Comments | one_11: Oscar Cliffs Notes.

one_11

Oscar Cliffs Notes.

Feb 05, 2007 12:16

OK, so I've been using my WGA card to full advatage and scoping as many Oscar-nominated films as possible over the last few weeks -- for free! And thank God they were free, because lemme tell you, overall I'm far less impressed than I thought I would be. I can't remember an Oscar season when so many movies got such great buzz AS "SERIOUS films" ( Read more... )

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broncochick February 6 2007, 04:32:43 UTC

On a superficial level, LMS was good. It helped to illuminate the perversity of teeny-bopper beauty pageants and it minced the idea of the American family as a haven of sanity and goodness. It was also entertaining and funny. On a deeper level, however, I found the film to be quite disturbing. Although it ridicules the overt sexualization of beauty pageant contestants--strutting 10 year olds should not be sexy--the film actually celebrates the innocent/natural sexuality of little girls ( ... )

one_11 February 6 2007, 17:47:39 UTC

You wrote:

It helped to illuminate the perversity of teeny-bopper beauty pageants

But you also complain that:

The little girl was sexualized by her grandfather without her consent and without her awarenessThe problems with your argument are ( ... )

puplet_loaf February 7 2007, 02:33:14 UTC

FWIW, I *did* notice the ass shot, and my reaction was a bit taken aback: "How did they let the camera crew / director / whoever dictates these things get away with that?" It just seemed...out of place.

one_11 February 7 2007, 19:06:38 UTC

I'd have to go back and look at it again to comment, but it didn't have the impact on me it seems to have had on others. Actually, that moment in the movie, with the girl comforting her brother -- though nicely acted -- is one of my least favorite parts of the film. His realization that he's colorblind seems too pat.

broncochick February 7 2007, 02:42:00 UTC

I hear your points and I feel very Kerrylike about your statements ( ... )

peterfuhry February 7 2007, 04:19:23 UTC

I hadn't thought of the movie that way, though now that you mention it I see what you're saying. It kind of bums me out because I liked the movie ( ... )

broncochick February 8 2007, 01:40:18 UTC

You wrote:
"the Grandfather is a pervert, but honest."
--That's the problem with most child molesters. They act out their honesty.

and

"I *think* the pageant would have been worse for the little girl than anything her grandfather did or said, had she not been rescued and supported by her family, including her father."
--In my opinion, the shame of being exploited and betrayed by a loved one has more profound and lasting emotional effects on a woman than any embarrasing social incident can have.

peterfuhry February 8 2007, 04:49:54 UTC

I'm just not sure that teaching her that dance constitutes a betrayal. It could be. Did something else go on? We don't know. And neither do Mom and Dad, which is disturbing in itself.

I prefer to believe that the Grandfather's narcissism and lewdness and crudeness did not cross the line with his grandaughter. That would be a depressing movie. But if it were real life, I wouldn't have left him alone with her, because those things do happen.

All in all a thought provoking movie!

one_11 February 7 2007, 08:24:33 UTC

Well, I'll agree with Peter, and some extent broncochick, that it walks a fine line ( ... )

riposte! broncochick February 8 2007, 01:21:26 UTC

Reinforcement is not endorsement. I see the film as passively reinforcing the current paradigm ( ... )

Re: riposte! one_11 February 8 2007, 01:38:12 UTC

All well put, but here's where I submit we henceforth agree to disagree -- I think the character is not a mere "sleazeball." He's a lot more complicated than that.

But British spelling? On this issue we stand as one! Show your soon-to-be Canadian colours, sister!

broncochick February 8 2007, 01:55:47 UTC

That was fun!

one_11 February 8 2007, 02:14:57 UTC

I was a film studies major.

broncochick February 8 2007, 03:59:36 UTC

Aha! Therein lies el probleeeemmmmoooo! ;)

I was, let's see, AB in Anthropology and an MAT in English/Comp Lit.

go_west February 8 2007, 22:33:22 UTC

Whereas I thought he was doing it in an ironic kindof "fuck you" sort of way.

An "I'm old, she thinks this is fun, this'll really fuck with everyone, and hell, it's the only dancing I know, so why not?!" motivation. Since every other comment he made towards his grandaughter was totally innocent and non-sexually adoring.

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