Subject
American Beauty and Lolita
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Date
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From: Galya Diment <galya@u.washington.edu>
Re the success of AB and the lack of such for Lyne's Lolita:
1. AB is a much better movie -- I know not all subscribers agree on that
point, but to me it's obvious. I rarely agree with Oscar selections --
but this time I truly did. I actually wish Sam Mendes could try making
Lolita...
2. What's more important, of course, is that AB is much less
"uncomfortable" than Lolita. Here the teenage girl is not only quite a bit
older but while she is lusted after she is not "violated." The
realization that despite talking and acting "dirty" Angela Hayes is still
a virgin makes Lester switch at the last moment from a passionate lover
mode to a paternalistic mode. Unlike HH, who is trying to be both, a
father figure and a lover, Lester appears to know that the two are not
compatible. I am sure many in the audiences sigh with relief at that point
and are quite grateful to him for drawing this particular distinction.
Galya Diment
Re the success of AB and the lack of such for Lyne's Lolita:
1. AB is a much better movie -- I know not all subscribers agree on that
point, but to me it's obvious. I rarely agree with Oscar selections --
but this time I truly did. I actually wish Sam Mendes could try making
Lolita...
2. What's more important, of course, is that AB is much less
"uncomfortable" than Lolita. Here the teenage girl is not only quite a bit
older but while she is lusted after she is not "violated." The
realization that despite talking and acting "dirty" Angela Hayes is still
a virgin makes Lester switch at the last moment from a passionate lover
mode to a paternalistic mode. Unlike HH, who is trying to be both, a
father figure and a lover, Lester appears to know that the two are not
compatible. I am sure many in the audiences sigh with relief at that point
and are quite grateful to him for drawing this particular distinction.
Galya Diment