MovieChat Forums > Stolen Lives (2009) Discussion > Boys unrealistic

Boys unrealistic

posted 13 years ago by sfiver
7 replies | jump to latest

They exuded politeness beyond belief even for 1958. All the "yes, sirs" simply were not word currency of the day -- unless you were in military school, or lived in a military household, and even then...unrealistic. I'd jokingly suggested in my "formal" review it would've helped the film if the boys went skinny-diping, laughing and splashing in water fights and more child-like dialog. Or, some sort of bonding scenario like a pillow fight with their father. Josh Lucas' character appeared as a kindly, sensitive man fraught over his wife's death. But, when he left his two older sons there was no empathy. Who cares. His ongoing relationship with his youngest "challenged" son was exactly the same. Given the story, the screenplay was a mess. The boys totally unrealistic. A real waste.

[–] MystMoonstruck 13 years ago

I grew up then, and all the other families in our neighborhood had sons. I can state that their behavior was exactly right for children brought up/raised, not allowed to be little hellions. My hometown is in Southern Illinois, so I don't know if that makes any difference. All I know is that all of the children I knew were well-behaved and DID say, "Yes, sir" and "Yes, ma'am". None of them were "in military school, or lived in a military household".

In 1958, I was about 8 years old. I remember very clearly how we were expected to behave and how we did behave because we had been taught by caring parents. Definitely throughout the South, children were expected to be polite. Yes, we also did kid stuff, but we knew how to behave at church, at school and other places.

Somewhere along the way, children lost the politeness they once had, except for very few exceptions. I have praised parents and their children and have heard others in my age bracket or older do that. Some people still take pride in well-behaved children.

Also, remember that these boys had to follow their father's example (soft-spoken, mannerly, conscientious most of the time) and probably had to deal with difficult incidents due to their mother's "troubles". I found nothing odd about their behavior.

~~MystMoonstruck~~

[–] Dashkatt 13 years ago

sfiver, I'm not sure how old you are but you know nothing about 1958 and the way children were then. I can assure you that most young boys in 1958 were just as polite as was depicted in the film. Maybe you were brought up in a "different" kind of family unit and certainly not in the south. Your analysis of the film and "suggestions" would have added 2 hours to the film. The film wasn't about watching the boys swimming or playing together. It was about some sick perve kidnapping kids. You missed the mark completely on this one, sfiver.

[–] TannerDVader 13 years ago

Either way, people did express surprise at how polite they were. Maybe they were just raised exceptionally well.

"The day you're born, you're already dead."

[–] Churchchick 13 years ago

Back then kids were actually POLITE and raised with manners. They had parents who cared and spent time with them and taught them right from wrong. Boy I miss those days!

It is easier to critique than create

[–] MrSerendipity 13 years ago

Don't blame it on the kids. Blame that on their parents and their grandparents for not continuing to demand the same manners. It annoys me when people act as if children these days are a different breed than children of the past. Most of the "well-mannered" kids that are now grandparents, don't ask for those same manners from their grandchildren.

[–] lilmarlin 11 years ago

Those boys also grew up with a mother who was 'unwell' and a father who was out trying his best to support everyone. They likely had to mature faster.

[–] eronavbj-1 11 years ago

I was 14 years old in Philadelphia in 1958. Believe me, we were drilled to say "please" and "thank you" by both parents and teachers. Our friends' parents were always addressed as "Mr" and Mrs."

Of course, there were always exceptions--the "wise guys" of the neighborhood.

But the portrayals in this film were fairly accurate.

And don't forget, this was supposedly an overtly Christian family, although Matthew certainly yields to temptation with the woman at the bar. And had he not, his son would have been safe.