MovieChat Forums > Leatherheads (2008) Discussion > Carter Rutherford had about the worst lu...

Carter Rutherford had about the worst luck in for a character ever

posted 16 years ago by Apollo_Kreez
12 replies | jump to latest

even though the war story wasn't quite legit, every thing was going great for him... he had a good looking girl, he was the star of his football team, and he was a war hero... Then george clooney decided to *beep* up his life by publicly humiliating him for the war story, taking his girl and playing dirty to win the big game.

Carter Rutherford got the short end of the stick in this one. i have never in my life seen such a good character lose it all for doing absolutely nothing wrong, really depressing if you think about it.

[–] squallyk 16 years ago

Could not agree more.

[–] Hezzer_Wezzer 16 years ago

A "good" person doesn't allow untruths to be told about him that elevate him into something he never was.

His actions (surrendering) were mostly cowardly, yet things turned out in such a way that he appeared to be a hero. He should have immediately downplayed the story when it first happened, but he didn't and instead allowed it to become a huge lie.

Then when confronted with the fake story, he bold faced denied the truth, attempted to discredit the reporter who was telling the truth, and stood by while one of his fellow soldiers lied even more to bolster the authenticity of the fake story.

Those are not the actions of a "good character".

I'll admit that it sucked that she was going to out the truth, but he should have been thinking with the head on his shoulders and not the one in his pants when he felt compelled to confess to a reporter.

Frankly, had he been a truthful, humble person from the beginning, he wouldn't have found himself in such a situation.

Dodge only set Carter up in defense of Lexie's reputation and career. If had just owned up to it in the first place, Dodge wouldn't have had to "force his hand".

[–] tinydancer1 16 years ago

Wow. Had carter came out with the truth, in the begining. There would have been no movie. In saying that. All three were not cads. They all lied to get what they wanted. Carter for fame. Dodge to win. and Lexi to get her story. The only honest party in this movie was the bulldog...

Use things, not people.

[–] Balcones 10 years ago

Great post, Hezzer_Wezzer. I completely agree.

[–] rusty-cohle 15 years ago

I agree with you completely. This movie really didn't know who their heroes and villians were.

[–] 15 years ago

[deleted]

[–] JrnlofEddieDeezenStudies 14 years ago

This movie really didn't know who their heroes and villians were.

The ambiguity of that was one thing I really liked about the film, though. Not that I require films to be like real life, but in reality, people do not tend to be such black and white villains or heroes. I think it makes for a refreshingly nuanced film, since so many films go for the overexaggerated black and white portrayal.

http://www.rateyourmusic.com/~JrnlofEddieDeezenStudies

[–] DaytonaBob 15 years ago

I agree, Clooney's character's ruining this guy's life ruined the movie for me completely.

At that point I hated his character and her's as well. Reminds me too much of today where the destruction of someone's life is worth a couple of day's news.

Ruining someone's life like that just sucked big time. So what if it wasn't the way it was.

I kept hoping she would be killed by the movie's end.

And that whole bit about playing in the mud at the end....who the he l l thought THAT was funny. And oh puhleez NO ONE SAW CLOONEY SLUG THAT PLAYER?

I expect more from George. I expect nothing from her. She's yet to do anything but squint and try to be cute....ain't working and there are so many other talented actresses out there who make her look like the lousy actress she is.

Stupid movie and glad I didn't waste a nickel on it at the flicks.

Dumb flick. REALLY dumb flick.

They who give up liberty to
obtain a temporary safety deserve
neither liberty or safety

[–] HunterSVonnegut 15 years ago

Ruined his life? How do you explain the picture during the closing credits showing Carter giving a $10,000 donation to the American Legion (as mandated by the commish)? That was a year after the events of the movie. It was very clear that Clooney's character tells him not to confess publically and the fact that Carter had $10,000 to give away makes it pretty obvious that Carter did keep quiet. As far as the public was concerned Carter was still a hero and a rich one at that. How was his life ruined? because he didn't get the girl?

[–] claypbrown 15 years ago

So, Lexie pretending to be his girlfriend, getting him to confess something to her and then using it for a story, rather than urging him to come clean about it, that all makes her a good person? Huh? To me, it seems like it makes her a whore.

Funny story: My grandfather fought in Europe with Sergeant York, who was mentioned in the movie. He often told how the Allies were winning at the time and masses and masses of German soldiers were surrendering as the Allies advanced. The American soldiers mostly just waved the disarmed Germans toward the rear of the American lines and went forward toward where the actual fighting was. But Sergeant York decided to "take charge" and round the POWS up and escort them back to the safety of the rear. My grandfather and the rest of the soldiers advancing toward the FIGHTING were openly contemptuous of York, who was becoming a hero by heading toward SAFETY.

So, "hero" is often in the eye of the beholder. Sergeant York, who is held up as a genuine hero in this movie, wasn't exactly considered a hero by some of the men he fought with.

By the way, in the movie, what did Clooney's character do in the war?

[–] skydvr38 14 years ago

contronted with complete collapse of my life, I'd do what 'carter' did, shut up, and hope it would go away/ pass.

Lexie slept with him and then betrayed him, Dodge used him, CC used him? as far as I am concerned all of the characters were flawed....but, Carter (Krasinski) was the most decent of the lot.

and yes, Lexie, was a whore, I absolutetly hated her.

[–] BachOmega 14 years ago

I don't know why Renee Zellweger is always the go-to actress in period films. She really isn't that good. Rosalind Russell she's not.

I wouldn't be surprised if the Army told Carter to keep quiet- after all, they would be in DEEP trouble if it was found out that Americans were unknowingly shooting at Americans. It was a good thing Carter DID surrender- otherwise they may all have killed each other.