Karen and Michael's apparent infetility was touched upon briefly, when Karen said that they didn't need such as large house, "especially not now", and the awkward silence when Pete said that he was surprised they didn't have a few kids running around. Does anyone know, in the original story or screenplay, was their infertility featured more prominently, or have any bearing on the story? In the finished film, the two hints at it seem to serve no purpose to the plot.
shareI was coming up here to post about this too. I wondered why they bothered to put this subplot in about kids, if it wasn't even explained or had a reason? As if a happily married couple in the '90s had to explain why they didn't have kids?!
I also noticed Michael's studio has a piece of what looks like cartoon horses on wallpaper (or a poster of it) as if they planned a room to be a nursery.
"I'd say this cloud is Cumulo Nimbus."
"Didn't he discover America?"
"Penfold, shush."
It doesn't seem to me that there was ever more footage related to that but I think what those little things add very subtly is that maybe this is something to imply Michael might feel like less of a man or that this is a big disappointment in their marriage and it's just one more very personal thing that Pete ends up knowing about them.
Pete implies that Michael shouldn't feel like a wuss because he couldn't protect his wife (even though he obviously wants him to feel that way, haha) and we know he felt un-manly for not doing more to rescue her or whatever, so I think the infertility thing might just be another touch. :)
"My Rowsdower has come for me!"
the only time michael's gun would fire & smoke was right after he shot pete with it.
I was thinking of the immortal words of Socrates, who said, "... I drank what?"
I think it was all playing into Russell's character feeling like a cuckold and less of a man. The cops telling him not to get a gun, and instead to call them and they would come protect him, etc. Liotta had the gun, Russell didn't, Russell was helpless to protect his woman, Liotta was all-powerful. Russel was infertile, and could do nothing as Liotta moved in on his woman. Basically it was all a big play on a guy being forced into feelings of impotence before finally getting the chance to man up and redeem himself.
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