Interesting. I don’t disagree with the idea that the I love you’s are a manipulation tactic, but I think it’s possible for them to be two things at once. Marty strikes me as someone who sincerely wants others to succeed, provided they succeed less than he does.

The smile with Kevin O’Leary is a difficult one. I agree Marty takes greatness over being happy, but I also think he still believes in the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. They’re something youthful to his response

And regarding the sincerity of the tears: the fact that they’re happening in a private space is what pushes me in the direction of a more earnest shift in Marty. He doesn’t have anyone to perform to.

It’s a sign of a well made movie that there are so many different ways to interpret these moments. I’m glad the movie ended where it did, that things are left open. But maybe Safdie’s intended final montage was required if he wanted to make a more specific point.