Clearly the only way to end this controversy is to commission Oliver Stone to make a movie about this movie. In the movie about the movie, Harvey Keitel could play Joe, Tim Roth could play Nice Guy Eddie, Steve Buscemi could play Mr. White, and Kevin Costner could play Mr. Pink. Applying his characteristic meticulous attention to historical accuracy, Mr. Stone would then show us what exactly happens in that one second as it is dissected over three hours.
From the trailer: “Looky here. Nice Guy Eddie falls back and to the left. Back and to the left. Back and to the left…”
A shot to the “pelvic girdle” may, indeed, put someone down right away. The bullet may break the pelvis or ricochet internally and strike the spine. Cops are trained to shoot here if they believe the suspect is wearing body armor or not going down for some other reason. Its easier to hit than a head. I’m talking about below the belly, not into it.
I’ve watched it a few times now, and i see your point.
Mr. White really doesn’t point the gun at Eddie, at least it doesn’t look like it to me. He clearly shoots Joe, and he gets another shot off, so I am sure that QT intended Mr. white to be the shooter of Eddie too. However, Mr. white’s gun doesn’t shift left far enough or fast enough to make it look like he would have hit Eddie.
But this is the movies, and real bullets aren’t being used. I think I am satisfied that the intent was for Mr. White to shoot Eddie, and i’m good with that.
I never knew Eddie got two shots off, either. I also think that the reason I always thought that Mr. white only got one shot off is because his gun’s smoke mixes perfectly with Joe’s, and until the slow motion, I couldn’t see his first shot.
Thanks all. i think we can put this one to bed, unless there is some compelling evidence that Eddie was not shot by Mr. White.