559 Offensive Defense
Reviewers' favorite schtick: people will be offended if they want to be, but it's their problem. If you want to justify violence or sex or terrorism, just go on the offensive and blame the viewer, not the producer, director, writer or actor. Say they are small minded, uninformed or perverts. I haven't seen the movie Birth with Nicole Kidman, but the review was offensive, not for the scene described, but the condescension of the writer."Driven by her intense love for the husband she lost, she spends more time with the boy--including sharing a bath, a scene that is unsettling but not sexual, although some people, for contrasting reasons, might prefer to think it is."
Huh? It's unsettling? Contrasting reasons? It's not sexual when a 40 year old woman takes a bath with a 10 year old boy? Pedophiles might, in fact, find it quite pleasing to watch this scene. On the other hand, it might cause parents to screen older babysitters better. Yes, reactions might be different, but what planet did Frank Gabrenya (Columbus Dispatch) grow up on?
Posts
2 comments:
I'm usually very liberal re sex in movies/art, BUT this is the exploitation of a child and that's different. I read a bit about it and Nicole said that the boy was off-camera for much of the time, etc. But that's not the point! They used him, used his child's body, in order to titillate viewers and make money. He is not old enough to consent...and his parents who consented for him are also abusers.
Excellent points. I had thought about the "reality" of the boy playing the part but wasn't sure how to word it. You've done it for me.
Post a Comment