While this is a movie I’ve enjoyed a number of times since it first came out ('88), I just noticed the other night something that struck me as odd. Early in the move, Mac Mckussic (Mel Gibson) and his cousin, Gregg Lindroff, are having a conversation about Det. Nick Frescia (Kurt Russell). Lindroff says…
You meet at Orville and Wilbur’s every Christmas.
He throws his Chevrolet keys on the bar.
You throw your Porsche keys on the bar.
You pick up your drink with a gold Rolex on your wrist.
He wears a Timex.
Even if he wasn’t a cop he’d hate your guts.
A Timex. The implication there and elsewhere in the movie being that Nick is a savvy but honest cop. He’s not on the take.
So a little later when Jo Ann Vallenari (Michelle Pfeiffer) learns that Frescia has been using her, they’re having a conversation at her restaurant.
Frescia: I just want to see you tonight.
Will you?
See me?
Vallenari: So what else do you know about me?
God, didn’t somebody turn the machine on?
No, somebody didn’t, because I’m supposed to do it.
Here she walks over to the phone and takes the call from McKussic’s kid. During the conversation, Frescia walks up behind her, presumably to get some matches. However, Jo Ann looks back to where he had been sitting and there’s a pack of matches right there. As he sits down again, there’s a close up of his hands by the ashtray. He’s wearing on his left what looks to be a cheap gold watch. Nothing spectacular about it, kinda plain. It looks for all the world like a Timex.
Cut to the end of the movie, the final scene. McKussic’s been picked up by his lifeguard buddy and they’re in a boat approaching the tower and beach. Nick Frescia is holding a walkie talkie in his left hand talking to the lifeguard.
Frescia: How’s our friend?
Lifeguard: Fine.
Aside from a concussion, powder burns. . .
. . .and being generally pissed off.
Frescia: Did my name come up?
Lifeguard: Repeatedly.
Frescia: They’re probably talking about me right now.
Point being while Nick’s left arm is raised and holding the walkie talkie, there, dangling off his left wrist is without question a flashy, impossible to ignore, first time we’ve seen it oyster perpetual datejust Rolex.
Why? What are they suggesting here?
That Nick took some of those millions that blew up on the boat with Carlos?
That Mac gave him his after Nick saved his life?
I’ve googled around but couldn’t find any discussion. Please don’t tell me I just missed that watch throughout the movie. It really did seem like they were giving us a little “Oh…” moment there at the end.