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Adam doesn't need to chew scenery to devastate you.
I love this quiet little scene so much. It comes about halfway through the movie, and showcases Adam's ability to deliver a beautifully understated and nuanced performance that still delivers a strong emotional punch.
It opens with a calm, focused, professional energy; they're looking at the information, photos, articles, and correspondence they've collected so far, pinned up on a board at the station. The mood pivots when Ron reveals that their membership card has arrived and hands it to Flip. Ron is excited, seeing the possibilities that have opened for them now that they've got official proof that the Klan has taken their bait-- hook, line, and sinker.
But Flip's mood turns pensive. Gazing at the card proving his undercover identity's membership in a hate group that would kill him in a heartbeat, we hear him share his ruminations on something that Ron had confronted him about before.
Our first inkling that Flip had a common enemy in the KKK comes when he's preparing for his first meeting with the local chapter, when Jimmy warns him to take off "that Jewish necklace," the star of David that Flip wears around his neck, the only acknowledgement he makes of his heritage. When Ron says, in surprise, "Flip, you're Jewish??", his reply is, "I dunno, am I?" It's clear that his family may be Jewish, but Flip doesn't identify in any meaningful way with the faith.
Later on, after a nearly fatal run in with Felix, Flip confronts Ron about how he's taking this job too seriously. "For you it's a crusade, for me it's a job; it's not personal, nor should it be." In return, Ron challenges Flip, reminding him that while Flip might be "passing for a WASP... cherry pie, hot dog, white boy", he IS Jewish, and the KKK don't just hate Black people, they also have a deep hatred for Jews. That, for both of them, there are real stakes at play; it's not just about keeping some rednecks from playing dress-up and lighting a couple of sticks on fire, it's about keeping themselves, and folks like them, safe from a dangerous hate group. Flip walks away, unconvinced and frustrated that he's going to need to continue to risk his life.
But, confronted with the reality of that membership card, Flip makes it clear that he has been thinking about what Ron said:
It's obvious he's sad; his brow furrowed, eyelids drooping, his lips are pursed as if he's holding something bitter in his mouth, the corners turned entirely down, his chin muscles rumpling-- the very definition of rueful. This is not a man filled with glee at fooling these racist jerks, this is a man with regrets, mourning an identity never fully claimed for himself out of unspoken and previously unrecognized fear for the consequences.
But when Flip quietly leaves that room, we're left with the knowledge that he recognizes that he does have skin in this game, and, like Ron, he's decided to play for keeps.
Photo used for reference was a screencap taken and edited by me.
About 8.5 hrs of painting time.
I love this quiet little scene so much. It comes about halfway through the movie, and showcases Adam's ability to deliver a beautifully understated and nuanced performance that still delivers a strong emotional punch.
It opens with a calm, focused, professional energy; they're looking at the information, photos, articles, and correspondence they've collected so far, pinned up on a board at the station. The mood pivots when Ron reveals that their membership card has arrived and hands it to Flip. Ron is excited, seeing the possibilities that have opened for them now that they've got official proof that the Klan has taken their bait-- hook, line, and sinker.
But Flip's mood turns pensive. Gazing at the card proving his undercover identity's membership in a hate group that would kill him in a heartbeat, we hear him share his ruminations on something that Ron had confronted him about before.
Our first inkling that Flip had a common enemy in the KKK comes when he's preparing for his first meeting with the local chapter, when Jimmy warns him to take off "that Jewish necklace," the star of David that Flip wears around his neck, the only acknowledgement he makes of his heritage. When Ron says, in surprise, "Flip, you're Jewish??", his reply is, "I dunno, am I?" It's clear that his family may be Jewish, but Flip doesn't identify in any meaningful way with the faith.
Later on, after a nearly fatal run in with Felix, Flip confronts Ron about how he's taking this job too seriously. "For you it's a crusade, for me it's a job; it's not personal, nor should it be." In return, Ron challenges Flip, reminding him that while Flip might be "passing for a WASP... cherry pie, hot dog, white boy", he IS Jewish, and the KKK don't just hate Black people, they also have a deep hatred for Jews. That, for both of them, there are real stakes at play; it's not just about keeping some rednecks from playing dress-up and lighting a couple of sticks on fire, it's about keeping themselves, and folks like them, safe from a dangerous hate group. Flip walks away, unconvinced and frustrated that he's going to need to continue to risk his life.
But, confronted with the reality of that membership card, Flip makes it clear that he has been thinking about what Ron said:
"I'm Jewish yes, but I wasn't raised to be. It wasn't part of my life, I never thought much about being Jewish, nobody around me was Jewish. You know, I wasn't going to a bunch of Bar Mitzvahs, I didn't have a Bar Mitzvah. I was just another white kid, and now I'm in some basement denying it out loud."
*chuckles uncomfortably*
"I never thought much about it, now I'm thinking about it all the time. About rituals and heritage. Is that passing? Well, then I... then I have been passing."
*hands KKK membership card to Ron*
"I don't want that."
It's obvious he's sad; his brow furrowed, eyelids drooping, his lips are pursed as if he's holding something bitter in his mouth, the corners turned entirely down, his chin muscles rumpling-- the very definition of rueful. This is not a man filled with glee at fooling these racist jerks, this is a man with regrets, mourning an identity never fully claimed for himself out of unspoken and previously unrecognized fear for the consequences.
But when Flip quietly leaves that room, we're left with the knowledge that he recognizes that he does have skin in this game, and, like Ron, he's decided to play for keeps.
Photo used for reference was a screencap taken and edited by me.
About 8.5 hrs of painting time.
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Date: 2022-07-11 06:04 pm (UTC)From:no subject
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