Discuss anything you want about the 1999 film, The Minus Man!


Starring: Owen Wilson, Dwight Yoakam, Mercedes Ruehl
Owen as: Vann Siegert

Concerning Gene...

[spoiler] Obviously Vann killed Gene out of a bit of jealousy after watching how much praise and adoration he received, but I also picked up a bit of affection from both parties. Especially their conversation in the truck, it was almost like Vann was trying to keep him from asking about the flask, he even tried to distract him twice. I got the feeling that it was more of a test, I don't think Vann would have ever asked him to take a drink the way he did with Casper. It also took me a long time to notice that the scene in the yard where Vann is laying on the grass with a football is imitating the scene where Gene is doing the same thing after the game. [/spoiler]

So what do you think? Do you think he would have eventually offered Gene a drink or let him go?

After re-reading the book and comparing the differences, I most certainly favor the film version. Not only because of Owen Wilson, but I think they shaped Vann's character in a much more efficient and likeable way. The book fills in a history that seems not all that easy to relate to and/or be believable. It explains where Vann got the poison and how he started on his killing spree, but I enjoy the idea of him up in the woods in Vancouver observing the wildlife and just being lonely. Which the book covers, but not in the sense that we see in the film. Mostly just my scatter-brained ideas at this point, but I'll also make note that [spoiler] in the book, Vann OFFERED the drink almost forcibly to Gene, and seemed much less fond of the Derwins (Deans in the book).[/spoiler]

The book is really good, don't get me wrong, but it's horribly depressing to me. It really does a great job of making you feel like you yourself have been poisoned and are being slowly killed by being sucked into Vann's world. His way of thinking is infectious, I recommend reading it over the course of a couple of weeks. Taking it a bit more slowly than you would normally read through a book of its size.