MovieChat Forums > Mean Creek (2004) Discussion > Why were they friends with Marty?

Why were they friends with Marty?

posted 10 years ago by christianeagles
6 replies | jump to latest

One thing that I don't get is why any of those characters are friends with Marty. Both Clyde and Rocky seem like pretty good kids and them hanging out with Marty doesn't really make sense. Marty seems much older than both Clyde and Rocky. The kid with two gay fathers doesn't really seem like the type of kid to hang out with a guy like Marty who drinks, smokes, skips school, and pretty much has no future.

[–] KawaiiKiwi 10 years ago

I found some things strange too, because they weren't explained. I think the movie needed to be longer and introduce us properly to the characters, and also show us more of how everything ended after what happened in the woods. An hour and a half for this type of movie is too short. After the incident everything went too fast. I would have liked to see a few days pass and how they felt, etc. They also should have shown us more of the beginning, why George was considered a bully, what he did to people etc. As it was, I felt I didn't see enough to really hate George and kept wondering why he deserved that just because of one fight at the beginning of the movie. Still a good movie, strong middle, but weak beginning and ending.

[–] GorillazButter 10 years ago

also show us more of how everything ended after what happened in the woods. An hour and a half for this type of movie is too short. After the incident everything went too fast. I would have liked to see a few days pass and how they felt, etc.

I agree on this part. I love the first 2/3 of the film but it has a weak resolution.

But I didn't feel there needed to be more explanation on them being friends. Maybe it's because I'm only 5-6 years past high school but despite there being certain "cliques" there are people that hung out that had completely different personality types. Did you grow up in a small town rural area? I did and that just happens due to the amount of people around.

Also, were we even meant to hate George? No. They mention he "attacks people for no reason" which isn't true at all. Sam messes with his camera, he doesn't deserve to be beat up but acts as if George just goes nuts. This calls into question the Clyde/George incident. George says "You must've done something" and Clyde says "No, I never do anything to anybody". They both sound like they're full of it and avoiding taking any blame.

The point I got out of it is, nobody is perfect and they're all painting themselves as victims. George blames everyone else, they blame George. I love this film because it accurately portrays kids/teenagers more than any other film I can think of. Very grey, not black and white. George is more violent so it's easier to hate him, but he's also got a learning disability and genuinely misinterprets people.

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I'd love to see you in the moonlight with your head thrown back and your body on fire.

[–] KawaiiKiwi 10 years ago

Good points about George. I think you explained his character very well.

[–] chilone 10 years ago

This calls into question the Clyde/George incident. George says "You must've done something" and Clyde says "No, I never do anything to anybody". They both sound like they're full of it and avoiding taking any blame.

I disagree. Clyde didn't sound full of it at all. I think George did attack for no reason just like he called Clyde a *beep* for no reason.

George was a malicious, vindictive, lying, mean-spirited douche and he more than showed his true colors, multiple times.

I don't love her.. She kicked me in the face!!

[–] GorillazButter 10 years ago

I disagree. Clyde didn't sound full of it at all. I think George did attack for no reason just like he called Clyde a *beep* for no reason

Except in that scene Sam says the same thing, which is a lie. We see at the beginning of the film that George attacked Sam for playing with his camera, not "for no reason". Is it a bad reason? Sure. But that's not the same as what they're implying.

Maybe George attacked Clyde for no reason, maybe he didn't. There's enough to suggest either is possible.

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I'd love to see you in the moonlight with your head thrown back and your body on fire.

[–] fyfytj 9 years ago

Maybe they were friends with Marty since they were little kids, and the friendship just carried over into late teenhood despite Marty's bad behavior. After all, it looked like a small town where the same people may often run into each other, so it would probably be hard to just avoid someone until they forgot about you.