MovieChat Forums > The Education of Charlie Banks (2007) Discussion > Smelling the shirt???

Smelling the shirt???

posted 15 years ago by StarkRavingMovies
10 replies | jump to latest

Why was Mick smelling Charlie's clothes when he walks into the dorm room? Was there some underline gay reference here?

"I mostly cum at night, mostly."

[–] sisterdebmac 15 years ago

I need to watch the movie again to be sure, but we were discussing this on another MB. Others said that they weren't Charlie's clothes. They were the clothes Leo gave to Mick. If that's the case, he was probably just smelling them to make sure they were clean, and touching them to his face because they were nicer than any of his clothes.

I saw no underlying gay theme in this movie. I wouldn't be bothered if there was one, but it just never occurred to me as I was watching it.
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Palin/Nugent 2012! Smell that? Mmmmm... sarcasm.

[–] Agentphantom0 15 years ago

He envied the affluent upper class lifestyle of Leo and the others. Those clothes made him feel like he was a part of that lifestyle. He smelled it because it was something he's never had and it made him feel good.

[–] sisterdebmac 15 years ago

Yep. BTW, we had a little fun with this whole Mick being secretly gay idea on our MB, just for sheets and giggles...

http://www.chris-marquette.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=48801#p48801
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Palin/Nugent 2012! Smell that? Mmmmm... sarcasm.

[–] 15 years ago

[deleted]

[–] ryanoconnor-1 15 years ago

I do wonder if there is a gay sub-text between Mick and Charlie - the way Mick is always looking at Charlie and touching him, putting his arm around him, wanting to be with the girl Charlie likes etc. There is a weird vibe going on.

[–] 15 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Timbiat 13 years ago

I too felt like there were huge homosexual undertones to the story. The last scene kind of sealed it for me. I know they're young and most will say that it reflects that Mick wanted to be like Charlie, but at that point he knew nothing about him. That alone wouldn't be enough, but added with the countless other instances in the film where it poked through I don't think that's it's just my imagination.

If it really is, it's an interesting addition to the story. But given Mick's unflinching need to appear masculine in any situation and responding with the manliest of acts, violence, anytime he was emasculated by someone it makes sense.

[–] pacificcanoe 15 years ago

I was thinking this as well, through out the film, that perhaps Mick had a thing for Charlie. It didn't feel like Mick was through and through gay, it felt more like that crush you get on someone you admire, like and envy (like a bro-crush or a girl-crush). I felt it added another more complex layer to the film, and to be honest, if it wasn't there I would feel like this movie made little sense to me, as Charlie was so stand offish and cold to Mick, and the only reason I could think for Mick to keep trying for Charlie's affection was a kind of crush on him, otherwise what the heck is the point?

[–] sisterdebmac 15 years ago

He wasn't trying for Charlie's affection. He was tryiing to get him to admit that he was the one who ratted him out all those years ago. Mick's intentions toward Charlie were NEVER good. It wasn't until he saw the lush life Charlie was living and became infatuated with it himself that he tried insinuating himself into Charlie's world. And the fact that he just couldn't fit in there sent him into a rage. But in the end, he had changed enough to have mercy on Charlie and not beat the living crap out of him. I think the point of the movie is that Charlie learns that people are complex, and there's good in even the ones who seem irredeemable.
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[–] steffeeric 11 years ago

Charlie learned his dad was right. He should have put that animal in jail the first time. Now he comes to town and bangs the girl you like and then beats everyone up. This movie was pretty awful all around. I am shocked that Fred Durst would put his good name on such crap.