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Why did Andy defend Melinda during one of the cafeteria scenes?

posted 14 years ago by taybar1996
8 replies | jump to latest

About 27 minutes into the movie, where Andy is leaning over Melinda and flirting with the other girls and Melinda gets up and leaves, the other girls start saying she's a freak with no life and lots of problems and that Melinda can't sit at their table and Andy sort of defends Melinda in her absence, and saying something like 'Everybody has problems'

I don't think he's a good guy (a good actor though), but I was just wondering if anyone else noticed this or if anybody could explain.

[–] InfiniteMoments 14 years ago

There were several changes from the book to the film, most noticeable was the way they portrayed Andy. Director Jessica Sharzer wanted to change the story a bit, make it so Andy wasn't the vile rapist from the book but rather a guy who thought things just "went too far" and is even remorseful (the scene where he tries to talk to her in the art room).

In the book, Andy terrorizes Melinda after the rape; antagonizing her in the art room, hallways, and etc.

In the book at the end, in the closet, he doesn't say, "take it back, tell everyone I didn't rape you." he was saying, "you just want it again, don't you? Jealous of your friend getting to be with me" and etc.

"Kristen, p***y to the wood. *beep* your guitar!" - Joan Jett rehearsing The Runaways @HereComesSun86

[–] Ghostwriter14 14 years ago

I figured he was just tryin' to cover his butt. Yeah, no one knew about the rape, but I got the feeling that he was portraying himself as a "nice boy" and so his defense of Melinda was his way of keeping his cover intact.
What's your name, son?
Zeke Robertson. And I ain't your son either.
Catch ya on the flip side.

[–] InfiniteMoments 14 years ago

They address it in the commentary, Jessica Sharzer said she wanted to make it seem like Andy wasn't a cruel person but a guy who went too far one night and legitimately felt kinda bad about it.

"Kristen, p***y to the wood. *beep* your guitar!" - Joan Jett rehearsing The Runaways @HereComesSun86

[–] movieinsider411 7 years ago

I didn't really get that vibe though because he tried to rape her again in the art room. I didn't have remorse for him. Even when she blinded him.

[–] LTonic 14 years ago

keep in mind these are high school kids..still growing up and trying to find themselves...what andy did was wrong but perhaps hes still not mature enough to realize it....

also, in this particular scene, andy puts his arms around/above Melinda in the shape of a triangle, with his face at the top- overshadowing her, making her feel purposely uncomfortable

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/5551182/the_film_speak_and_gnosis.html?cat=40

[–] 14 years ago

[deleted]

[–] M_Jamie30 13 years ago

I thought that too. It seemed like he like her but in a really unhealthy way.

[–] pammigal 8 years ago

To be honest, I didn't see his actions as "defending" her for her sake. I saw it as him coming to taunt her, which he very blatantly does by crouching over her as if she wasn't even there. He knew he was making her uncomfortable in that moment and probably enjoyed doing so. He was basically over there taunting her and belittling her yet again, as if she was invisible to him. Also, he wanted her to see how the other girls really thought he was hot stuff. That scene was a complete power play from start to finish, so in the end after she had left and he happenstancely asked the girls why they were so cruel, it wasn't for her sake. It was for his. He just wanted to suss out how much information they knew about her and if she had told anyone what had happened that night between them.

Watch it again from this perspective and you'll see the true nature of his actions.