Indeed, calling him by his last name is neither “boyfriend” nor “butler”. But remember that we heard this line twice in the movie, and the filmmakers may have deliberately chosen this form to leave things ambiguous until the second time, when we could see Philip / Hugh Grant in a vaguely rainbow-coloured apron.
Also, just before this, in the bathtub scene, Kareem mentions “Philip told me you haven’t left for bath for a week”. Not butler.
Not everyone refers to people by their job title. Just because he uses his name, doesn’t mean he doesn’t also work for him.
I think the only person I’ve seen do that, at least on a regular basis, is Karen Walker. Gardner, Butler, Driver etc. But even she called her maid, who she was very close to, Rosario/Rosie.
Holmes and Watson addressed each other by their last names.
His celebrity friends on the Zoom call also addressed him as Blanc. It might just be what he goes by among those who know him.
Even throughout this thread, we’ve been calling him that.
Yes, it’s perfectly normal for Benoit to refer to his butler as “Philip”. But it’s not normal for a butler to refer to his employer as “Blanc”. It would be “Mr. Blanc” or “Master Blanc” or “Master Benoit”. At least that’s how Alfred addresses Bruce.
And FWIW, my wife occasionally calls me by my last name, in vaguely similar situations - a “stop lazing about and get your ass in gear” attention getter.
He may simply prefer to be called that by everyone, be it a boyfriend, employee or casual acquaintance. Maybe he doesn’t like Benoit or Mr Blanc or Sir or Detective.
Does anyone remember how he introduced himself to everyone else on the pier? They recognized him, did anyone call him by something other than just ‘Blanc’ only to be corrected. ie You’re Benoit Blanc/Please, call me Blanc.
What about Helen, I don’t remember how he introduced himself to her either.
She introduced herself to him; not the other way around.
When they recognized him, they referred to him as “Benoit Blanc”, then Claire and later Miles both addressed him as “Mr. Blanc”, and he didn’t correct them in any way. Also, in the meeting between Helen & BB, she also addresses him as “Mr. Blanc”.
After all, they couldn’t very well have him go around saying “Blanc. Benoit Blanc.”
Maybe he’s an Archie Goodwin type.
I kind of want Blanc to develop a nemesis. And I like that he’s a believable detective-anyone with a sharp eye, intelligent and who did their research could reasonably do what he does to a point.
Well, instantly solving Miles’ murder mystery was pretty amazing.
His sexuality one way or the other didn’t cross my mind. I took Hugh Grant to be his butler.
If, instead of Hugh Grant, the door had been opened by Nicole Kidman, would you think housekeeper or girlfriend?
Not sure. Answering the door in an apron, I may have assumed the she worked for him. A gay man could still have a male butler. All I can tell you is that I watched it last night and I didn’t spend one second thinking about his sexuality, straight or gay.
Since the writers intentionally made it vague, I can see how different people would make different assumptions about Grant’s roll in Blanc’s life.
Why would an apron make you think butler and not roommate (of whatever variety)? He was wearing a t-shirt, covered in flour and holding a jar of some unknown substance - all of which makes me think someone who is picking up a new cooking hobby during Covid, not someone preparing his employer’s next meal. All I can say is that if Philip was the butler, he’s much closer to Benoit than the normal employer/employee relationship.
I can’t tell you why I thought what I thought. My biggest takeaway from that scene was being very amused by the cameo. If I cared enough I’d rewatch it and do an analysis. Again, the writers made it intentionally ambiguous so there isn’t an objective answer.
My take and assumption might make me woke or an old man with patriarchal thoughts. I’m just telling you what I thought or didn’t as I watched. I’m not really invested one way or the other and they certainly could have been lovers.
“Closer than the normal employer/employee relationship” is inherent in the concept of a live-in butler.
FWIW, in an interview Rian Johnson confirmed that Benoit is gay, and Philip is his lover:
