Gerard Butler once claimed a keyDen of Thievesscene was the best of his career - and he’s right. Audiences have had a long wait sinceDen of Thievesended, which saw Gerard Butler’s “Big Nick” O’Brien realize that Donnie (O’Shea Jackson Jr.) was the actual criminal mastermind behind the crew.Den of Thieves 2: PanteraseesNick change sides, in a move that builds off his persona from the original. Nick wasneverthe good guy, so his “breaking bad” makes a certain amount of sense.
It’s been interesting charting the rise ofDen of Thievesas a rewatchable favorite, with the film having been dismissed originally as aHeatripoff. It’s certainly that, but it’s also got great characters, dialogue and action sequences of its own.Big Nick is one of Butler’s best characters; an obnoxiously macho cop whose toxic habits have also left his private life a shambles. This is the best seen in a dinner party scene where Nick attempts to embarrass his estranged wife Debbie (Dawn Olivieri).
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Gerard Butler Is Right About Den Of Thieves Divorce Scene Being His Best Work
Butler is bringing about five layers to Nick in this tense sequence
On the commentary track forDen of Thieves, director Christian Gudegast recalls Butler praising the dinner party scene as his “favorite scene” from his entire career. This sees a drunken Nick crashing a party being held by Debbie’s friend, with Debbie also having a date. By this point in the story, Nick has been served divorce papers after Debbie learned of his infidelities and he decides to sign them right in the middle of her date. In addition to the comedic awkwardness on display,thisDen of Thievesscene is a fantastic showcase for Butler as an actor.
Butler gets to be broad and hammy, completely dominating the scene and causing as much tension as humanly possible. Aside from the dialogue, it’s the obnoxious little touches he brings that heighten it too, like stealing food from the plate of Debbie’s Date (Cory Scott Allen) or making a trumpet out of the divorce papers. That’s one side of it, but it’s clear thatNick is using his douchy Alpha Male energy just to mask his wounded pride.
In addition to writing and directing bothDen of Thievesfilms, Christian Gudegast also co-wrote the screenplay for Gerard Butler’s action sequelLondon has Fallen.
He’s destroyed his marriage and family and knows there’s no one to blame but himself.Den of Thievesdoesn’t often show that more human side to Nick, who wears his red-blooded persona like its armor. He might succeed in spoiling the dinner (and humiliating Debbie’s new suitor in the process ) butit’s an act that still comes off as self-defeating and patheticin its own right.
Den Of Thieves Divorce Scene Reveals So Much About Big Nick
Big Nick is his own worst enemy
It’s clear Nick still loves his wife and wants to be with his family, but he still puts more focus on chasing after Merriman’s (Pablo Schreiber) crew.The film posits that there’s not much difference between Merriman and Big Nick’s crews- even if the latter wear badges. They abuse their authority, drink constantly and sleep around on the job, and are committed to their own little boy’s club. Nick is using that same energy in the divorce papers scene, and trying to make himself look and feel like a badass in the process.
Gerard Butler might be hilarious in this Den of Thieves scene, but it doesn’t mask how small it ultimately makes the character look.
Butler might be hilarious in thisDen of Thievesscene, but it doesn’t mask how small it makes the character look. He’s using his macho persona to intimidate a group of friends at a cozy little dinner. It goes without saying he’s the most intimidating person there, and he feeds off the bad energy he’s creating.Nick’s dinner party moment is a self-defeating move and is only going to make Debbie pull away from him even more- alongside their two daughters. Part of Big Nick must know this, but he can’t help going for the temporary win.
Den Of Thieves Big Nick Is One Of Butler’s Favorite Characters
Butler finally got to reprise Big Nick after a seven year wait
In a chat withMovieWeb, Butler stated that, alongside300’sKing Leonidas, Big Nick is one of his favorite characters, stating “…in terms of somebody who has color, who has a lot going on with their life, who is unhinged, unpredictable, but also has quite a kind of human spirit.” Butler had such a great time playing Nick that he was fully onboard for a sequel - even thoughDen of Thievestook seven years to makedue to events like COVID-19.
The sequel opens with Nick divorced, broke and feeling like his life in Los Angeles is over, so he decides to join forces with Donnie instead. Nick’s decision to walk on the wild side really isn’t that big a shock, considering his general lack of respect for the rules. This allowed Butler to play a different side to Big Nick too, and his burgeoning friendship with Donnie forms a key part of theDen of Thievessequel.
Den of Thieves
Cast
Den of Thieves is a gritty crime saga released in 2018, focusing on the intense rivalry between an elite unit of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and a notorious bank robbery crew. The film details their strategic battle as the outlaws aim to accomplish an audacious heist on the Federal Reserve Bank.
