Everyone Has an Angle

Tom Reagan constantly reminds Leo and the others in this film that everyone has an angle. He realizes that Verna is using both him and Leo to protect her no-good brother Bernie from Caspar. Tom also has his own angle, and he uses everyone around him to get what he wants. No one is innocent in this film; everyone has something they want that they will do anything to get.

Since everyone has an angle, no one can trust anyone. Even Verna, who says she loves Tom, is working her own angle. Likewise, Tom has to keep himself separated from everyone else so they cannot hurt him. Tom must remain cold and aloof in order to protect himself from others. He works both sides of the crime rings in the city, but he is a man unto himself. In the end, we discover that Tom's...