MovieChat Forums > That Evening Sun (2009) Discussion > Anyone else thinks Abner Meecham was the...

Anyone else thinks Abner Meecham was the true villain of the film?


He looks down on Lonzo from the beginning and was never willing to give him a chance. His past wasn't something to be proud of, but he still judges Lonzo for doing the exact same things he used to. It seems to me that Lonzo was only reacting to a clear provocation and staying on his ground, as he should, if not always in the most orthodox way.

I'm as mad as hell, and I'm not going to take this anymore!

reply

I was on Lonzo's side during the first 45min and then he beat that lad, pushed his wife and beat his daughter. to me he could be raped and murdered, I wouldnt give a *beep*...
I guess the old chap was right. Lonzo was nothing but scum even though it was hard to hear it first without knowing any facts. I hated the old man since the first time mostly because I dont want to end up like that, all bitter and lonely (and I wont) but between the two of them I guess he was a better man than the stupid young guy.

PS: grandpa sings awfully. and I dont recall ever saw him showering. Thank God I live in a safe country cuz if old men like that could use guns we'd be f*.*.*

youngsters dont make mistakes, they try new things n besides, brains r overrated!

reply

I think one of the great things about this movie is that there ISN'T a true villain. From my perspective, I was pretty clearly on Abner's side in the beginning because I didn't think it was fair that his son rented the house out from under him. I also recognized that it wasn't Lonzo's fault, but he just didn't seem like a very nice guy. :) Then, as the movie goes on, you see that Lonzo is really struggling to get his life and family on track but he just can't seem to do it. Meanwhile, you see Abner's darker side, where he's not a very sympathetic person at all and he's willing to do anything to get his home back, even if it means hurting the entire Choat family. In the end, I tend to side more with Abner just because Lonzo (I think) is a more genuinely "bad" person, but there really isn't a good guy or bad guy in the traditional sense.

One more thing...aren't you just a little glad that we don't see Abner take a shower? Some things are best left to the imagination. :)

reply

I think I have to agree with you... on all subjects ;)

youngsters dont make mistakes, they try new things n besides, brains r overrated!

reply

[deleted]

I think one of the great things about this movie is that there ISN'T a true villain.
Yeah, I like how the characters were so much more complex than that. We really start to see Abner Meecham's other side when his son says to him, "You were mean, Dad. You were mean to me and you were mean to Mom." It's hard to dispute that assessment when we learn the story behind the mother's death, from Abner himself.

Even so, Lonzo Choat does seem far worse throughout most of the film. The hose-whipping speaks for itself, of course, but even when Lonzo talks about running the farm and building a better life for his family you can see he's all talk and no action, at least until Abner shames him into making some effort at chores.

But then Lonzo braves a raging fire to rescue Abner, who has set the fire to frame Lonzo for murder.... It's hard to see things in black and white in that evening sun.

reply

I wondered if the tenant house had a working bathroom. I also wondered why Ludie was hanging out the wash, when if they were using Abner's household furnishings, there should have been a washer and dryer.

reply

Dryer? In an area with a lot of sunshine is an electricity hungry appliance a necessity? Don't Americans have rotary clothes lines or is that not indulgent enough?

Electric dryers are fine on wet days, but when the sun is out, why waste it?

reply

It was made quite clear in the movie that abner busted his ass his whole life just to have that farm and the things in it, then one day this lazy, welfare recipient who can't even get off his ass to mow the lawn? can't put in a phone but buys beer just gets it all handed to him and we are supposed to believe he's the good guy?? don't think so.

reply

[deleted]

[deleted]

You'd be crazy too if your son sold your farm you'd worked your whole life for right out from under you, without your permission to people you hate.

"Out!!! Out!!! Who do you work for?!!"

reply

The dog killing is what got me. It would be war from then on.

reply


Neither one could win. One was too old to run the farm which he did realize and the other was too incomptent.

reply

Yes. Lonzo lost any chance at redemption for me when he hung the dog. Only a coward would take his revenge that way.

reply

the son paul seemed like the 'bad guy'. bit of a jerk too. sounds like he got his dad to make an agreement when he wasn't in good health about his living arrangements & then also let someone whom his dad always had trouble with take over the farm? right away? not good. not something a son should do. weak.



Golf clap? Golf clap.

reply

Abner was stuck in his ways, and had no legal right to interfere but......

Spoiler ahead;;;;;;





Anyone who entices a companion animal (dog, cat, etc.), kills it, and then hangs it on the porch--is the worst villian in the world.

"When you throw dirt, you lose ground" --old proverb

reply

There's no villain in this film.

Meecham possesses some admirable qualities and lacks others.

Lonzo is the same. We see him do some pretty horrible things, but we also see him working and trying to make ends meet. This is someone who wants to drag himself and his family upwards economically, and the last thing he needs is someone like Meecham looking down on his attempts to do so.

I feel like the real conflict of the film is resolved when Meecham realizes and comes to terms with his own poor behavior in the past, both toward his wife and his son.

The short story was actually less nuanced in this regard. The Lonzo of the short story is a bastard through and through without any positive qualities.

reply

Mean to his wife, kills a dog (he knew what Lonzo might do), tries to frame Lonzo for murder. There are millions of bums like Lonzo but there's no excuse for being a mean old man.

reply

[deleted]