What's the deal with the French guy?

Rating: 7/10 (10 December 2014)

The French man who introduces Nick to the Russian Roulette den symbolizes the nation of France and their actions in the Vietnam War. Vietnam started as a French colony, and, just as the French man brought Nick into the den, France enticed America into entering the war. Both Nicky and the U.S. were told that it was dangerous, but they were tempted by the lucrative opportunities. Then, towards the end of the film, the French man tells Michael that he doesn't speak English, and then later, that he has no interest in money anymore. The French did very similar things toward the end of the Vietnam War. France brought the U.S. into the war, and then when it became apparent that South Vietnam and their allies were going to lose the war, France exited the war and left the Americans to their own devices, just as the French man left Nick on his own in the Roulette den.