Question about the end of True Crime

[shabby chic]

At the end of True Crime, a film where Eastwood is playing largly against type, he is still the same sleazy man he was at the begining.  He is flirting with the check out girl who is young enough to be his granddaughter.  Walking out we see the homeless man who is a sort of metaphor for Eastwood's character, a man with little respect for women who seems to also have little respect for anybody.  His character is a motif throughout the film, and Eastwood always reluctantly supports him, perhaps seeing himself a little in him.  Anyway, he sees the man who he saved the life of.  Eastwood looks at his cigarette and throws it away.  A lot of people think this means that Eastwood has now cleansed himself and will walk the straight and narrow.  Like he's kicking his bad habits.  I don't agree.  I think Eastwood saw this man, a happy family man, and saw the opposite of himself and just felt disgusted with himself.  I don't think Eastwood's character change din the throw of the cigarette.  Months passed since he saved that man's life, and Eastwood never changed.  What does everybody else think?  

[AKA23]

I more or less agree with you. I'm not sure we should be reading so much into the tossing of the cigarette in particular, but I think overall the sad fact is that Steve Everett has not changed at the end of True Crime . Sadly, he's still compelled to pursue behaviors that lead to self-destruction and I don't think there is much evidence that there was any great epiphinal change at the conclusion of the film.

[shabby chic]

That's exactly what I meant.  Most everybody, meaning critics and audience members, thought the tossing of the butt meant that he was giving it up, giving up his old ways.  I don't think he was.  I think at that moment he just felt tired of himself, but that no change had occured.

[shabby chic]

KC, has clint ever said anything about the film's end?