Probably the most disturbing movie you will see. It is also one in which you have to look twice just to make sure that you are seeing what you are seeing.
A lot has been made of the movie Hound Dog and the fact that the rape of a 12 year old occurs in the story. I haven't seen the movie myself, so I can't comment on its appropriateness. I do wonder though why there wasn't more said about Notes on a Scandal and the fact that there are many scenes that involve the 15-year old boy in the story having sex or making out with his adult teacher. I kept wondering to myself, "I hope that boy is 18." If he wasn't, I was going to be sick. I didn't know until I check IMDB. He was probably under 18 when the filmed the movie. I'm not sure that sits well with me. Had his character been female and the teacher been male, would they have been able to show them writhing on the ground?
Creepy and disturbing sex scenes aside, the movie is brilliantly acted. Why wouldn't it be, it has Cate and Judi. There work is truly exceptional. But I wonder exactly how they prepared for their roles. "Okay, today you are going to make out with a minor. And action. And you Judi, well, you're a lonely old woman who has an obsession for younger women. And go."
Phycho stalker behavior aside, Judi's character Barbara had some fantastic lines. "The arctic wasteland that is my schedule." "Like a monkey walking out of the jungle and ordering a gin and tonic." Those were just some of her lines in the movie. Out of context they seem a little odd, but they were definitely well crafted.
This movie also has an amazing soundtrack by Philip Glass. He is one of my favorite composers and he certainly does a wonderful job with this movie. He has a knack for sustaining the tension in a scene that I think cannot be matched. See The Hours or The Illusionist to hear more of his work.
at February 3, 2007 1:16 AMYou know what I loved about this movie? It was the complexity of the characters and their choices. It struck me when you asked why Cate's character would go back to Judi's flat after running out. When she *knew* what had happened. Why, indeed. It wasn't typical reasonable decision making--but it felt true to the same messed up choices we fucked up humans make.
We didn't leave the theater with neat capsules of who the people were. We left with a good idea, certainly, but they were too complex for the one story to tell enough. I just loved that.
Posted by: Kate at February 21, 2007 1:20 PMtoo true. sometimes human behavior defies explanation.
Posted by: hope at February 28, 2007 11:10 PM