Choosing Sides....


As in all reality shows, and in human nature, the viewers side with
one person or another, depending on their emotions, watching it...
I remember the Loud family series, back in the 70's. But I was 20-something,
and didnt really watch TV much...I am so glad it is coming back around, in this
HBO movie, and the actual reality footage.
In this HBO version, I couldn't decide if their marriage got rocky because (among other things)Bill fooled around so much, or if he fooled around so much because Pat was such a cold fish. A vicious circle, caught on camera.
I came away from it feeling empathy for both of them.
They seemed so different from each other.
The actors were excellent! I thought Lance was very well portrayed.
Nice to see that in real life, now, Pat & Bill are together.
Taking care of each other in old age. That is a good Ending.

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I didn't think Gandolfini's character did anything wrong, honestly. If they misrepresented him, then I cannot be a credible judge of the truth. But as far as the move goes, he wanted to portray an American family for what they were. He did that. The Louds agreed to this and either knew or should have known what they were getting into. They got divorced because he slept around with COUNTLESS women and she was over it. The show and the producer are not to blame whatsoever, IMO, according to how the film explained it.

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[deleted]

You got that right! That marriage was doomed regardless of whether it was filmed and broadcast. The family agreed to the terms from the start, so they were not victims here, but I think the producer was deceptive with Pat when he assured her that the breakup would not be broadcast. On the other hand, Pat totally knew how to plan her exit from the marriage.

I wonder why the producer never made another film or series? Here's a short interview of him criticizing the film:
http://www.vulture.com/2011/04/craig_gilbert_creator_of_an_am.html

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