One of the things I love about this movie is that it sucks you in emotionally to the point where the viewer might take sides. I was curious about those who saw this film whether or not they found themselves taking sides. Did you want to see the Poplins get their baby back, no matter the cost or did you want them nailed for busting out of jail, stealing a car, kidnapping a state trooper and everything else they did?
shareI wanted the Poplins to get their baby back
They can be a great people, Kal-El, they wish to be.
r.i.p that 70's show 1998 - 2006
Wanted to see them get the baby.
shareI definitely didn't want them to get the baby, but I was hoping they would give themselves up instead of what actually happened. Although I was happy to read that she got the baby back after she got out of prison.
I wish Cotton was a monkey, I wish Cotton was a monkey...
I wanted the baby to stay with the adoptive family, although I acknowledge the genuine love of the birth parents... who are thieves and sociopaths.
shareThe Poplins of course.
shareI had this same thought while watching. I personally wanted them to get their baby back.
"I'm not interested in money. I just want to be wonderful."~Marilyn Monroe
Watching this movie right now. Is there a point where we are supposed to sympathize with the Poplins during the movie? Was the woman deceived somewhere, did someone take her baby on unfair terms? Anything to invoke some sympathy? If so, I missed it. Due to the pure selfishness and disregard they show pretty much everything and everyone else that comes in their path, I wanted the criminals to get their due, and the baby to stay with the adoptive family.
Finds it a bit annoying how they seems to portray the baby as constantly crying in his foster parents care. That ain't gonna make me root for our "heroes" who holds people at gunpoint, throws around threats like confetti, and display general selfishness all over. Did they really think they'd just wave some guns around, get the kid, flee into the sundown and everything would be alright? Why would I want a baby going back to parents like that?
Then there was the bit with the cop hearing the father on the radio. Father-of-the-year material, and I thought I was gonna garner some sympathy. Then Lou Jean shows up and plays all friendly hikerbuddy with the cop they've kidnapped, and it was washed away right again.
I kept waiting for them to shoot someone, be it a civilian or a cop. Wouldn't that be one hell of a bedtime story you can tell your child later? Braindead fools, those two.
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"Good morning Mr. Basset, this is your wake-up call. Please move your ***."
I did have sympathy for Clovis and Lou Jean, but Lou Jean's ignorant and manipulative impulsiveness and Clovis' naivete made them less likable. And Lou Jean's father who was summoned to talk her into giving herself up was just as much of an ignorant hick as she was, except law-abiding and judgmental. Officer Slide and Captain Tanner were far more likable people and I found the Captain to be the one I sided with in the long run. I don't think Clovis should have been shot, that's just ignorant hick justice; he should have been arrested at the border with Lou Jean and both of them serve additional prison time.
sharePolice. No contest.
Hawn is a brainless, screeching mess who's willing to get as many people killed as possible to get her child back. And, (SPOILER) inexplicably, we find out that she does after a slap-on-the-wrist prison sentence. I guess that's what they call Texas Justice?
"I. Drink. Your. Milkshake! [slurp!] I DRINK IT UP!" - Daniel Plainview - "There Will Be Blood"
I felt for them because they obviously cared immensely about their child, but I wasn't rooting for them, if you know what I mean.
On the other hand, I absolutely despised the foster mother. She only seemed to care about appearing as a perfect foster mother. She didn't seem to care about Langston at all.
i was rooting for Goldie Hawn's character, come to think of it i often find myself rooting for the "bad guys" in films
so many movies, so little time
I like Hawn's performance in this film and because she was such a likable actress, it was easy to be on her side. However, she was still trailer trash and if I were to say I believe in the benevolent state, her baby would have been better off in the hands of the foster parents.
It is a hard judgment call to make, since Lou Jean was the biological mother and very troubled. Her husband was also somewhat sympathetic; but their ignorant and dense attitudes and behavior would rub off on the kid. Poor kid!
Exorcist: Christ's power compels you. Cast out, unclean spirit.
Destinata:💩