Why did Michael give John more time ?
Why did Michael give John more time while trying to kill each other ? John also reflects later that Michael used a Spanner instead of a Gun. But why ??
I think what we're supposed to take from that scene is the fact that John has for a very long time taken care not to examine the life he has continually chosen to lead, and when at last he does shine a light on his past he finds that it's not all so clear and black and white. In the case of his brother, it had always been easiest to assume that Michael wanted to get rid of him and would have killed him that night if John hadn't had his guard up. But upon reflection John begins to suspect that Michael hadn't planned to attack at all, would have never swung the shovel had John not first pulled the gun. Maybe for all his brutality Michael was actually fond of his little brother . . . And all along it was John whose suspicious little heart was blackest.
Anyhow, that's my take on it I guess.
I agree.
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SPOILER
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Part of the horror of the movie is that there really no real deep dark conspiracies per se. Just another way to earn a living. That's scary. And John starts seeing that when he begins to doubt his pat excuse for pulling the trigger -- maybe Michael wasn't really going to kill him after all.