234 replies to this topic

[TakkunEG]

Is there a reason that Elwood is never seen smoking in either of the movies? BB: Private has a pic of Elwood with a cigarette in his mouth, and he is shown smoking in Best of while sitting at the restauraunt table. There are empty cigarette packs on the dashboard of the Bluesmobile that were there before he picked up Jake...but there is no footage of him smoking? Do you think this was done on purpose, or were there possibly shots of him smoking that got edited out? Or maybe it was a to make a point that Elwood's only an occasional smoker?

[Scott]

Despite his driving style, he seems to be fairly safety-conscious in the novel. Smoking while driving would make it slightly more difficult to keep both hands on the wheel. I'm just theorizing.

[All_Or_Nothing]

elwood is supposed to be one character you just love.. some kind of hero almost.. i know he drinks, but smoking? hmm dont think it would be his style really..

though i dont know how you compare smoking and drinking of course..

but to me drinking a little, get a little on it isnt that bad.. but smoking is just so stupid, to slowly choke yourself..

so yeah, the way i see it.. drinking: not too bad if its not a lot
smoking: nah..

anyway.. my idea.. my point of view...

[Syd-Blues]

I think he's more of a social smoker if anything.

Or maybe he quit?

[TakkunEG]

Syd-Blues said:

I think he's more of a social smoker if anything.

I thought that too. Also, maybe he's one who might smoke when he's nervous or bored or thinking really hard?

[Syd-Blues]

Possibly. But considering his pad gets blown to smithereens and the only thing he thinks of is "I gotta go to work." shows he aint a big deep thinker guy.

[TakkunEG]

Syd-Blues said:

Possibly. But considering his pad gets blown to smithereens and the only thing he thinks of is "I gotta go to work." shows he aint a big deep thinker guy.

Either that, or he's not attatched to his place or posessions (with the exception of the car and things he carries with him). Elwood's always struck me as fairly intelligent - he knows big technical terms, is very mechanical, and what about both speeches in BB2000? (I once did a lengthy report on Russian history and didn't remember that much.) A childhood report in BB: Private calls Elwood "quick to learn - when he's interested". I imagine he might think harder on things that mattered to him a lot, and just brush aside things he found trivial. Plus, he's a quiet person, and a lot of quiet people spend that time they're not talking on thinking. Although it's equally possible that he could have an inane carpet store jingle stuck in his head.

(Wow, I'm in a typing mood today...)

[Odupianist]

That is one thing that bugs me. He can give out those big intelligent speeches, but when Buster tells him he's not being a good mentor... "I don't even know what it means kid."

[Syd-Blues]

Conflicting intelligence?

On the mentoring thing...it could be he doesn't know what being a mentor is. I mean I assume (I never read the books) he had a rough childhood with Jake in the orphanage in Chicago. His only mentor (more implied than stated) was Curtis. And old blues records, etc.

He does seem very intelligent doesn't he? As a normal very reserved person I can vouch that I'd rather be thinking than at the mall, etc. I mean I read Marx in 8th grade. So, I can kinda relate to him, in that aspect.

I dunno anymore.

[Gildir]

Scott said:

Despite his driving style, he seems to be fairly safety-conscious in the novel. Smoking while driving would make it slightly more difficult to keep both hands on the wheel. I'm just theorizing.

Even in the first movie itself Elwood comes across as paradoxically safety-conscious. Consider his hand signal as he turns out of the prison, or his dutiful obedience of the "Turn On Headlights" sign as he enters Lower Wacker Drive with the police in hot pursuit. (I never noticed the latter instance until about the fifth time I saw the movie, BTW.)

In interviews, Dan Aykroyd has claimed to have Asperger's Syndrome. (No one seems to know whether or not this is a self-diagnosis on his part.) Might Elwood have Asperger's? This might account for some of the apparent contradictions in his character.

[Syd-Blues]

Don't think so. Aspeg's is a really bad thing. Anyone who's heard of Syd Barrett here, hopefully know that's that what probably happened to him.

[Scott]

How is Asperger's Syndrome a really bad thing? It doesn't shorten your lifespan or anything. It's not something that "happens to you", you're born with it.

I've read about Asperger's Syndrome after seeing some of the amazing stuff that people who have been diagnosed with it have accomplished. From what we know about Elwood's childhood in BB Private, it's very possible that Elwood has Asperger's Syndrome. I think that I may also have it.

[Syd-Blues]

Eye contact is difficult, they can't pick up hints easy etc. Just not good for your social life.

[breakfast]

What are those empty packs in the Bluesmobile again, Chesterfield Kings?

Yeah, Elwood seems like a social smoker or a nervous one. Or maybe it's an image thing, like the rough-edged, smoking, drinking bluesman. Either way, I think it's kinda sexy.

He also seems a touch obsessive-complusive. The fixations on random things, the erratic behavior, the compulsive safety-conciousness while driving like a maniac. As a diagnosed OC I can relate ...

[ElwoodJones]

does that not explain a little of elwood to you?

[Syd-Blues]

whatever, wiki it if you wanna learn the full details..

[jolietpaul106]

Elwood might've smoked because Jake wasn't there to be with him all the time. So, Elwood got bored and started smoking. And then when he knew Jake was coming back he quit. That could explain why the cigarette lighter was broken. It was broken because Elwood didn't use it.

Or, the cops who owned it before Elwood didn't clean the car out before selling it.

[Scott]

How about, Elwood stopped smoking when the cigarette lighter broke?

[TakkunEG]

Scott said:

How about, Elwood stopped smoking when the cigarette lighter broke?

I like that one! :D

[Syd-Blues]

That's it. Mystery solved.