Black guy in the Yellow Shirt - Elephant (2003) Discussion

[–] bluesfan38 16 years ago

Benny was the biggest retard ever that's why this movie is so broken in a real life situation i'm getting the *beep* out of there.

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[–] DevonChaos 16 years ago

I know its reading a bit into it, but perhaps the character was deaf. When I first saw him walking around, he didn't seem to turn his head to see where the noise was coming from. He never seemed to respond to any noise.

Vice, Virtue. It's best not to be too moral. You cheat yourself out of too much *life*.

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[–] aachooo 16 years ago

if he 's deaf, you are an awesome viewer :)

i totally thought like the rest above when i saw it on the theater 3 years ago, but YOUR COMMENT brings new perspective to the shot

i gotta see this again now

[]𺰘¨˜°ºð[] (ADIDAS) []𺰘¨˜°ºð[]

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[–] 16 years ago

[deleted]

[–] DevonChaos 16 years ago

as I said, it was just a theory. And thanks, aachoo! I appreciate the thought!

Vice, Virtue. It's best not to be too moral. You cheat yourself out of too much *life*.

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[–] Mandy_Whitsands 14 years ago

I know its reading a bit into it, but perhaps the character was deaf. When I first saw him walking around, he didn't seem to turn his head to see where the noise was coming from. He never seemed to respond to any noise.

You mean deaf, because he didn't notice what was going on? Following your logic, he would have to been blind too, because there was blood on the door he entered. And he wouldn't be able to feel anything either, because he walked by a huge fire in the corridor within close distance. *rolleyes*

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[–] acerock1999 16 years ago

He's deaf, not blind. I don't think he missed the fires and the dead bodies. He knew something was going on.

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[–] daisittyduke 16 years ago

maybe he wasn't deaf, or blind. but he surely was dumb

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[–] mavelife 16 years ago

I wonder what his role in the film was though, just to walk around and get shot?

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[–] gallae 16 years ago

some folk are. Maybe Benny was too. But that sort of thing happens in real life. Maybe Benny was on drugs. We don't know, but his death is still pretty senseless.

Laura S

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[–] MusicLovePoetry 16 years ago

sorry saving one persons life at least does not make you dumb

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[–] ze_goose 10 years ago

sorry saving one persons life at least does not make you dumb

Does it make someone any less "dumb" though?

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[–] tripitacha 15 years ago

Agreed. Totally missed that one, have to watch it again to see this.

Tomorrow is my birthday.

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[–] cobalt-17 16 years ago

He was probably more stoned than deaf. I mean, did he really go back into the school after the shooting started? I didn't see that part. Either way, I just don't buy his reaction, or lack of reaction, at all. He just walked around, saw some people running, thought nothing about it. It's like: People are running, there's blood on the door and the wall is burning... ok. I mean he didn't react at all. Most people would atleast be shook up, but he just walked around like a zombie. And the way he just walked up on one of the shooters was just pathetic, nobody would do that, I mean nobody. That's just suicide. So either he was stoned in adition to being a retard, or the script sucked badass.

"Yeah? Well, you know, that's just like your opinion, man."

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[–] MusicLovePoetry 16 years ago

Stoned on what? Not weed. If I was stoned on weed and there was a shooting I would be aware and get out....and help people too though

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[–] Mandy_Whitsands 14 years ago

I mean, did he really go back into the school after the shooting started? I didn't see that part. Either way, I just don't buy his reaction, or lack of reaction, at all. He just walked around, saw some people running, thought nothing about it. It's like: People are running, there's blood on the door and the wall is burning... ok. I mean he didn't react at all. Most people would atleast be shook up, but he just walked around like a zombie. And the way he just walked up on one of the shooters was just pathetic, nobody would do that, I mean nobody. That's just suicide. So either he was stoned in adition to being a retard, or the script sucked badass.

my feelings exactly.

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[–] emptyspaces153 15 years ago

i think that scene is there just to convey realism and destroy the idea of some hero, cuz there rarely is a "hero" in these situations.

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[–] always_keep_fighting 16 years ago

I also thought that maybe he was deaf, but then when he saw people running away, screaming and crying, and helped that girl who couldn't get out, I hoped he had some pivotal part in saving the day, and would maybe take the first guy he came to out. Then I realized, about a second after he got shot, that he wasn't deaf, and he wasn't extraordinarily brave...He was just stupid. And a completely usless character, except for the fact that he may have saved that girl's life.
Even if you're deaf, if you see people running away, screaming bloody murder, and you still walk calmly TOWARD whatever they're fleeing from, IMHO, you get what's coming to ya.

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[–] Ashes2107 16 years ago

Personally, I just thought he was in what I can only describe as functional shock mode.

I have to return some video tapes...

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[–] danatania 16 years ago

I'm sure that Benny is an allusion to Isaiah Shoels. He was the only black person shot at Columbine as well as a "jock" from the football team. From what I've read, Isaiah had a few health problems which may have affected him mentally. The 1st thing that came to my mind, was that Benny had the same problem; not that he was an idiot.

I also think that Michelle was an allusion to Kyle Velasquez. You know, the shy, sad geek who was the last person that deserved to get shot.

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[–] gamer3000 16 years ago

That was funny.

But I think you missed the point.

When I was a child...I thought as a child

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[–] ShogunGlowgun 16 years ago

SUUREEE PLAYED A MEAN PINBALLLL!

Shogun

LAST FILMS SEEN: Men At Work 10/10
The Shrimp on the Barbee 9.6/10

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[–] glass-tree 16 years ago

I just watched this film and wondered his significance as well. My friend suggested that perhaps he wanted to be killed?

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[–] ShogunGlowgun 16 years ago

then why did he sneak up behind him

MYTH: BUSTED

Shogun

LAST FILMS SEEN: Men At Work 10/10
The Shrimp on the Barbee 9.6/10

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[–] Kainoknight 16 years ago

I DISAGREE WITH ALL OF YOU

He wasn't retarded he was trying to be a hero. This movie is trying to tell the world to just leave the school during a shooting, don't try to save the day. I think you've all forgotten what it's like for kids. When adults have a gun pointed at them a good 50% will have their wallet/purse ready to give away, out of quick fear, for they've lived long and don't want to die.

Example:
Adult male handing his wallet to man with gun- "My pin# is 6977."
Adult Female-"(handing in her purse) Do you want me to take my clothes off so you can rape me?"

When I was a kid I seldom cared if I lived or died and if I could save someone by playing hero, well at least my life could have meaning. Some people just crave moments like this so they can play hero.
Trust me, more kids have hero fantasies then adults.

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[–] greenleaf_glade 16 years ago

THANK YOU! the only person who got it right. he was trying to HELP.
do you guys REALLY think gus van sant would put a meaningless character in a movie?

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[–] JiggalyPaff 16 years ago

Yea he wasnt deaf cause he heard the shooter swearing at the principal or whoever and then tried to sneak up to the guy.. He was trying to be a hero.

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[–] Mandy_Whitsands 14 years ago

I don't know if he was trying to help, but at any rate the character's behaviour is absurd, because he doesn't show any sign of surprise or other emotion, heck he doesn't display any kind of reaction at all, as if that happened every day, although a huge fire is blazing right left to him, kids are running all around, blood is on a door he walks trough, shooting can be heard, etc.

Okay, you can argue, he is just a dead cool guy. But even then, he doesn't try to take cover somewhere but walks right in the middle of the corridors, not caring about being spotted easily. Also look how cool and slow he walks. This doesn't indicate he is on a "mission" somehow. And when he makes his final approach on the gunman, I was just ... WTF?!? Slow, not along the walls ... I bet if he were able to reach him, he would have even tipped him on the shoulder, duh ....

You can say what you want about his intentions, but either way the way he behaved was absurd.

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[–] sdbyamtaylor 15 years ago

Brilliant - I think you got it right on the mark.

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[–] 14 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Mandy_Whitsands 14 years ago

Adult Female-"(handing in her purse) Do you want me to take my clothes off so you can rape me?"

you are obviously a guy ...

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[–] coffeeshopgirl18 16 years ago

hahah agreed!! I kept yelling at the tv screen and saying "GET THE *beep* OUT YOU IDIOT, THERE GONNA KILL YOU."

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[–] beckeis 16 years ago

You wouldn't be saying that if you were the girl or guy laying on the floor, with a gun pointed at you, and Benny was sneaking up behind the shooter, trying to stop him.

Poor kid. Think he really did want to help but alas ...

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[–] gallae 16 years ago

The page at http://www.elephantmovie.com/cast/dixon.html doesn't give much detail.

Laura S

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[–] gollygopher 16 years ago

Even if he is deaf could he not see blood and dead bodies everywhere?

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[–] gallae 16 years ago

Who knows?

I read a true account of a drugs bust in America where after a shoot-out a house was surrounded by police and paramedic. This young guy turned up and wanted to be let through. When the Police asked him why, he said he lived there, and they arrested him on the spot!

Laura S

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[–] Bxmber 16 years ago

He could've been in shock.
He's thrown into a situation no person should ever have to experience.
To me, it just seemed that he wanted to help out, but wasn't sure how.
He made a mistake, but how could he know?

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[–] smellsam44 16 years ago

the problem was that he showed absolutely no emotion. Usually when you are facing near death situation you don't just walk casually into the situation. And if he was sneaking up, don't you think he would tried to maybe sneak instead of walking. It made no sense to the story. He was a useless character. It looked like he was trying to save the day, but if he was, don't you think he'd try to get a weapon, get some protection, or maybe, just maybe you knw, either run towards the shooter, or maybe sneak up to the shooter instead of just walking casually.?

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[–] 16 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Fatbren 16 years ago

li mum

me too

cause he's black right?

reckon thats one of the points Mr van sant tried to make? you know like a little "ahh..racisms alive and well"

i thought he was from a violent area and was all like "yo check me out, im gonna fix this"

after he was shot i realized it didnt matter

i think it was a way of saying there was nothing anyone could do.

the one person that TRIED to help, got shot before he could say a word.

that, along with the final scene with Alex playing eenie meenie minie mo while the couple tried to reason, abuse, insult and cajole him and he just went on playing oblivious made me think tht it was a way of saying there was nothing anyone could do...there was no way through to these kids

my two cents

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[–] ohkimosabe 12 years ago

You obviously don't know anything about being in shock..?

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[–] Starcraft_90 10 years ago

Have you faced a near death situation? Everyone handles these types of situations uniquely. He could have been dazed, confused, adrenaline was pumping. He might have been the tough guy at school so he figured he could take em out. Recently there was a kid who stabbed about 19 people in a school. Everyone on the outside says "Why didn't anyone tackle him?! I would have jumped on him." When in reality they would have froze up, or gotten stabbed.

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[–] mego_corp 16 years ago

Bennie reacted like any hero-type of person would in a situation like that. His instinct kicked in and he wasn't thinking. You know you would be in shock if you were standing in a room with all your classmates lying dead everywhere. In his head, he might've been like "I'm going to kill the *beep* that did this", but his body was in shock. When you get into a situation like that everything slows down. He reacted pretty realistically in my opinion.

Also it was a great dramatic device. To add more tension to the scene.

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[–] princeofnewyork 16 years ago

Benny wasn't trying to be a hero, he was just nosy and got killed! Being nosy or running away is realistic! Trying to sneak up on a person with a gun is unrealistic UNLESS you've been watching too many damn movies!

December 2007, Alvin and The Chipmunks just became relevant...again!

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[–] boneyx 16 years ago

he was definitely trying to be a hero. i bet he watched die hard the night before. in fact, i'm guessing they filmed that part but decided to cut it out in the end.

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[–] YouthGoneWild 16 years ago

haha trying to be a hero, he became an hero

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