Spin-off Blogathon

Here's my entry into Sati's blogathon, which asks one to choose a minor character who deserves his or her own spin-off.

My choice:

Dex in Before the Devil Knows You're Dead

Note: SPOILERS below.

Before his character is introduced, Dex's brother-in-law Bobby (Brian F. O'Byrne) is killed in a failed robbery that is planned by the two lead brothers: Andy (Philip Seymour Hoffman) and Hank (Ethan Hawke) Hanson.

Dex (Michael Shannon) and his sister Chris (Aleksa Palladino) meet Hank to discuss the financial affairs of his dead brother-in-law. They want a financial settlement for Bobby's death.

Dex dismisses Chris and intimidates Hank, even getting his address from his driver's license. All Dex wants is $10,000 to settle the matter and take care of his sister. While he threatens going to the cops, he admits that he doesn't like them.

They schedule a meeting in two days. Andy and Hank go to the meeting together, and everything is turned upside down when Andy pulls a gun, frisks Dex and shoots him on the spot. That's all we see of Dex.

I want to see Dex get his own movie because Michael Shannon delivers a chilling performance in only two brief scenes. He gives Dex a cold, hard grit infused with twisted wit. This is a character who gets things done - not always legally - and wants the best for his family. He dies in the film, but I say give him own crime drama.

The spin-off would have the same tone of the original film, but it would focus on Dex's own back-handed dealings. It would delve into his damaged life and the challenge of living under tough circumstances in New York. I'm not sure of the specific plot, but I know Shannon would nail the performance again, as he gives minor characters the stuff that leads are made of.