Questions ??

A few questions I hope can be answered from viewers of The Pawnbroker. First the film in my opinion is a masterpiece; the dialogue, script, camera work, directing, editing, cinematography and acting is unparalleled for a work of the 1960's. Is there anyone that believes that the Rodriquez character was a homosexual? Lumet skillfully crafted this character as a powerful pimp with a brothel of prostitutes yet he himself finds sexual gratification with a blonde, white, young man. Other viewers commented in the thread about the homosexual question; one viewer in particular was annoyed that another reviewer had alluded to Lumet including homosexuality within the storyline. I believe that the Pawnbroker includes characters as diverse as any film before or after. One of the thugs reading the muscle magazine ( he also appears in the film The Sting as one of Lonnigan's thugs)seems to be attracted to males. ( He points to the naked men on the cover of the magazine with his pistol) Is the pistol his phalanx symbol? The bag man for Rodriquez is depositing the proceeds from the brothel- but how is Nasserman making money from the pawn shop? Customers come into the shop, Nasserman appraises the goods and awards them a fraction of what the goods are worth. The only time we see customers reclaiming goods is when the musicians retrieve their instruments while Nasserman dehumanizes the woman asking for charity. ( A brilliantly crafted scene). He is living with his sister-in-law's family in suburban Long Island, drives a car, and wears a suit and tie to work. In the opening scene it is assumed that he has amassed a sum of money; his sister-in-law is wishing for a 2 week European vacation. How has Nasserman attained his wealth? Is Rodriquez paying Nasserman an undetermined weekly sum of money just for fronting the pawn shop as a way to funnel out the money earned from the brothel? Also can anyone explain the relationship between the black prostitute and Nasserman's helper in the pawn shop? The young Spanish man wants "out" of Harlem yet is sexually involved with a prostitute from the same neighborhood. The young man's mother ( we assume he has no father) is characterized well in the film. The scene with him bathing in the kitchen epitomizes tenement life in NYC. Anyone agree that Rod Stieger should have won the Academy Award for best actor? I believe that the film should have won at least 4 more Academy Awards. Any one agree?