He acknowledges he was a bad dad to them growing up and he just CONTINUES to be a bad dad. Near the end when Larry wants to go to Chile and leave HIS SON for another get rich quick scheme, his dad is okay with it and agrees to take in Cool just like that. Really? Anyone else would have been like "NO, Larry, you need to stay here and take care of your responsibilities", not enabled that reckless behavior.
shareHmm, I always thought that was JR's moment of realizing Larry could never change and deciding to take on responsibility for his grandson, so the kid could have supportive "parents" and a structured life. Larry was never going to take on his responsibilities, no matter what his dad said or did. So the dad does what he needs to do to save his family, i.e. Cool.
shareYeah, you're right.
Also, in doing so, JR is redeemed.
Yeah, Larry is a defective person. I think he is like emotionally stunted, or maybe slightly autistic or retarded, something is wrong with him that he does this, and even though it might have conceivably been something that the Dad, Jason Robards, character did with him while raising him, it is not either of their faults. I am sure Larry would not really choose to be that like if he had a choice. So, what family does is accept what cannot change and move on making the best of it. It is a beautiful scene with a deep meaning, and tragically sad. Think of how many people in the world are wasted like this for some reason, it's a huge problem.
1) UnWatchable 2)Watchable,ButBad 3)Decent,SeeOnce 4)Good,Repeat&Recommend 5)Great,Classic
Larry was a screw-up because his father raised him to be that way. We see that from the beginning. It is ultimately Larry’s fault though, because in the end he has to take responsibility for his son; if he doesn’t, he’s not a man. He always had a choice, and he chose to run away from his responsibilities.
shareHis dad was not "OK" with him leaving, but he had accepted this was how Larry was. He had just made a very fair, non-enabling offer to Larry, and Larry had turned it down flat. He would rather go on the run from the gangsters he owed money to, than earn an honest living. There is no way the father could force Larry to "stay here and take care of your responsibilities" so he took in Cool so at least Cool would not be negatively impacted by his father's irresponsibility.
You must be the change you seek in the world. -- Gandhi
His dad was not "OK" with him leaving, but he had accepted this was how Larry was. He had just made a very fair, non-enabling offer to Larry, and Larry had turned it down flat. He would rather go on the run from the gangsters he owed money to, than earn an honest living. There is no way the father could force Larry to "stay here and take care of your responsibilities" so he took in Cool so at least Cool would not be negatively impacted by his father's irresponsibility.
He looked pretty Okay with it to me.
Not to me. His face showed a combination of sorrow and resignation.
It's so annoying, throughout the whole movie, nobody really called Larry out on his sh!t. They just accepted it and let him do whatever he wanted. He crossed the line leaving his son with his Dad to go to Chile. Someone should have said something.
Like what? "You MUST be responsible and take my offer. If not, you MUST take Cool with you"? You really think Larry would then say, "OK, you're right. That's what I'll do."? The father accepted that Larry was not going to change even if he called Larry out. So, he chose to save his grandson from an irresponsible parent.
Larry should have turned a new leaf, and at the end of the movie it should have showed him working for his Dad and being responsible for once in his life.
The father was basing his actions on the reality of how Larry was, not wishful thinking of how Larry "should" be.
You must be the change you seek in the world. -- Gandhi
Larry was garbage. Frank finally realized that. He offered Larry one last chance and Larry turned it down. Frank didn't want his grandson to be stuck in some part of the world by himself with a dead father, so he agreed to take the kid in.
For my latest movie reviews and news:http://www.hesaidshesaidreviewsite.com/
This really was a tough situation, and in real life, it could've gone so many ways, with certainly no easy answer.
Frank really underestimated how dangerous the bookies chasing Larry were. This of course doesn't excuse Larry's selfish, irresponsible actions at all, but I doubt they would've accepted the $1000 a month. So Larry might've been in deep sh*t (Frank himself might have been in danger too) if he'd stayed around.
But back to the OP's point... Frank DID realize (in the garage scene after Larry tried to sell his classic car) his errors with raising Larry, but it was too late and he was already too used to the freewheeling, fast lifestyle and didn't want to work. However, why punish an innocent young kid just because his dad is a loser? THAT's why Frank agreed to take Cool in!
However, I wonder how Cool's later childhood would've been? Frank was 64 (I'm guessing his wife was about that age too), imagine how hard it would be for them to go way back to the beginning with parenting? They'd be very elderly or perhaps have health issues or pass away before he was even a teenager or an adult.
Back in the 80s, I think 64 is kinda like 80 is now too! Jason Robards already looked pretty old in 1989.
However, I wonder how Cool's later childhood would've been? Frank was 64 (I'm guessing his wife was about that age too), imagine how hard it would be for them to go way back to the beginning with parenting? They'd be very elderly or perhaps have health issues or pass away before he was even a teenager or an adult.
He may have been thinking if i dont take cool where is he going to dump the boy next?
shareIf larry stayed in the country he would be murdered by the loan sharks. He had to leave
shareI always thought that Larry was the father's favorite - because he was daring and a risk taker, as opposed to the overly cautious and worried Gil. The old man was very tough on the first two kids who turned out to be really responsible adults - and BORING as far as the father was concerned. Larry was the rebellious one and I think the father liked that. He cut Larry breaks all the time that he would never cut for Gil. I've actually seen this dynamic in families.
Nobody's looking for a puppeteer in today's wintry economic climate.
The old man was very tough on the first two kids who turned out to be really responsible adults - and BORING as far as the father was concerned.
But at the end, the father comes to a different perspective. When he and Larry are arguing over the poor choices that put Larry in debt to the mob, Larry throws back at his father, that he had told him, "make your mark!" and he says, "I am not Gil!". And you see in the father's face, he's thinking, "no, you're not, Gil is responsible" and for the first time he appreciates Gil, and recognizes the downside of Larry's personality.
You must be the change you seek in the world. -- Gandhi
my guess was he was crackhead. his wild mood swings, yelling. too skinny. he said he was in his 60's?!! he looked about 80. crack ages people.
'It's time for the human race to enter the solar system.'-Dan Quayle
Yeah, it is clear that Larry was the favorite and that the father thought that Gil was boring.
It is really interesting when two siblings turn out that differently, but it happens sometimes.
Well, maybe he just felt that Larry didn't want to get help, he just wanted to get away and keep on losing. I think if he had been like Judge Joey, Larry would've still left.
share