MovieChat Forums > Charlie Bartlett (2008) Discussion > That's The Reason? REALLY?

That's The Reason? REALLY?

posted 16 years ago by ItsNicolee
15 replies | jump to latest

*Spoilers*

I'm not sure if I read this correctly, but this is what I got:
Charlie Bartlett's dad is in jail because he didn't pay his taxes?
Really? REALLY?!
I mean, c'mon! They're rich! And that's why he's in jail? And, even so, why wouldn't Charlie want to see him? Is he ashamed? At first I thought it'd be something big like sexual abuse or robbing something important. Hell, it could've been drug dealing! But not paying your taxes? Haha.

Anyway, correct me if I'm wrong!!

[–] freshsaltwater 16 years ago

Yeah, I was surprised when it was revealed that Charlie's father was in prison for tax evasion. Considering how Charlie had such a sad and shameful look on his face whenever someone even brought him up, I thought it would be something much much worse. I guess he was just embarrassed to tell people he has a parent in prison.

[–] larry-411 16 years ago

I think there's also a "coolness factor" at play. Kids might be more impressed if a classmate's father is in prison for something like armed robbery. If it's tax evasion, they'd just laugh at him.

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The world moves for love. It kneels before it in awe.

[–] guardian7 16 years ago

Charlie was 8 when his dad went to prison, he felt abandon by him.

[–] asam3122 16 years ago

Really. He said that in the movie. He said that he didn't want to talk about it because his father shouldn't have left him like that.

Paranoia, Paranoia
Everybody's coming to get me
Just say you never met me-Harvey Danger

[–] ItsNicolee 16 years ago

That's true, larry-411. But it still doesn't explain why he wouldn't see him :/ It seemed that he made a big deal out of nothing.

[–] guardian7 16 years ago

Yeah bc you know...teens never do that

[–] mimosveta 16 years ago

But not paying your taxes? Haha.

Laugh all you want, but remember: Even Al Capone was arrested for tax evasion!

:D

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Pardon my weak spelling, English is not my native language.

[–] ItsNicolee 16 years ago

[–] cherokeejoe 16 years ago

Like you said, Charlie's family was pretty loaded. When you have that much money to be paying taxes on, given the excessive number of different taxes and the astronomical percentages they ask for in the U.S. especially for the rich, tax evasion can be a big deal. Take a look at wesley snipes, for one.

And charlie explained, he felt alienated from his dad because his dad was willing to give up their relationship and their family in order to save some money, and charlie thought that wasn't worth it. Maybe you don't think its a big deal because you were lucky enough to grow up with both parents around, or maybe that wasnt the case but there was a pretty good reason for it, but I think if you were a little kid and you learned your dad left you and your mother because of something that was entirely his own fault, probably voluntary, and completely unnecessary, you'd be pretty pissed off too.

[–] guttedlikeapig 16 years ago

You do realize that it is very common for the very wealthy to go to prison, or face some kind of punishment for tax evasion, right?

I would think Charlie wouldn't want to see him, because, as explained int he film, he felt abandoned. And you've got to realize that many, many children would probably be ashamed/embarrassed to have a parent in prison.

See how one of the themes was that Charlie wanted to be popular? He wanted to fit in. As mentioned, he's seventeen. It's important to fit in. He can't fit in, by not being normal, having a parent in prison!

[–] mwilson0217 16 years ago

Hello, have none of you been reading about Wesley Snipes problems??? He will be going to jail for Tax Evasion. He's trying to appeal it now, but most likely he will end up in jail. I think they said he cheated the Govt out of taxes on $12 or $13 million dollars. The Govt takes that seriously.

Also most likely in the movie Charlie and his Mom were living off of her family money. If you'll notice in the dining room was a picture of two "parents" with a picture of Charlie's Mother in the middle. It was probably her family home.

[–] pathxe 16 years ago

No kid wants to be in school with a parent in prison. Even though it was tax evasion, at a public school, everyone is going to think of his father a a huge loser to be rich and not pay your taxes. Hard enough to go to school with any issues.

[–] luboy 16 years ago

I thought Charlie was pissed off at his father because of what he did to the family, and especially his mother. Look at the scene in the bathroom with Charlie "counselling" his girlfriend - same story. Mother ran off - father was ruined, except in Charlie's case father went to prison - mother was ruined. Consequently Charlie lost his childhood by having to take care of his mother. That's a whole lot to be pissed off about - I don't think it had anything to do with embarassment of the crime, or anything like that.

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What kind of a sick b!tch takes the ice cube trays out of the freezer?

[–] Kcos 16 years ago

lol

[–] ilixabethe 16 years ago

yeah... the first time i saw it i really thought it'd be drug dealing.
b/c ya know, that'd make too much sense lol

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