The messenger *possible spoilers*
When Sullivan kills the messenger, there is $25,000 on the table. Why didn't he take it? They Rob the mob the rest of the film(almost).
Any thoughts/ideas?
This question is answered in the FAQs. He left the money to send a message to Rooney that he could not be bought. Avenging his family's murders was his purpose, not to get rich.
shareThat makes no sense. He shot the guy in the face to send a message. The money was already there. "He had no reason to rob the mob until he was refused the alternate job" would make SOME sense, but not explain it logically.
shareI think it makes perfect sense. Shooting the messenger and leaving the cash is explicit: Sullivan is rejecting the offer. Shooting the messenger and taking the cash is difficult to interpret: did Sullivan simply rob the messenger? Was there a fight and the messenger was killed accidentally? Was Sullivan then forced into taking the money to effect his escape? Did Sullivan kill the messenger in order to take the cash to disappear with a stake fund? All of these questions arise when killing and theft are undertaken. Sullivan's intentions are then unclear. The purity of killing the messenger and leaving 25 grand on the table makes it clear what Sullivan's intentions are as well as making his contempt for the offer clear beyond all doubt.
Stealing money from gangster operations subsequently is then Sullivan's method of damaging the criminal operation. The 25 grand left behind would not have damaged the operation as it was effectively a 'gift' to Sullivan. Sullivan declined the gift, killed the messenger and then repeatedly took criminal funds to damage the system.