Coins Are Serious Business

I saw a bit of American Buffalo on Wednesday. I'd never seen a Mamet-written film before, and this is clearly not the one to make me seek out more of them. I do finally understand all those comments I've seen over the years that described Bendis' writing as Mamet-like. His characters do have a tendency to repeat the same point over and over again. On the other hand, they're at least saying something beyond variations on "Really?" "Yeah." "Ugh." "I know." "Ugh!" "Yeah, I know." Still, there was a definite sense of spinning their tires. Which is maybe the point, these guys can't get what they think they deserve because they can't get it in gear.

Coming in during the second half of the movie wasn't optimal, there were certain connections I didn't understand. But it was obvious Don and Teach (Dennis Franz and Dustin Hoffman) were planning to rob someone of valuable coins, but mostly spent their time arguing about how to go about it. Don wants to bring in another guy, Fletch, but can't get ahold of him. Teach is opposed to bringing in a 3rd guy, which is funny since, as my dad explained it to me, Teach himself has forced his way into the mix. The more they delay, the more they squabble, the more they get paranoid about everything. Bobby - who alerted Don to the opportunity originally - brings a coin of his own he's hoping to pawn off on Don, and Teach gets suspicious. Fletch still won't answer the phone, Teach gets suspicious. Don starts getting fed up with Teach.  It keeps spiraling out of control, and nothing gets done.

Don's really only on this because he thinks someone got one over on him, and he wants to get him back, get what he thinks he deserves. Teach saw an opportunity, but now they're letting their own natures undermine their goals. They suspect others are trying to beat them to it, or undermine them, and they waste time complaining about that, rather than trying to pull off the robbery. Not that it matters, because the whole thing is a fool's errand, anyway.

I couldn't understand how Don put up with Teach. Hoffman's character carries himself like a genius among dopes, and he's extremely passive-aggressive, questioning every decision Don makes. He even tries to come off as a heavy towards Bobby, which, I understand Bobby is supposed to be a kid, and Teach just clocked him in the head with a rotary phone. But the idea of Dustin Hoffman intimidating anyone is laughable.