MovieChat Forums > Something About Amelia (1984) Discussion > Is this the point...?

Is this the point...?

posted 12 years ago by jswans01-1
7 replies | jump to latest

Is this one of those stories where the bad guy gets away with it? I was kind of reminded of A Clockwork Orange, where because of belief in therapy, the bad guy prospers.

Ted Danson is still being manipulative after he gets caught, such as in the scene when he tells the wife she doesn't want a divorce and end up struggling like one of her friends who got divorced. He even does a 'you don't have to answer now' move, knowing that just by getting her to consider it he's won a massive victory, having opened the floodgates of doubt and emotion that shoudl be closed. Text book manipulation.

The movie I think is showing how it can and does happen in real life that a monster could get caught and still walk away scott free. You get a manipulative and evil but charming and successful dad. A screwed in the head mom. Remember how she is jealous of the daughter, saying something to the effect of 'He went after her because he obviously wasn't attracted to me anymore'. Then you just need a court appointed psychologist who himself is either a psychopath or got his degree by sending in coupons. I mean, he says the molestation isn't about rape, but that the rapist is really just looking for warmth (he literally tells the mom this) and implies it may stem from her going back to work, and that we all have fleeting incestouos thoughts (uhhh, no we all don't!) and the rapist just so happened to have something push him across the line we are all teetering on. Then you need the teen to feel guilty and there you have it.

I know the natural response is to be disgusted at what happens, but it really is a cautionary tale. There are women out there like Meryll Streep, but even worse. They not only stay with the abuser, they help him hide it. This does happen. There are psychologist who are woefully inadequate and give horrible advice that people and the courts take. This happens. Victims feel bad for gettin their abusers in trouble and forgive them, thinking of happier times. It happens. Courts get so overwhelmed with cases they're willing to take plea deals they shouldn't because the kid might just refuse to testify and they won't have a case at all then and maybe if he goes to therapy it may do some good. It happens. A man who gets caught raping his daughter can get off and continue raping her with justified impunity. Horrifying, but it happens.

[–] fiatlux-1 12 years ago

I remember watching this when I was a kid, and while its quite disturbing now it was deeply disturbing back then!
There were very few movies that dared to tackle the issue of incest, never mind the way this film did it. This film did it in a more subtle, less exploitative way than most TV movies.
It was a startler to see Ted Danson of "Cheers" play an abusive father too.
He took quite a risk with his TV persona to play this role, people in the '80s tended to associate actors with their most famous role and forget they were only acting.
Roxana Zal was excellent in this role, she really was believable.
Glenn Close played the mom, not Meryl Streep.

I agree, I HATED how the dad was so manipulative! I cannot believe the wife either, even considering staying with a piece of crap like her husband!

"I'd say this cloud is Cumulo Nimbus."
"Didn't he discover America?"
"Penfold, shush."

[–] denise1234 12 years ago

I was disturbed by the psychologist saying "Everyone has had at least a fleeting thought of incest in their lives" or words to that effect.

Excuse me???

I understand raising awareness and all of a totally despicable crime like this, but attempting to normalize it in this fashion is...disgusting.

Is someone supposed to think that they are 'odd' if they haven't ever had an incestuous desire, no matter how 'fleeting'?

"I will not go gently onto a shelf, degutted, to become a non-book." ~ Bradbury

[–] fiatlux-1 11 years ago

That line really disturbed me too! I remember watching it as a young teen, and wondering about the meaning of that statement.
As an adult now, I wonder if what the Doc really meant was a thought that was normal would disturb a parent.

For example a dad sees his daughter wearing a low-cut blouse & might instinctively think she looks attractive in general or developing too quickly. The feeling would literally be instinctual & out of his control...AND faint & fleeting like the Doc said.
But the dad would feel terrible most likely, and feel like a pervert.

"I'd say this cloud is Cumulo Nimbus."
"Didn't he discover America?"
"Penfold, shush."

[–] jefgg 11 years ago

I concur.

[–] Noelle111 11 years ago

I know your post is a year old, but I just watched this on youtube and I totally agree. I saw it when I was 11..watching it now I am in shock by some of the things said throughout the movie. The therapist was who go me, implying that it was the mothers fault because of the lack of intimacy in their relationship. So, I guess that just drives a father into the arms of his daughter and gives him a license to rape. The redeeming quality in this movie was the fact it brought molestation to the forefront of America. I was also glad that they used a middle class family with a successful father. Made people aware that this goes on in all classes..it has no prejudices.

[–] VBarkley 10 years ago

I agree - I think that WAS the point. I think the movie was really meant more to help adults than to help children -

1. To bring incest/molestation out of the darkness and into America's living rooms
2. To show how manipulative and apologetic abusers/rapists can be
3. To show how the other parent (yes, because sometimes mothers can be the abuser), because of how horrible the crime is, may accuse the child of lying. This happens a LOT.
4. To show you that there are some really crappy counselors out there. And sadly, back then, this is what most of them thought.
5. To show that yes, it's worth the breakup of your family (even if you have to come to that conclusion on your own)
6. It HAD to be Ted Danson, or someone like him. At the time, he was the star of Cheers, an extremely popular and well liked TV star, but only known as a happy-go-lucky jokester. For him to take on not only a dramatic role, but a role that could make him either a laughing stock or the most hated man in America just shows what a good actor he is, and what a big risk he ws taking. They had to use an A-list star to get the ratings, but he had to be good to make it believable. And he was certainly a believable rapist. Roxana Zal certainly deserved her Emmy for this, but Mr Danson was equally deserving as well.

[–] thetaylors604 9 years ago

Another point was that teachers, coaches, pastors, etc. were required by law to report the abuse. That was hammered home by the guidance counselor when she was talking to the mother.