He’s just murdered Jack. He knows Jack will now be out to get him (with what little time he has left) and he knows Jack has been working with Exley. Why on earth would he give Exley a dying clue to the identity of Jack’s murderer?
shareSpoilers to a very great movie that anyone who hasn’t seen, should. And shouldn’t read this.
So, you didn’t word this right. Either that or it’s very confusing. Jack’s dead. Murdered. And you then say. Jack will be out to get him …. He’s dead so he’s not going to be out to get anybody.
Rollo Tomasi is a fake name that when used is a code. It means something only to Exley. It means the one who gets away with everything. It is nobody’s name. Actually it refers to the history of his father. But to anyone else, it is or might be a real person.
When Rollo Tomasi are Jack’s last words to Smith, Smith thinks it is name of a person to pursue. When Smith then says it to Exley, Exley now knows Smith is the one who killed Jack. He’s the bad cop. Mystery solved. It was Jack’s gift to Exley - better than a loaded gun.
Do-over: He’s just SHOT Jack. He knows Jack will now be out to get him (with what little time he has left) and he knows Jack has been working with Exley. Why on earth would Smith give Exley a dying clue to the identity of Jack’s murderer?
For those who might not know - A dying clue is something a dying person says so others can figure out who committed the murder.
But to Smith it is not a dying clue. It is not a clue at all. It is an unresolved name. He doesn’t know what it means. It only means something to Exley.
Like Rosebud.
Since Smith is a cop, he would know it could be a dying clue. If I had been Smith, I would have followed up on it privately and never mentioned it to Exley. For me, it’s a weakness in the plot.
shareBut it doesn’t work like that. You know the answer so you are thinking in the aftermath. That dying words are suspicious. But to Smith, it is something that he thinks is unfinished. He’s not thinking that it is something that will reveal him. He’s tying up loose ends for himself and doesn’t think that those two words mean anything and he is the one asking the last question. He is the one who actually elicits Jack’s last words - Jack’s not just saying it for nothing - “Have you a valediction, boyo?”
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I don't think Smith is that dumb. He asked Exley about Rollo Tomasi (A) to explore an unknown lead AND (B) to see how Exley would react
Exley's reaction told us, the audience, everything we needed to know, that Exley knows Smith killed Jack
BUT
I think Exley's reaction told Smith the same damn thing
Consider that Smith sent White after Exley shortly thereafter, and when that failed, set them both up at the Victory
TLDR: Smith knew it was a risk, but it was a calculated risk ... and it DID in fact pay off, for us AND for Smith