MovieChat Forums > Heist (2001) Discussion > Joe pimping out his 'wife' means she isn...

Joe pimping out his 'wife' means she isn't much to him

posted 17 years ago by yoassismine
1 reply | jump to latest

I am not sure even a hardcore gangster would pimp out his wife. Joe was a desperate man. He and his crew got stiffed. His boat deal fell through. He wanted to retire. Outwardly he said she would ditch the young guy when she was ready. But he had already written her off when he told her to "suit up" and she went along with it. She was just a means to an end. He gave her up for the gold and a comfortable retirement.

If I ever see Mamet, the first thing I would ask him is the ending.

[–] popebambi 16 years ago

He hadn't "written her off" when he asked her if she was WILLING to "suit up" and seduce Jimmy Silk.

Having sex with the mark as part of the con is a standard ploy: but Fran has to AGREE. It's clear from the "you gonna suit up?" scene that Joe can't MAKE his wife do the seductress bit, and he feels bad about putting her on the spot.

She can decline, if she wants, and Joe will have to come up with something else... But he asks her, and she agrees.

Hence the "Chinese" outfit and her reference to coming from China in a box of matches.

Fran having sex with Jimmy Silk and supposedly agreeing to double-cross her husband is all part of the scam...

...This is obvious when Jimmy totals the "getaway van" which she knows is full of washers and which she tries to stop him from getting out and checking.

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