As far as the immediate family (Matt and the kids), yeah, I didn't have any issue with how they coped with it.
What I did have issue with is how everyone else coped with it. Nearly everyone else took the attitude of "What I'm going through/my problems trumps what you, [Elizabeth's nuclear family], are going through because it's all about me."
That includes Elizabeth's father, friend Kai, the little girl's mother with the text messages, all Matt's cousins, and Brian Speer who cuckolded Matt.
Shame on a grandfather telling his granddaughter who is on the verge of losing her mother she should be ashamed of herself. Sure, Alexandra as a 16 y.o. she was acting pretty selfishly ... but she's 16. It's pretty standard. I really hated Sid and his reaction, esp. after we found out he had just lost his own dad; but, again, I'm willing to give his lack of social skills a pass because of his age.
His cousin Hugh was taking advantage of Matt's predicament of being stretched pretty thin by basically skirting, if not outright engaging in, fraud or collusion with Brian Speer.
I don't exactly LOVE this movie but I find myself watching it if it's on.
reply
share
balancegurly
12 years ago
I agree. The way that the distant relatives were acting and treating the children and Matt wasn't very supportive. I was sickened with the way that his cousins handled the situation with Matt and what he was going to do with the land. Matt already had a lot onto his plate before his inconsiderate family started to push him.
As for the grandfather, Sid, and Brian Speer, I agree with your opinions too. The grandfather probably has a different generational view as to how teens should act, etc., which is why I assume he said that to her. He doesn't understand her grieving.
Sid was an annoying side character to me. He didn't provide much to the film besides the story about his dad. Other than that he kind of faded off to the side and didn't have any other dialogue for the rest of the film pretty much. I guess his social skills were a reflection of his age and being a younger generation communicating with an older one. All of the kids had that problem in this movie too.
Brian Speer was a selfish guy. Honestly, I was very moved by his wife who showed up at the end to forgive Elizabeth for cheating with her husband. That was a strong position on her part, but it shows she is a kind hearted person. Not even Brian showed up to see her before she passed.
Overall, I liked this film more than I thought. I was avoiding it in theaters when it came out because I always felt that George Clooney as being "stuck up" even though I do acknowledge him being a good actor. With my current circumstance revolving around death, I can relate more to this film than before, and it has helped me in some way with the grieving.
I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass... and I'm all out of bubblegum. - They Live
reply
share
12 years ago
[deleted]
madmarsha
12 years ago
I do agree that because of how "tough" he is, it's easy to forget what the grandfather is going through. Still in all, no one was giving the girls a pass on their behavior and, IRL, I wouldn't feel like excusing grandpa's heaping of guilt on his granddaughter just because of his own grief at losing his daughter and what he's going through with the grandmother. He seemed like he could be a pretty miserable human being in general when he wanted to be tho he obviously loved his family.
My mother lost her own mother at about the age of Alexandria and while no one said anything that heartless to her, other things were said back then that, tho well meaning, were insensitive and she remembers them even now with anger and hurt ... 70 years later. So I just think adults, who should know better, should be careful what they say, no matter how much they themselves are hurting.
I guess that's why I like this movie. Somehow it makes you become introspective even tho most, if not ALL, of the characters are 100 percent likable.
reply
share
12 years ago
[deleted]
madmarsha
12 years ago
"I was just trying to suggest that Matt knew confronting him about the way he spoke to the granddaughter at that moment would have only made a very bad situation even worse"
Gotcha. I agree, it wasn't the time or place. And maybe that age is old enough to understand how it was the "grief" that was talking. And that's one of the things, Matt showed great restraint and patience while he got everyone's else's knee-jerk reactions throughout the whole film. At some point, I would have blown, like probably when her friend told Matt he should calm down as if he was being irrational.
I didn't expect to love this movie but I do. It's not my "organically perfect" movie or anything, but it's thought provoking family wise.
reply
share