THE COOLER discussion thread

[SilentBob]

You know the usual. Expect spoilers and don't say you just hated the movie and stuff.


Anyways. . . .


I just watched the movie a few nights ago and i thought it was a pretty great movie. Over the past few days though with the boards being down i have thought more and more about the overall movie itself.

I like the the fact that we see how a typical day of work/events happen to Bernie. Walks with a limp, never cream for his coffee, looks depressed, has a pretty good honest relationship with the old school casino owner Shelly and is constantly bothered by his sexually active neighbour(s) at a sleezy motel.

This man Bernie is full of bad luck. . . . or is he. Bernie the Cooler really a man of Bad Luck or is he nothing but full of Good Luck afterall?

Yes he is a man that doesn't seem to have any good luck really (from your first impressions) but we aren't to judge a book by its cover. We know Bernie was a man down on his luck and basically an addicted gambler years ago. Shelly his friend/casino boss he gave him that limp after he couldn't come up with the money he was down. (this took away his desire to gamble away) Throughout the movie Shelly tries to suggest a Doctor that could make that limp go away for Bernie and he refuses to accept. We learn pretty early in the movie that it was probably the best thing anyone had done to him. Many people lose a shitload of money from gambling every year and can never pay back a person. "You think these things only happen in movies" is quoted by Bernie and from the past it seems like Mafia bosses would kill a person who couldn't payback the money. Shelly is consider an Old School Casino owner (basically he was a little Mafia boss of the Casino and its clients) Bernie needed to pay him tons of money bck and he wasnt killed just severly injured to the knee. He has a limp that wont go away (cheaply) but he is still walking away with his life.

Bernie also states early on that he was going to be leaving his job as a Cooler and that he would be gone in 7 days (lucky 7) During those 7 days he turns what was suppose to be a false romance with Natalie into something true and loving. This later shows signs in his job as the casino starts paying out over a million dollars in one day. "Maybe i'm having an off day" quoted by Bernie. Was his luck really rubbing off on the people and on himself. His long missing cat has returned home to him, he seems to have an extra bounce into his limp step, cream for his coffee and beautiful happy smile to show for it. Bernie again he has turned into another book cover that we judge him by. Shelly notices the difference in his persona and decides to make things normal once again by visiting Natalie. Shelly tries to ruin their relationship and it seems to work for a day or 2 only for Natalie to return once again back to Bernie's home. (Shelly seemed to roll a Snake Eyes there. The house wins the prize Natalie return and love) So Bernie never lost anything whenn things turned bad and in a way he seemed to gain from it. Ralationship wise, standing up for himself against the ods and winning his family's freedom (new love and troublesome Son and Daughter in law)

In the end Bernie uses his good luck that he has always had to win back everything from Shelly at his own Casino. He won his family's freedom, his own freedom, a new life and probably enough money if for that knee operation. He no longer had to fear what Shelly could do to him anymore as he had stood up to him and kept his ground. Also in the end with the officer about to take them out and return the money to the new Casino boss do we really see how much luck Bernie's really has. A drunk driver in the middle of the desert just happens to be there in time to save their life by killing the rogue officer.

What are the odds of that happening?

[Dilmo]

Loved the movie. Just thought I'd mention DIRECTV Pay Per View is currently showing a Unrated Director's Cut exclusively. Since it's Lion's Gate, look for another release soon, i.e. Monster's Ball. Damn bastards!