That was no simple "hi & bye." His lines were minimal, but you have to watch that scene again with Tom Cruise, Cary Elves & Robert Duvall. It was directed beautifully. You could really get the gist of Russ Wheeler (Cary Elves) and his mindset real quick. I remember it like it was yesterday.
In the garage, Harry (Duvall) walks over with Russ to Cole (Cruise), who was on the phone trying to reach his girlfriend. Since Cole was busy and focused on his call, Harry briefly in short said, "Hey Cole...Cole...this is Russ Wheeler. He's been selected to drive for us in your car." Cole just briefly looked over at Russ as Russ expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to drive his car. Cole politely shook his hand briefly and that was it. He just ignored him after that while he was focused on talking to the nurse's aide. Harry said, "Can't reach her? She's not there? Hmmmm....Bummer." Russ, a fair but fierce competitor who wants to make his own name in Cup, was hoping Cole had more time to talk to him about the car, the competition, their racing records in general, compare notes, and just talk shop in general. However, Cole infuriated him by ignoring him. Russ felt embarrassed & insulted and smirked while suggesting to himself, "you prick." Figuring well two can play this game, Russ showed his real self and said, "I promise I won't drive the car as good as you." Cole looked at him dumbfoundedly, "Wait, what?". That was an intimidation tactic. Afterwards, Russ said his good byes to Harry and left. Cole, confused as hell, looked over at Harry, with his head motion, "Wait, who the hell was that? What did he say?" Harry of course mocked him and laughed. It was a good scene even though Cary Elves didn't say much you got a sense of what his mindset and that's all the lines he needed at that point to demonstrate the nature of his character's portrayal.
He didn't like Cole's treatment of him, jealous of his results in the car, and was determined to dethrone Cole off his "high horse." Since then, Russ continued to relieve for him (movie skipped over all of it) and keep the car financed until Cole healed and when Russ finally got his own car as Cole's teammate, he started talking trash about Cole in a interview. Harry of course didn't like it. Next thing you know he's all over Cole like a cheap suit at every opportunity he had to wreck him. His actions spoke louder than his words.
Then, in the Daytona 500, he admits his personal opinion of Cole and said, "Cole Trickle's a danger to himself and everyone else on the race track. Whenever he gets near me, I will put him in the wall. That's just how I see it." Again, intimidation tactics.
He was Dale Earnhardt, Sr. but younger & less respectful. Kid didn't need any other lines.
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