MovieChat Forums > Rudderless (2015) Discussion > I felt so bad for Sam...{ MAJOR SPOILERS...

I felt so bad for Sam...{ MAJOR SPOILERS}

posted 10 years ago by piperatthegate
11 replies | jump to latest

Josh's girlfriend was very inconsiderate and selfish. I realize she went through her fair share of problems because of Josh. Not denying that. But the way she treated his dad was absolutely disgusting. As bad a she felt, he was his *beep* FATHER for crying out loud. She had no sympathy for the poor man. Apparently she didn't feel like he was already grieving hard enough so she went out of her way to make his life worse.

Playing his sons songs was his coping mechanism. Any one with a brain would have realized that. And anyone with a heart would have sympathized with him. No matter the terrible thing his son did, the man needed to grieve in his own way. His band members and friends should have been on his side. But instead we get Quentin, who's the closest thing the man has to a best friend. He decides to throw a hissy fit like a little girl, punches him in the face, and then never talks to him again. Absolutely disgusting.

[–] JeopardyLeyton 10 years ago

I agree - Sam basically wasn't really allowed to grieve the death of his son, because of what his son had done. And he also had to try to come to terms with what his son had done, and what responsibility he as a father bore for his son's actions. He'd been the last one to speak to him just before he committed the act. It weighed on him very heavily, which was clear. I can understand that Quentin felt a bit betrayed by the fact that Sam pretended the songs were his own. They were hoping to go somewhere with the band, but if it was common knowledge that a school shooter had written their songs, it would reflect badly on all of them. So I think he could be forgiven for a moment of anger, but he should have had a bit more understanding and compassion once the initial shock died down.

[–] Deeana 10 years ago

I think Ann's reaction was very unfair to Sam. When they had first met at Josh's wake, she said that Josh had spoken highly of him. So it isn't as if Sam had been a bad father and could be blamed for his sons actions.

I think it all came down to the fact that Ann was getting harrassed because of her association with a killer and yet here was Sam giving the killer's songs an audience. She was just thinking about herself at this point and didn't really think about Sam's situation at all.

As for Quentin, I can understand his reaction. I don't think it was just the songs being written by a killer, but that he had created a bond with Sam over the music and it turned out that he never wrote any of it. Quentin was very moved by the lyrics of these songs and he badgered Sam into creating a band where they could get the music out there to the crowds. It ended up being based on a lie and his bond with Sam was was all built on that lie.

He did take Sam's advice though and he continued to write his own songs and play with the band. Even though it all started with a bad experience, Sam influenced Quentin for the better.

[–] doggie_rodriguez 10 years ago

It really surprises me that most people seem to be pro-Quentin and anti-Ann.

Quentin got his feelings hurt, big deal. Ann went through some SERIOUS life changing/almost ruining stuff.

She was just thinking about herself at this point and didn't really think about Sam's situation at all.

I don't think Ann fully understood Sam's situation. You have to look at it from her point of view. She goes through this awful thing in her life. Has to move due to being harassed. Stops back on a whim and sees the dad of her dead boyfriend on stage, enjoying himself, playing the son's music. That would upset me too if I hadn't seen the rest of the film (she's a character, she doesn't know what we the audience knows).

[–] doggie_rodriguez 10 years ago

I don't see anything disgusting about her behavior what so ever. I see a woman who lost a boyfriend, got harassed mercilessly to the point of having to leave her home, sees the dad on stage having the time of his life, oh, and she's 20. 20 year old's aren't exactly known for being mature. (I don't know how old Sam was, but he quit his job, ran away. He's probably 45. Why are we so hard on her, but not him?)

If anything, I think the Sam could have handled it better and got her on his side. From her point of view we see a dad profiting from his dead son's music. I think he could have easily explained all this to her, but his IQ seemed to drop 50 points during that scene.

Any one with a brain would have realized that.

Anyone watching the movie would have realized that. Just b/c we (the audience) hear/see something, doesn't mean the other characters are privy to that same information. She was only in a handful of scenes, which means her character would only know a very small amount of what we, the audience, would know. From her point of view all she knows is he's on stage, having fun, possibly making $$$, from his dead son's music.......Instead of what she knows she went through.

I don't find it difficult at all to picture what it must be like walking in her shoes. It surprises me that so many people hated that character. I feel that it had more to do with the actress being a former Disney teeny bopper princess, than the actual performance or character. (although I don't think anyone would admit to that being the reason).

[–] piperatthegate 10 years ago

What she went through was rough. No one is denying that. The reason people don't like her is because she was selfish.

After her and Sam's initial encounter at the bar, it should have ended there. It's the fact that she went out of her way to make things harder for Sam. That's why I don't think she was the greatest person. She was motivated by selfishness and her own feelings. She didn't give a rat's ass about Sam.

And trust me, he wasn't making much money from the music. I've been in many bands and played at many bars. The most money a local band can make at a bar like the one Sam's band played in is a couple hundred dollars per gig. Split that between 4-5 band members(I can't remember how many people were in the band) he was probably making a whopping 40 dollars per gig. Probably barely enough to pay for his drinks for the night. Best case scenario he was making some extra spending money. But definitely not enough to survive on.

I honestly don't see anything wrong with playing his son's songs. They're just songs, who cares who wrote them? Although I admit he should have been honest with his band mates rather than having them believe he wrote them himself.

[–] monstermayhem32 10 years ago

I think sam was singing josh songs Asa coping mechanism.

[–] doggie_rodriguez 10 years ago

And trust me, he wasn't making much money from the music. I've been in many bands and played at many bars. The most money a local band can make at a bar like the one Sam's band played in is a couple hundred dollars per gig. Split that between 4-5 band members(I can't remember how many people were in the band) he was probably making a whopping 40 dollars per gig.

I have several friends that are in bands and even in small cities they make about $600-$800 per show (divided by 3, so they make at least $200 a night). Maybe they are just really good?

What she went through was rough. No one is denying that. The reason people don't like her is because she was selfish.

I don't think she was selfish. She was young and hurting. She lashed out.

You guys are all looking at it from the point of view of the audience, not the character. We know a lot of things that she doesn't. She sees him on stage, packed house, having a great time. Then she remembers the hell she's gone through over the past 2 years and she gets upset b/c it appears that he's having the time of his life.

I honestly don't see anything wrong with playing his son's songs.

I don't either, but I have the luxury of knowing everything that's going on in the film b/c I am an audience member.

[–] piperatthegate 10 years ago

I'm surprised she remembered the songs after 2 years to be honest.

But anyways I agree with what you're saying. We as the audience view her as the antagonist. She probably thought she was in the right, from her point of view.

While its not impossible that they were making $600-$800 per show. I just really doubt it. Like I mentioned earlier. Newly formed local band, essentially unknowns. Playing at a open mic bar. Places like that tend to not pay very well. At least the places I've been to.

[–] doggie_rodriguez 10 years ago

While its not impossible that they were making $600-$800 per show. I just really doubt it.

Feel free to doubt that all you want. Doesn't make it any less true. It's not like I'm gaining anything by lying about what my friends make per gig.

[–] piperatthegate 10 years ago

I was talking about Sam's band.

[–] towilmusic 9 years ago

"How can you lay those songs? Shame on you."

Wth girl? If anyone has the right to play them as a testament of HIS SON's talent its the bloke's father...unnecessary drama IMO.