sambuca says > Why would Tom, a master criminal as he appears to be throughout the movie, make such a sloppy job of hiding the body?
Tom wraps Philippe's body in a tarp, attaches the anchor, and shoves him overboard fully expecting the body to sink to the bottom of the ocean. He doesn't know much about boats so he fails to cut all the lines and doesn't notice the body has gotten wedged to the bottom of the boat; due in part to the dingy.
...he encouraged the victim's girlfriend to proceed with the sale of the boat.
From the beginning, Marge is Tom's target. He wants Philippe out of the way so he can be with Marge and takeover Philippe's money. He uses Marge to establish Philippe is still alive but manipulates her into thinking he never cared for her so she'll write him off and stop looking for him. He uses her to destroy evidence, which is why the sale of the boat is necessary. He makes her Philippe's sole beneficiary, establishes Philippe's 'suicide' through notes to her, then moves in on Marge so he can share in the spoils of Philippe's wealth.
Did he expect he would never get caught, or simply (for whatever reason) wanted to get caught?
Tom is meticulous in laying out his plan. He is careful to make sure he diverts attention away from himself; even, at one point, calling the apartment Philippe is supposedly living in and letting police know where to find him. This way he is a witness in the story instead of an unknown, unseen mystery man that might draw suspicion his way. Even as his supposed close friend, he's savvy enough to not make himself Philippe's beneficiary, as that would raise suspicion. Marge, Philippe’s long term girlfriend is the better choice. No, Tom has absolutely no plans of ever being caught.
His expression in the very last scene suggests the latter, but I may be getting the wrong impression.
In the end, Tom finally feels he's completed all tasks. Philippe's father has agreed to turn over all funds to Marge without question, the boat is about to be sold, and he has firmly established himself in Marge's life. The look is a self-satisfied look. He's feeling he can finally breathe easy; relax. He's proud of himself; he's managed to pull off and get away with an elaborate crime and, in his mind, no one would ever think he had anything to do with it. His look is a visual pat on the back.
Woman, man! That's the way it should be Tarzan. [Tarzan and his mate]
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