when Rock finally calms down and thinks about what would the smart thing to do.

[–] psdhart 11 years ago

I agree Freeman was great in this

[–] Zuider_Zee 10 years ago

I didn't find Rock's character to be at all a sympathetic one. I was pleased when he was shot.