I’ve never understood what Costello’s monologue at the beginning has to do with the rest of the movie. He talks about his environment, the church, the Knights of Columbus, John F. Kennedy becoming President and blacks not realizing that you have to take it. Can anyone explain to me the relevance of all that to the rest of the movie?
shareSounds like the screenwriter was just trying to be edgy and have the monologue hold some pseudo-gravata
sharePeople in the movie are doing whatever they need to do, legal or illegal to survive. He's also giving a description of the setting: BOSTON, the city is not just the setting, but a character in the movie as well. JFK's grandfather was Mayor of Boston, and held major political power. This was a big deal for Irish Catholics, who in the 1800s were considered "white *beep* and the lowest class. The Irish Catholics started out with nothing, but came into being a major power in Boston. Then the movie is about power, trust, friends/enemies, etc. I don't think it's just a screenwriter showing off. I think it sets the tone for the movie.
shareI'm glad you asked that because I was thinking it's the only film I can think of the top of my head where one of the main characters narrates in the film at the beginning and then no more throughout the rest of the film. Can anyone else think of a film which does the same?
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