Seat belts?

Because Mom is gone and Dad is having a hard time? As a Mom used to buckling everyone in, it really bothered me!

Seat belts are for nerds.

I noticed this, too. BUT also noticed in the scene where the girls are in the car with their uncle, they ARE wearing seatbelts. I'm sure this was intentional, but can't really say what it is supposed to mean...

Eh I can see how hes not sure to do all the parenting - but he was very strict and im sure hes driven them places before! Id think he be even more protective now. IDK personally I dont like the decision. Would make sense to maybe have them seatbeltess for a scene then have him realize and tell them to put them on!

I hate how IMDb signatures look like part of the post.

It could be a simple oversight or a nuissance since she was always climbing back and forth from front to back seat, etc. And with all that car time and stops and showing getting in and out of the car, the seat belts would have turned into a star and would have needed a credit. lol

I can't imagine any useful symbolism in it. For starters, anything like that would have been from his point of view, and I'm sure the children would have been able and already trained to put on their own seatbelts, so for him to say or not say "Buckle Up!" wouldn't have mattered.

I just think the buckling and unbuckling was getting in the way of the Direction.

And yes, it bothered me that they were riding around without seatbelts on...so I was distracted by that regardless of the intent to not distract me.

I don't know...tough call on whether to make everyone buckle and unbuckle all the time.

And the Uncle car with them having them on...well, them getting in or out of the car, as I recall, was not seen, so not an issue.

Can you imagine when they stop at the beach and he says to them to get out...that you hear all those seat belts unsnap. No, that would have gotten in the way of the fluidity of the moment.

Anyway...general comment is that I saw the film for the first time last night, and was totally overwhelmed by it...totally immersed in the emotions, and understood all of it. Just one of those unexpected surprises. Thanks to all who created it! And yes, the Clint Eastwood credit for music made me say the same thing...My God, that man is SO talented!!!

this is easy... it's much easier for them to rough-house in the car without the seatbelts... sorta like how the headrests on the front seats were missing, allowing the camera to see the backseat. those things aren't just there for comfort (not at all for comfort, if you're not one of those "lounge drivers"), they prevent some of the damage to your neck if you get rearended.

Hasn't anyone noticed that people NEVER wear seatbelts in American movies.? We have noticed this for years because it contrasts so sharply with English/European movies. It is so prevalent that we have to think that the actors must be told NOT to wear them as many now just buckle up instinctively.

In addition, there IS a scene when the little girl is in the FRONT seat wearing a seatbelt, but as there are airbags in all later model cars this child should NOT be in the front as many children are killed by front seat airbags each year.

I can tell you that whether their father was a bad parent or not, the girls in the movie normally buckle up in their real life. I would bet on this as I mentor children and have to drive them places and ALL of them over the age of 3 or 4 instinctively reach for their seat belts when they get into my car. No reminders are ever needed.

So what is it with no seatbelt wearing in US movies?. Watch for it from now on...and you will notice

I never wear seat belts!

I've had lots of accidents and all I have is a slight headache.

When I'm married with children, I'm not going to make them wear seat belts, either.