MovieChat Forums > Easy Virtue (2009) Discussion > I can't help but loathe John

I can't help but loathe John

posted 15 years ago by Iron_Martyr
17 replies | jump to latest

The first time I saw it in the cinema I was in two minds; I had him down as sweet and spineless. Now I'm just watching it again on wisevid and I completely loathe him. To be honest I probably had my Ben Barnes glasses on last time. He abandons Larita to be sniped at time and again and the moment there's stress he collapses under mummy's will like a four year old. I have more sympathy for his mother than I do for him, in the end. *rant rant rant* xD I just hope this isn't the 'pretty face and no substance' type of role Ben Barnes will keep getting. Although that's not to say he didn't do good with what he got; I think he's a great actor.

PS Irrelavent side note I really likef the moments Larita had with Sarah, it was unusual and nice.

JESSIE There, now I can change my ID as often as I damn well please.

[–] PicklemachineBitch 15 years ago

I've only seen it once and I agree I hated John I wanted to punch him in the face. Especially when he started singing for no reason. Which is interestng because Ben Barnes has a lovely voice. I also agree that I had more sympathy for Veronica even though I hated the bitch. But yes John as a whiny child who needed to grow up. And considering Ben's next role is Dorian Gray I think people are still giving him versitile roles.

Formerly LondenAlaSHEBAM
GEMMA: I kissed an Indian…and I liked it!

[–] MrCandy 15 years ago

Funny you should say Barnes is going to be Dorian Gray because I couldn't help but think he had an uncanny similarity to Hurd Hatfield, who played Dorian Gray in the 1945 version.

Yeah the son started off strong but he just turned out to be as much of a dull snob as his family. His sudden impromptu singing was quite irritating too. He was just so oblivious to how much Larita was being put through by his family and ultimately didn't even care despite his protestations of love. And then turning his back at her at the end dance thing? Pfft. What a wanker.

[–] Leroy_sprung 15 years ago

Agreed, the guy had no balls!

[–] holyfrijoles85 15 years ago

His character was horrible but he did a great job playing it!

[–] Allara 15 years ago

Like her, I think we were all tricked in the beginning into thinking they were in true love, but then as the story progresses you realize she is a lot more invested in the relationship than he is. He was a coward who couldn't stand up against his family to defend his wife, but I think in the end I gained a little bit of respect for him. He was just a boy. As she said, she felt like she was stealing his youth. He needed to grow up, and by the end I think he realizes the same thing. I remember one scene when they are at the dinner table and his father has to prompt him to say something in her defense. I would've left a lot earlier than she did.

[–] catrionalowe84 15 years ago

Agreed, Allara. I didn't hate him, though there were times when I didn't like him, esp at the dance, turning down his dad's suggestion that he go & escort Larita in, & then walking out on her in front of everyone. Overall he was a sweet guy & he genuinely thought he was in love with her, but he's just a boy who needs to grow up & live in the real world, as opposed to the kind of dream world that he's been in. He thought everything was hearts & flowers, & then is given some sharp shocks when it comes to the news of Larita's first husband & the estate falling apart. I really felt quite sorry for him.

Catriona x

Roger Federer - the greatest champion & sexiest man ever

[–] onward-still 14 years ago

The way I saw it was you were supposed to gradually dislike him more. It made it easier for you to not be so upset when John and Larita ended. I also think his continuation of letting her down and not being more sympathetic to her complaints was a way of showing how immature he really was. How he couldn't even handle the responsibility of loving someone the way that Larita loved her 1st husband.

[–] Heybartender 14 years ago

I probably had my Ben Barnes-colored glasses on also, but I sympathized with John. He was incredibly naive and a romantic at heart, and on top of that, he was lied to. He had no inclination of the trouble his family's estate faced, did not foresee the bias they'd have regarding his older, American wife, and never imagined that love would not conquer all. I think he was probably as disappointed as Larita that things didn't work out, so I really couldn't hate him.

[–] Seymour-Pats 14 years ago

I found him to be totally selfish and spineless. He became worse as the movie progressed, but he started out that way.

His behavior throughout was pretty bad, but after they found out about what really happened to her first husband, his character totally deteriorated.

His reaction to the news that she had perhaps assisted with her first husband's suicide was absurd - especially when he asked her if she was crying out of anger or shame. Maybe she was crying out of sorrow - because she loved her first husband and still mourned his death! In that situation he never once thought of her - all he thought of was himself and the fact that she hadn't told him the whole truth about her first husband's death.

Then what he did to her in the dance in front of everyone was completely cowardly and totally inexcusable. If he had any spine at all, or any love for her at all, he wouldn't have left her alone like that.

Also, I know that in the original storyline she was older than him, but they looked exactly the same age in this one. There were a few comments about her being older, but that was one of the weakest parts of the film.

Despite disliking John, I thought that BB played the role really well and his singing voice was amazing. That being said, Colin Firth and Kristin Scott Thomas really did show up BB and JB - they were so, so much better - especially Colin Firth. (This is not intended as a cut on BB - Colin Firth and KST are among the best in the business, but I thought that it showed the difference between "very good" and "excellent".)

[–] crappola515 14 years ago

Also, I know that in the original storyline she was older than him, but they looked exactly the same age in this one. There were a few comments about her being older, but that was one of the weakest parts of the film.

Maybe here it wasn't so much that she was chronologically older than he, but more mature and "wordly". At one point she mentioned that her first marriage had taken her youth, maybe it wasn't so much her youth as in years, but that she had to mature so much with a very ill husband then her murder trial.

I think it works much better if they are around the same age. She is so much more mature and independent whereas he is still just a mama's boy.

Vic Mackey: "God creates all men equal. Out of the womb, he starts playing favorites."

[–] Elouai 14 years ago

At the beginning they both looked the same age, but as the film progressed, I definitely thought she seemed older, and he almost seemed like a teen. I wonder how Sarah and John worked out. They are probably more suited to each other, and Sarah practically already has the mother's blessings.

[–] celestialtreat 14 years ago

I was the exact opposite. I know we were supposed to sympathize with Larita, but as the movie progressed I saw her as more and more selfish and narcissistic. John was the one trying to modernize the farm equipment and make sure that they could actually hold on to their land. Larita was more about hanging up naked pictures of herself.

"Hey, that's right... We're supposed to sing about pirate-y things!" - Mr. Lunt

[–] leader (1682) 6 years ago

Larita was more about hanging up naked pictures of herself.

That was just a rebellious move to show dominance towards the mother.

[–] Mrs_Phoenix 14 years ago

I didn't hate him. I was disappointed with him in the end but he was just a weak willed young man. Either due to his age or maybe that's just his character. I didn't hate him though.

"You're smiling, Jim."
"Oh God forbid. The wind might change."

[–] Ada_Inma 13 years ago

Yeah, I don't feel symphaty for John either but it is not his fault,he was a mom's child, without experience and without knowing anything about life.I think he was living a passion more than a real love.You can see he does nothing for Larita when she talks to him expressing how uncomfortable she feels, and how she wants to build a home with him.He was really selfish and a lier,because I assume he promised her to live together in London instead of at mom's home,and he knew he would not do that...
It is frustrating John can't see how his mom and sisters are constantly humillating and harassing Larita.He only lives to sing, act like a child in Wonderland, eat pork and act like Mr-meet-my-wonderful-wife...
He was a coward because he didn't fight for Larita, he just let her go..He didn't understand her feelings or her ideas about life, he was just with her for fun,because it was a "love" at first sight, and John only saw passion and fun.Out of that, he and Larita were strangers.

And it is really sad and hurtful he ignored Larita's sadness and began to flirt with Sarah.I could see he was putting his eyes on Sarah just as an easy way to forget the situation he was living with Larita which is quite dirty.He was not really in love with her because if he had been,he would have ignored Sarah and he would have talked to Larita,offering her support and love.
I enjoyed with the ending.John didn't deserve Larita and Jim seemed to me more perfect for her.Larita and Jim were wildly humillated at that home, the best thing they could do is to go away from there.John was not ready for being a married man and less a future father.He was constantly under his mom's influence,and he would end up married to Sarah,so I doubt he was happy..And the sisters were pathetic, so i think Larita and Jim took the right way..

Jimmy Doyle and his orchestra

[–] wait_dream 13 years ago

I definitely thought that he would change, but I like that in the beginning you just see him and her, looking perfect together, dancing in front of the sun - and the scene changes to rain. He was often somewhat thoughtless about Larita, as shown in a minor way when he forgot to help her out of the car. When his obliviousness really came out was when Larita was sneezing and he just thought it was so cute, mentioned wanting to squeeze her, and left her there. It was just one example of him not being concerned about her comfort.

[–] FuzzySparkle 13 years ago

I'm only about half way through the movie, but just a little ways into it, I thought John and Larita seemed very ill-suited to one another. She needs a stronger man who has lived and learned more than John has. I will be *thrilled* if Larita and John's father get together!!