Darren Barrenman uncovers a crime at the end ofPoolman, and the movie can leave viewers with a number of questions. The 2023 film is the directorial debut of movie star Chris Pine, who also leads thePoolmancast as Barrenman. The movie also stars Jennifer Jason Leigh, DeWanda Wise, Danny DeVito, and Annette Bening.Poolman’spoor reviewsweren’t a promising start, but it’s managed to find a home and audience streaming on Hulu.
Poolman Darren Barrenman takes on detective work for the first time in his life when a woman named June Del Ray informs him that City Councilman Stephen Toronkowski has some shady dealings going on behind the scenes. Darren pursues Toronkowski, believing that he’s part of a dealing going on with Teddy Hollandaise, a sketchy businessman. It turns out Teddy is actually doing business with a man named William Van Patterson.Darren finds William and June at William’s mansion and stops William from killing his wife.
What Crime Darren Uncovers In Poolman’s Ending
William Is Stealing Water & Plans To Kill His Wife For Her Almond Farm
William’s plan inPoolmanis centered around stealing water from underground in the area, which notably causes a drought throughout the film. This drought can be seen emptying the pool Darren tends to throughout the movie. The reason why William is stealing water isn’t actually revealed in the movie, but to do so,June and William attempt to frame Darren for the murder of Councilman Toronkowski. Darren then arrives at William’s home and finds him attempting to murder his wife by smothering her with a pillow.
Poolman Review: Chris Pine’s Wacky Comedy Thriller Is A Dumpster Fire
Poolman is an unfunny spoof of neo-noir thrillers with hazy direction, even messier storytelling, and unbearable dialogue.
The other part of William’s plan was to murder his wife so he could inherit her almond farm, which seems to be his main goal in the film. June is William’s lover and tries to rope Darren into the mess when she notes him during his fight at the City Council at the start of the movie. The exact nature of June and William’s plan isn’t entirely clear, but there’s some mixture of stealing water, real estate corruption, and killing the wife to inherit the almond farm, which all require Toronkowski to be out of the way.
Stephen Toronkowski’s Secret & Death Explained
Toronkowski Is A Cabaret Dancer (& Not A Villain)
Darren spends a significant portion of the film believing that Councilman Stephen Toronkowski is a corrupt city official who’s in on the plan. He pursues him, eventually thinking he’s going to gather evidence that Toronkowski is connected to Teddy Hollandaise. What Darren discovers instead is thatToronkowski is a cross-dressing cabaret performer at a bar. This turns out to be a vital part of the councilman’s personal life, which he’s kept secret from his family.
Toronkowski may not be guilty, but he knows something about the situation that’s unfolding
Darren and Toronkowski end up having a heartfelt, tender conversation in the dressing room, where they share their struggles with anxiety and depression. Toronkowski may not be guilty, but he knows something about the situation that’s unfolding, and he tells Darren that it’s going to be dealt with in a matter of weeks. Darren tries to pry the information out of him then and there, butToronkowski is shot by an assailant who then tosses Darren the gun, framing him for the murder. There don’t seem to ever be any consequences for this murder.
Darren Writes To Erin Brockovich
Darren is seen throughoutPoolmanwriting letters to a character who never appears. That person is Erin Brockovich, a real-life figure whowas played by Julia Robertsin the Best Picture-nominated biopic from the year 2000. Darren explains thathe writes letters to Erin Brockovich (not Julia Roberts) for the purpose of making himself feel less lonely.
The letters are the movie’s clearest gateway to Darren’s psychology, as they show how delusional his perception of his life is. For example, his girlfriend Susan is clearly struggling in their relationship, which leads to her cheating on him midway through the film. She tries multiple times to talk to Darren, which he ignores, only to write in his letters that everything is fine and that he doesn’t understand why Susan is unhappy.
Poolman’s References To Film Noir Movies Explained
Poolman References Classics Like Chinatown
Poolmanmakes numerous references to thefilm noir genre, most notably the filmChinatown, which Darren directly mentions multiple times. When Darren first becomes a “detective,” he wears an outfit that he describes as his version of Cary Grant, referencing the classic actor known for appearing in crime movies likeTo Catch a Thief. The Los Angeles-basedChinatownis one of the quintessential noir movies, andPoolmanattempts to mirror the plot of the 1974 classic, which centers around corruption tied to the city’s water supply. The original film’s plot is far more intricate and nuanced.
What Chris Pine Has Said About Poolman’s Ending
Chris Pine Made Poolman As An Ode To Childlike Wonder & Joy
Despite Chris Pine’s acceptance of the film’s poor reviews, the actor/director seems satisfied withPoolman. In an interview withNPR, Pine discussed his creative approach to the project, talking about how he wantedPoolmanto feel like a loose, free project that wasn’t bound by rules and restrictions. He says:“I think this film is my ode to the part of me that wants to smile, that there’s no rules or regulations to making something other than what brings me ecstatic joy.”
In many ways, this desire is reflected in the characters in the movie. Darren is a man who struggles with restrictions and has a child-like sense of play. Similarly, Toronkowski is moonlighting as a cabaret dancer because that’s what provides him with that feeling.Poolmanis a movie about recovering that sense of wonder and freedom, but whether it’s effective in capturing that feeling will vary from viewer to viewer.
The Real Meaning Of Poolman’s Ending Explained
Poolman Is A Love Letter To LA & A Story About Self-Acceptance
Ultimately,Poolmanis a hodgepodge of ideas and themes. In a broader sense,it’s a love letter to Los Angeles culture. Chris Pine was born in LA and seems to have a deep respect for his hometown, be it golden age Hollywood film noir or the fascinating contemporary cuisines. Danny DeVito’s character, Jack, is essentially adjacent to the plot, as a man who’s trying to break back into the film industry, yet spends most of the movie obsessing over various foods.Poolmangoes on long tangents to highlight restaurants or cuisines he loves, just as it references LA-based crime movies.
The core ofPoolmanis Darren’s story. He’s a man experiencing mental health issues, including anxiety and depression, that cause him to feel a lack of purpose in his life. Because of this, he resorts to convoluted schemes, and it’s also why he eventually gets involved in the case despite his therapist’s advice. In doing so, Darren experiences some relief from his various issues. When he’s offered a position with the City Council, he declines, realizing he’s better off remaining a poolman.Poolman’smessage is about freedom and self-acceptance.
Sources:NPR
Poolman
Poolman, directed by Chris Pine, follows Darren Barrenman, an optimistic Los Angeles native who manages the Tahitian Tiki apartment’s pool while striving to improve his city.
