FILM ANALYSIS – ACE IN THE HOLE

(This post was in response to a blog – Ace in the Hole (no 7))

I for one see Chuck as someone who has a heart. It’s submerged for most of the film. However, Wilder foreshadows a lot of things and carefully expresses instinctual moments of Chuck, which reveals, at times of him being ‘lost’. He sure is cynical. His actions are ruthless, but there’s a bit of humanity in him even if it may not seem so. This itself reflects the brilliance of Wilder and Douglas.

Ace in the Hole follows (Joseph) Campbell’s The Hero Journey’s steps to a great extent. Chuck has a want, a goal. He has a call to adventure and literally gets into the cave and crosses the threshold. Eventually, he shall have to deal with his shadow. Only, in this case, he doesn’t come back with a positive reward. One may argue that he does – learns about what life’s supposed to teach him.

Some points on how they show Chuck’s humane side in contrast to most of his actions till the end:

– His relationship with the rookie reporter, who looks up to him, isn’t totally one-sided. He unconsciously is his mentor, but also fair. When given a chance – he tells the rookie to not work for him. Also, him directing the kid to the chair also shows his humanity.

– When he realizes the man may not survive, his amorality turns around; he is genuinely angry at the wife. Sure, he used her, but when the crisis reaches the peak, he wants her to be kind to her nice hubby.

– Interestingly, when the wife comes to thank him and Chuck wants her to play the weeping wife, it’s Chuck’s expressions that show – he is not amused. Why? That’s also a part of his inherent nature. In fact, she is there in admiration of Chuck, willing to sleep with him. But what does Chuck do? Slap her!

– The big one and this is where the screenwriters and Wilder as director and Douglas as actor walk the delicate path of showcasing his ‘heart’. In the very first instance when he meets Leo, what’s Chuck’s instinct? To save the man. Though when he reaches back to the kid, he becomes his ‘normal’ self.

As the situations get more complicated with Leo not doing well, Chuck is tested. And there’s a moment in the middle of the film when Leo calls him his best friend. You have to observe Chuck’s expression – guilt is written on his face. This is where the writers start to push it in. But does he change instantly? Nope. Wilder knows better and instead of giving us a contrived change, he carefully arcs Chuck’s character.

There’s also his interactions with Leo’s dad over the film. A kind man, who is honored and grateful to Chuck for his attempt to save his son’s life. This is an interesting strategy – in one way, it shows how ruthless Chuck is, but slowly this builds a sort of pressure on him, arcing him subtly and slowly, highlighting – trust/faith in a con-man has the potential to change him.

What happens when he returns sensing that Leo isn’t doing good and meets the dad? He lies and… see how he feels guilty. Now he takes it forward – by boozing. In comes his conscience keeper, his boss, who counters him. Boss is upright and Chuck is low, out of control. Chuck’s life has started to go out of control – he has started to discover or sense his shadow. And complications will only get worse when he shall have to choose – to get another rocking piece of news or save the man.

This is built up brilliantly by writers and the director. Consider again the expression of Chuck immediately post his celebratory gesture when the mother comes and lights the candle. Our man’s not happy within. There’s some sort of sanity residing in him.

For all the ills he has done, he now has to pay a price to correct what he can and do what he must – try saving the man. Sure his ‘mode’ lets him lie (make him seem honest) to the Sherif that he can’t have a dead-man for the story. But…the man’s changed. Again, they don’t bring it out up front, on the nose kinds.

Again, brilliant stuff. Wilder piles on the agony. So much so that Chuck tans the Sherif in anger and when the contractor comes in and informs Chuck that now the short-solution can’t work, this is when the floor is wiped below him. Wilder from total brightness brings in a shadow to cover half his face and then…he turns around and hits the printer with his towel. The machine goes on and on…printing.

Chuck now gives one last desperate shot inside the cave. Angry, trying to save the man on his own. Almost crying. Shouting at Leo to make him breathe. This is the final frontier for Chuck to not commit the biggest crime. And then goes off to fulfill the dying man’s wish.

Eventually, Chuck is willing to get stabbed and instead of seeking help, all he wants is for Leo to meet the Father. It’s not Leo, who is being read the sermon, it’s more about Chuck. What does Leo say – Bless me, father, for I have sinned. Who is the camera pointed to and what are the expressions? It’s Chuck. Feeling the same. And he shall not be forgiven.

Lastly, the theme of the film needs to be addressed. For all the cynicism being expressed by Wilder against the media and people, he shows the way – Tell the Truth.

Chuck makes all the effort – wounded more so in his soul – and reaches the height to proclaim to the world about Leo’s death. He is still not ready to let out completely and goes to the media to speak who refuse to listen.

Eventually, he dies in the very office, where he read the words, Tell the Truth. On the verge of telling the truth to everyone, he doesn’t get that chance. How ironic is that? And…this is where Wilder is expressing the premise: lying doesn’t pay. One’s soul will forever be in the dark if you don’t go with the truth.
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