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Random Home Alone question - the old man
Posted on 11/6/14 at 10:13 am
Posted on 11/6/14 at 10:13 am
Got an early start on Christmas movies and was watching this with my wife the other night, and she raised an interesting/oddball question -- why is the old man such an outcast, and what are the "rumors" about him?
I know Buzz tells the story at first about how he's some sort of serial killer, which seems like harmless childhood imagination run amok, but the old man sort of validates it by saying in the church "you've probably heard a lot of things about me." If there are rumors and he's actually aware of them, then it's not just a bunch of kids making stuff up like he's Boo Radley in To Kill A Mockingbird. Plus, he's had a falling out with his son and can't see his granddaughter.
It just seems like that was a weird side story they didn't quite set up or explain very well.
I know Buzz tells the story at first about how he's some sort of serial killer, which seems like harmless childhood imagination run amok, but the old man sort of validates it by saying in the church "you've probably heard a lot of things about me." If there are rumors and he's actually aware of them, then it's not just a bunch of kids making stuff up like he's Boo Radley in To Kill A Mockingbird. Plus, he's had a falling out with his son and can't see his granddaughter.
It just seems like that was a weird side story they didn't quite set up or explain very well.
10
Posted on 11/6/14 at 10:15 am to Feral
quote:
It just seems like that was a weird side story they didn't quite set up or explain very well.
I agree. It's pointless except to have that "Christmas" moment at the end. It could be out of the movie entirely.
Like Sharon Stone in Casino.
Posted on 11/6/14 at 10:16 am to Feral
quote:
If there are rumors and he's actually aware of them, then it's not just a bunch of kids making stuff up
Why not? Does he have the inability to hear what kids are saying?
Posted on 11/6/14 at 10:18 am to Feral
Maybe the neighbors saw the fight he had with his son, then the son wasn't around anymore. Perpetuating the rumors that he's a killer. Plus, he's a scary looking old man who doesn't say much. Pair that with him living along and having no visible family, and it's kind of weird.
Posted on 11/6/14 at 10:21 am to Feral
It's a PG movie. You can not come out and say he is a diddler
Posted on 11/6/14 at 10:24 am to Feral
He's probably just a hermit.
Posted on 11/6/14 at 10:27 am to Feral
quote:
I know Buzz tells the story at first about how he's some sort of serial killer, which seems like harmless childhood imagination run amok, but the old man sort of validates it by saying in the church "you've probably heard a lot of things about me." If there are rumors and he's actually aware of them, then it's not just a bunch of kids making stuff up like he's Boo Radley in To Kill A Mockingbird. Plus, he's had a falling out with his son and can't see his granddaughter.
I disagree completely. Dude isn't an outcast in the community at all...he's just a creepy-ish looking old dude that the neighborhood kids spread lore about. To kids, he's a creepy child murderer. But to the adults, he's prolly the nice old man next door.
It's all about kids and their imaginations IMO. Which is what the movie shows you later on when Kevin befriends him...turns out he's just a normal arse dude who misses his son/grandkids. The whole analogy Kevin makes with the furnace can be put onto Old Man Marley...Kevin was always afraid of the furnace and thought it was evil, but realized one day that it's just a furnace and there's nothing to be scared of. Same thing with Marley...he's just the nice old man from next door.
And Marley isn't a moron so he obviously can tell that kids talk about him and likely say bad things about him, thus the "you've prolly heard things about me" comment in the church.
Nothing to see here..move along.
:bob:
(damn, the Baghdad Bob emote doesn't work anymore
)Posted on 11/6/14 at 10:32 am to CocomoLSU
He's and old man that is living with a lot of regrets and thus keeps to himself a lot. He lives in a child friendly neighborhood in a wealthy suburbia. These kids are bored as shite and need to make up stories because their next international vacation isn't coming until the next movie. Poor guy is an easy target.
This post was edited on 11/6/14 at 10:33 am
Posted on 11/6/14 at 10:39 am to Mr. Wayne
Because the movie is basically told through the eyes of an eight year old.
Posted on 11/6/14 at 10:49 am to Feral
Maybe the adults just claimed he was a strange old man and they kept their distance, then the kids' imaginations took over. It always seemed to me that the point behind it was to not judge a book by it's cover and spread Christmas cheer. 
Posted on 11/6/14 at 10:52 am to Feral
Posted on 11/6/14 at 11:07 am to Josh Fenderman
quote:
Just because:
Fun thread
Yes. Yes it was.
Despite OML's efforts.
Posted on 11/6/14 at 11:28 am to CocomoLSU
quote:
The whole analogy Kevin makes with the furnace can be put onto Old Man Marley...Kevin was always afraid of the furnace and thought it was evil, but realized one day that it's just a furnace and there's nothing to be scared of. Same thing with Marley...he's just the nice old man from next door.
"So what's your point?"
"My point is, you should call your son."
"But what if he won't talk to me."
"Atleast you'll know. Then you could stop worrying about it. Then you won't have to be afraid anymore. I don't care how mad I was, I'd talk to my dad. Especially around the holidays."
"I don't know..."
"Just give it a shot, for your granddaughter anyway. I'm sure she misses you, and the presents."
"I sent her a check."
"I wish my grandparents did that. They always send me clothes. Last year I got a sweater with a big bird knitted on it."
"Oh, that's nice."
"Not for a guy in the second grade. You can get beat up for something like that."
"Oh?"
"Yeah. I have a friend who got nailed because there was a rumor he wore dinosaur pajamas."
Posted on 11/6/14 at 12:15 pm to Mr. Wayne
quote:
These kids are bored as shite and need to make up stories because their next international vacation isn't coming until the next movie.
Posted on 11/6/14 at 12:17 pm to Feral
Better question is why the hell were there only like 5 people in that church if there was a choir performance going on? Where were the parents of these kids? Was there a service going on or was it choir practice (on Christmas eve)?
Posted on 11/6/14 at 12:17 pm to Josh Fenderman
quote:
Fun thread
One of my all time favorite threads on this site. Read the whole thing in the deer stand last year and didn't look up for a really long time. No telling what all I missed
Posted on 11/6/14 at 12:20 pm to Josh Fenderman
quote:
Just because:
Fun thread
Why in the eff am I just now hearing about this thread.
Thread is chock full of lulz and I'm only 2 pages in.
Posted on 11/6/14 at 12:22 pm to Feral
quote:
The only reason the family as acting nice to him at the end is so he won't call New Channel 5 on them. But by the time the second one arrives, they're back to the same old shite with them ganging up on Kevin once more.
quote:
I think the wet bandits are a prime example of the problems with the prison system. Look at their recidivism rate, as soon as they get out of jail they're out on another caper. Marve especially, he's a follower, but you can sense that he has a conscience.
This post was edited on 11/6/14 at 12:24 pm
Posted on 11/6/14 at 12:43 pm to The Eric
The old man asking what his point was when he just spelled it out for him was the bigger issue.
Posted on 11/6/14 at 12:50 pm to Feral
Seriously, I'm wiping tears from my eyes I'm laughing so hard reading through that Home Alone over-analysis thread.
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