MovieChat Forums > Mammoth (2009) Discussion > So unrealistic

So unrealistic

posted 13 years ago by lamont-hard
4 replies | jump to latest

That they did not know more about the nanny. These two lived to work and it seemed to me purposely alienating anything including each other in order to do so. This film hid that they were two unhappy people [I thought were both suffering from depression] hiding behind there career's and not enjoying anything it could have brought them.

[–] dakky68 11 years ago

Why would they need to know more about her? The wife knew her kids names and rough ages -that's about all I'd care to know about an employee.

[–] raz-shuki 10 years ago

What I found unrealistic was the nanny's sudden departure:
1) The grandmother didn't even tell her what happened to her son, she just said something had happened. Wouldn't someone normal ask if the child is alive at least?
2) First thing you do is check when the next flight is. You don't take a taxicab to JFK on impulse. Maybe the next flight is in 10 hours?
3) Where did she have all the cash for paying the taxi and the flight ticket?
4) Leaving the kid alone is irresponsible and possibly illegal (has been discussed in another thread

[–] alioth4 9 years ago

1) The grandmother didn't even tell her what happened to her son, she just said something had happened. Wouldn't someone normal ask if the child is alive at least?

How do you know that we heard the entire phone conversation? I think it can be safely implied that Grandma added more details (at least, that her son was in the hospital in critical condition) without the film spoonfeeding them to us.

2) First thing you do is check when the next flight is. You don't take a taxicab to JFK on impulse. Maybe the next flight is in 10 hours?

Again, we don't know that she didn't do that as well. If it's not filmed it didn't happen? It did show her waiting in the terminal, but it may not have been that long, and you're supposed to be at the airport at least 90 minutes before departure. I'm trying to remember if the scene where Ellen was informed that her daughter had been trying to reach her for two hours, took place before or after we saw Gloria waiting in the terminal.

Although if she did take time to call the airline and book a flight, she should also have had time to at least leave a message at the hospital explaining why she had to leave all the sudden.

3) Where did she have all the cash for paying the taxi and the flight ticket?

Fair question. Not sure how often she sent money home, and what she made per month. It may have cost her all she had in her bank account that would have been sent home soon. Or else, she may have kept enough of her pay in an account so she could return home whenever she had to (in case of such an emergency, or if she got let go, or whatever). A plane ticket would cost around $1000 or so maybe? Or a little more. Not sure what the going rates for nannies are in New York City. Might be a month's wages (or maybe more) for her after taxes, if she was a live-in nanny (i.e. got room and board along with her salary, which I think she did).

4) Leaving the kid alone is irresponsible and possibly illegal (has been discussed in another thread

Fair point. Their luxury apartment was probably very state-of-the-art secure though. Ellen did end up knowing about what happened to Gloria's son though, so at some point they talked. Her hasty departure was understandable though, given her son was in critical condition in a hospital. Probably not the most professional way to go about it, but a human way.

Understanding is a three-edged sword.

[–] xergan (841) 3 years ago

The only thing I can't understand is, that Gloria not at least gave a note why she is leaving. Everyone would understand it. And about the kid, this is so ridiculous! It is night, so the kid is anyway not doing much beside sleeping and even if, she is already 7+ years old, old enough to entertain herself and not jump into the next scissor.
And how Gloria financed the ticket? An Last Minute Ticket must have cost her at least 2000USD, likely more if she had preferred to take the most direct one to say Manila. But as they don't live in Manila area, it's more likely she would take the more affordable tour via Arabia, as from there she could more likely get a flight to her home town. But anyway, 2000 USD is quite much for a nanny, but as we see, that the men didn't work on the house, it seems she hasn't send money recently. Anyway, I would assume she always kept enough money on her account for such a case and as the family was very cool with it, it seems they had it anyway put in a contract. As the family seems also be relatively careful (oh, you wouldn't believe stories of helper from rich asian countries), I would assume they have for her a prepaid CC to use just in emergency. Because even if she ran away with 5000 USD, she would be banned from US for life likely and for the family it means nothing (as he does not care for how much his million dollar deal went). At least thats what I would do, if I have a helper, I trust.