Dakota Fanning's New Movie 'Hounddog'
By JC1969
@JC1969 (1224)
United States
January 23, 2007 7:23am CST
I was reading through the newspaper and stumbled on an interesting article about Dakota Fanning's latest movie.
You can read the article here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/20/movies/10dako.html?ref=movies
It seems there has been a great deal of buzz surrounding the fact that she is a 12 year old actress, who depicts a rape scene and some pretty touchy subjects in this movie. According to the writer and director of this movie, young Dakota Fanning did not film in the nude, that the scene was more suggestive of what happened to this young girl Dakota was playing and not sexually graphic. The movie is set in the 1950s and portrays the life of a young girl who was taken advantage of by her father, other boys, and eventually in the subsquent rape.
So, what's all the fuss? I've seen numerous 'Lifetime' movies and made for television movies that have depicted rape, molestation, and incest of young girls. I think much of the hooplah over this movie is it is set in the 1950s a time where no one spoke of such horrific events like this and many of them were swept under carpets. We commonly hear today, that we should turn back the hands of time to those days, where life seemed to be so innocent.
I also think people believe Miss Fanning is going to be shown in the nude, and that would be exploiting the minor. I do not believe her parents or agents would ever risk tarnishing this highly talented young lady's career. This young girl is talented, and I believe she chose this role to showcase that talent. I wouldn't be surprised if this role brings the chatter of 'Oscar' warranting.
What's your view on this? Has she been exploited?
5 people like this
13 responses
@sunshinecup (7871)
•
24 Jan 07
Yes she has! I can't beleive parents all for money and fame would allow their child to be used like this. It's sick and I won't see the movie. There has to be limits on what these film companies can do. The film under went a ton of editing to by upgraded to a rate R. That tells me somthing there.
@sunshinecup (7871)
•
24 Jan 07
Sorry I forgot to post why I am so upset about this movie. Here is the link I found. The original wouldn't work
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2007/jan/07011807.html
Didn't want you to think I am crazy.
1 person likes this
@classy56 (2880)
• United States
23 Jan 07
o my i seen this on television last night an i couldnt belive what i was seeing an they interveiw her an she said she wanted to do this movie,the explot people are outraged about it.yes i agree with you,i dont think they would let something happen to her career,its only a movie,,an people are makeing more out of than what it is.other people are makeing more exploit than the movie itself..
1 person likes this
@JC1969 (1224)
• United States
23 Jan 07
I agree. I think that she will portray this young girls life with a maturity and sincerity. It has nothing to do with exploitation. I am looking forward to seeing this movie as Dakota Fanning is quite a talented actress. I think she will do the role justice. Also, it should be noted that when this organization that was outraged tried to get the NC distric attorney involved, the D.A could find no evidence of exploitation.
Oh, sorry this link does not seem to work on here. See I so want an edit button...LOL.
If you go to the New York Times website, and find their entertainment and movie section, you will be able to find the article title: 'Furor Over 12-Year-Old Actress's Rape Scene' written by- David M. Halbfinger
@SageMother (2277)
• United States
24 Jan 07
My husband was just talking about this.
I don't think Miss Fanning is being exploited. She is a strong actor and the film is in keeping with those subjects that address events that can happen in the course of growing up in unfortunate circumstances. I am suer people were looking out for her well being and sheis old enough to understand the subject matter. When she was younger, she played a character who had lived in a household with the same sort of abuse.
Her career won't be hert by this. I have a feeling that her career will be interesting to watch.
1 person likes this
@JC1969 (1224)
• United States
24 Jan 07
She is captivating in every role she chooses to play. She brings something special and unique to the character. I am sure her parents were well aware of the subject in this movie 'Hounddog', and they would not have allowed her to do anything that was exploitive in nature.
@starmashgate40sg177 (252)
• United States
24 Jan 07
I was watching Access Hollywood yesterday and heard lots about this movie. I was thinking the same thing about the Lifetime movies. In fact less than an hour earlier I had watched a movie on LMN that was about rape. I agree that Dakota is trying to show the world that she has talent. People need to see that there is no one era in time that was "innocent" or "crime free". Not even the 1950's. I think this movie will be a good one and I am fully looking forward to watching it. This is my opinion.
1 person likes this
@JC1969 (1224)
• United States
24 Jan 07
kudos for your words, and I am in agreement with you on this. I think there is too much focus on the issue of rape that is in the movie, and that's just an aspect of the movie, but it is more about how this young girl is able to survive in the not so nice lifestyle she was unfortunately born into.
Of course it is controversial and it will touch an uneasy note with most.
@sidneysoad (101)
• United States
24 Jan 07
As a mother, I cannot imagine allowing my daughter to subject herself to acting in a rape scene. However, Dakota Fanning has been acting for years, and I saw an interview with her in which she stated it was her choice to do the movie. That she thought the movie was terrific, wanted everyone to watch it, and hoped that every viewer would be able to take something away after watching it.
I agree with you about made for TV movies that depict abuse against children. For that matter, just tune into "To Catch a Predator" on NBC and you can watch a disgusting array of jerks who try to molest underage girls.
My belief is that anything controversial is always blown out of proportion and I will make my mind up after I see the movie.
1 person likes this
@JC1969 (1224)
• United States
24 Jan 07
I've heard about that show 'To Catch a Predator'. We are a military family living overseas and our military satellite TV doesn't always give us all the shows you all get in the states. There are more real-life tragedies that are depicted on television today. I think the controversy over this movie has been blown out of proportion too, and it has been reviewed by the district attorney and there has been no crime of exploitation found.
@strawberrymudd (330)
• United States
24 Jan 07
I think that Dakota is a very capable 12 year old. She's SO smart, and articulate, as is obvious by any interviews with her, or her acting alone. For that reason, I believe she fully understood the acting job before she took it.
I also believe that her parents would not allow her to take the job if they did not feel she was capable and that the job was not a good job for her to have.
Sure, many are outraged. But my thoughts on that, are as follows:
They should think about their outrage! Is it that a 12 year-old girl was portryaed as raped? Or is it that the rape happened?
Because REALLY, they should be outraged that rape happens to 12-year old girls.
THEY SHOULD BE OUTRAGED THAT RAPE HAPPENS AT ALL!!!
And maybe, just maybe, they should focus on that rage about rape and be proactive instead of wasting their time ruining or contemplating this phenomenal little girl's acting job and do something to help stop rape in this world.
Geeze, people. Look at the big picture.
My props to Dakota, because, although I obviously haven't seen the movie, I love her for it already, for now maybe people will realize what is happening, how horrible it is, and how it needs to be stopped, not hidden, just STOPPED.
@JC1969 (1224)
• United States
24 Jan 07
I have nothing to add to this. You took the words right off my finger-tips LOL.
Ms Fanning is phenomenal,and as she says in this article, she is getting older and with that she will be choosing different roles. She is can't be playing roles that she played 3 or 4 years ago. I have no doubt that this young actress went into the production of this film with the wishes to do justice to a very serious subject, and I have no doubt she would not allow herself to be exploited, nor would her parents.
1 person likes this
@yorb24 (2179)
• United States
24 Jan 07
I don't know because I haven't seen the movie yet. I just keep hearing how awful it is for her to be in a rape scene. I'd rather judge it when I see it for myself.
@JC1969 (1224)
• United States
24 Jan 07
It is a very touchy and harsh subject, but no different from the subject matter contained in many other television shows, and made for television movies. This movie is not solely about the rape of a young child, but more about her ability to endure and survive during a time period that was often discriminatory to children that suffered atrocities at the hands of their family and society.
I too cannot wait to see the movie myself.
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
23 Jan 07
I couldnt get that page to come up it said there wasnt one?
I like this young girl watched her in Dancer she did this movie realy good.
If her parents have no ojection to her doing the movie what is wrong with it as long as it really shows nothing.
Yes on life time I have seenmore Grafic things is a shock sometimes to see it on lifetime but it is over looked.
1 person likes this
@JC1969 (1224)
• United States
23 Jan 07
Yeah, I know for some odd reason it is not working. If you want to see the article, you can go to the New York Times website, go to the entertainment section, then movies and look for the article about Dakota Fanning.
I wish they had an edit button, and an insert link feature when you create discussions, it would make it easier *smile*
I agree with you. Her parents, her agent, the writer and director of the movie, and the District Attorney that reviewed the petition, all seem to feel there was nothing lude, or exploiting done in this movie.
@KrisNY (7590)
• United States
4 Feb 07
I agree.. I've seen numerous lifetime movies with rapes, abuse, etc. But Never would I watch one that had a child raped... I cannot imagine it- I have a 10 year old daughter.
I have heard alot of hoopla about this movie- Why is she doing the movie? How could her parents let her? etc.
She is 12.. I think it is fine for her- I'm sure her parents read all about the role prior to her taking it on.
This stuff happens in real life- so if people see it maybe it will help some youngsters come out and tell-- or hel them feel better about themselves after they told.
I do not think she has been exploited- I say Bravo to her for taking on such an important role-
Will I watch it? Probably not- I want to remember Dakota as she was in Dreamer.
@vinaynagendra (343)
• India
24 Jan 07
thanks 4 d info, i liked this kid very much as an actor. as a fan of this whizkid i look fwd 2 her new movie wid all eagerness
the 1st time i saw her on screen in "taken" i was awestruck n kept wondering how a kid can do so well, she made the movie worth watching
way to go miss fanning!!!
@warpio (66)
• Canada
23 Jan 07
I really want to see this movie. I can't wait to see how well Dakota portrays the role of a rape victim. Dakota is one of the sweetest, nicest girl celebrities there is. Just the thought of that stuff happening to her gives me the chills. To be honest, I'll probably break down crying while watching this movie.
