Many women of a certain age - ahem!, like MINE - probably read VC Andrews' 'Flowers in the Attic' in the Eighties, and woeful dialogue aside (she probably studied dialogue under the same tutelage as EL James for 'Fifty Shades Of Shit'), shivered at the (mis)adventures of four children imprisoned in the attic of their grandparents' mansion as their widowed mother tries to weasel her way back into her father's good books and inherit a motza when the old shit dies. You might recall it was made into a movie in 1987, and starred Louise Fletcher as The Grandmother. Yes, 'The' Grandmother. This was a clever ploy of Andrews', to have the child characters think of their maternal grandparents with an article in front of the filial relationship, thus rendering them objects and nulling any emotional connection. And I loved Louise Fletcher in 'Cuckoo's Nest'. Let's face it, how could you not love that passively aggressive and manipulative Nurse Ratched? But back to the 1987 movie. It was, without doubt and with careful consideration to judgement: SHIT!!! Memo to all aspiring film makers: when making a screen version of a well-known and much-liked book - stick to the fucking salient points, okay? One of the ickier aspects of the book is that the older girl had sex with her brother - let's not gild the lily here - he actually RAPED her in the book. There is not a hint of this in the film. Incest is an overriding theme in all the Andrews material I have read (seriously, did she grow up listening to banjo music?). The film also suffered with Cutesy Kid Syndrome, ie, the depiction of Cory. Blonde curls and a cute speech impediment (Stewardess, barf bag, please!). BUT, the book is returning to the screen, I THINK I the form of a miniseries or TV movie. And if they stick to the disturbing book, it might just be a worthwhile viewing experience, although the incest will be disquieting, it will at least be true to the book. The treacherous mother Corrine will be played by Heather Graham, whom I tend to associate as Rollergirl in 'Boogie Nights'. But I will keep an eye out to see when it is released. Those Andrews books have become something of an embarrassment and/or guilty pleasure now. And I must say, the narrator Cathy started to get on my nerves a bit, particularly in the second book when she berates her flatmate Yolanda for her loose morals. It must be pointed out that Cathy and her siblings, upon their flight from their attic prison, were taken in by a bachelor doctor aged about 40. Cathy, then aged 15, set about seducing him. I guess she was a product of her environment, but if a 15yo girl goes trying to get it awn with a 40yo, then it's just icky. Even worse, the doctor gives in! He is in the position of the children's guardian, and he starts fucking his 15 year old ward! Dude, what are you; Woody Allen?
So that's one thing I have learned these past few days. The other is that 31st January is Dress Like A Biker Day. This is to protest against Crapbell Newman's draconian bullshit. Seriously, I've read he wants tradies retained for work to undergo police checks to see if they have ANY possible bikie association. Businesses will suffer if social groups feel they can no longer go riding and call in for a coffee or beer at their fave watering holes. In NSW there are groups like the Ulysses Club, whose motto is 'Grow Old Disgracefully' (they're seniors) who like to visit Qld for some sunshine; they're going to get harassed, no doubt. There is a club not far from me comprising of returned Vietnam vets - how about some respect instead of harassment? Wanting to investigate possible biker connections, no matter how tenuous; having bikers awaiting bail dress in pink in a cell looking at a brick wall; wanting an even heftier sentence imposed on somebody who turns out to have a biker connection (even if the crime for which the offender is to be sentenced has no relationship with a bikie background) is surely unconstitutional in law, and definitely plain psycho-batshit! When Qld finally wises up and votes this clown out, is he going to send his C.V. to Guantanamo Bay? Looking at this discrimination and misery-making, one cannot help but draw a parallel with a certain Austrian-born former arts student, who possessed only one testicle and a seriously bad moustache, who when in a position of power discriminated against and criminalised the non-gentile sector of the community.
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