Rocks In His Head The Size Of Gibraltar

Ahh... the life of an undercover cop. Certainly seems pretty sweet, doesn't it? For Freddy Newandyke it means hanging around a great apartment, playing with action figures, reading magazines, and eating SpaghettiOs. For the most part, it's not a bad way to get a check.

Putting on the game face to play Mr. Orange isn't too tough either. Mostly it's just sitting around with the rest of the guys, bullshitting and sharing amusing anecdotes. Doing that is, more or less, like going through an interview with boss Joe Cabot and his son, Nice Guy Eddie. Finally, after getting a chance to drop his well-rehearsed commode story, Mr. Orange gains Joe's trust enough to be brought in on the diamond heist.

Which brings us to the suit-up scene. What I find most interesting about this suit-up is how much the scene as a whole conveys, while using so few words. Obviously RESERVOIR DOGS is a minimalist film that is almost completely dialog driven. However during the suit-up scene, we as the audience are left to pick up on Mr. Orange's feelings of nervousness and fear, with only a few words coming at the end.

It's the day of the caper. Freddy hangs up the phone after talking to Eddie, who is there to pick him up. He gets into character as he crosses the apartment to the coat hook. Now in a leather jacket and wife beater, he's got the look down pat.

A small, neat patch on an otherwise cluttered table is where Freddy Newandyke keeps Mr. Orange's weapons.

Picks up the pistol, loads it, one in the hole, ankle holster.

Checks the snub-nosed revolver, slides it into his jacket pocket, reassured by its weight at his side.

Grabs his cigarettes, grabs his keys, heads to the door.

Stops. Reconsiders.

Turns around, and sifts through a bowl of loose change. Finds his ring, puts it on. Heads back to the door.

Stops. Almost pussies out.

Turns again, this time to the mirror on the wall to his right. He gives himself a pep talk. Reassuring himself that he's not going to get hurt. That the other crooks believe him and his story.

Convinced if not confident, Mr. Orange heads back to the door for the third time. This time he makes it out.

He should have listened to his gut.