Jailbait Cinema: 16 Films That Make Us Nervous (Part One)

re: Jailbait Cinema: 16 Films That Make Us Nervous (Part One)

Music Cow — Wed, 28 May 2008 04:52:40 GMT

I haven't seen a lot of these - I really need to check them out. Ghost World & Taxi Driver are two of my favorites.

re: Jailbait Cinema: 16 Films That Make Us Nervous (Part One)

puchinello — Tue, 27 May 2008 16:59:07 GMT

"the fact that Woody’s character was technically committing statutory rape;"

No--not a fact: legal age of consent in NY state is seventeen; sixteen in NJ.

re: Jailbait Cinema: 16 Films That Make Us Nervous (Part One)

Luke H — Tue, 27 May 2008 08:32:27 GMT

@Flywheel

It's a good point. I felt something similar about Leon having a childish emotional mind, but never quite put it so succinctly as you did.

I believe that Luc Besson dares us to be "creeped out". The director is aware of the audiences struggle to frame the relationship between the man and the girl. The cognitive dissonance exists only in our minds (where else can it exist?) but it is planted there by Besson.

re: Jailbait Cinema: 16 Films That Make Us Nervous (Part One)

flywheel — Tue, 27 May 2008 05:55:39 GMT

You (and Ebert and others) miss the point entirely. Whooooosh!

Leon's emotional age was that of a 12 year old!

The creepiness you feel is in your own mind.

re: Jailbait Cinema: 16 Films That Make Us Nervous (Part One)

Paul Clark — Sun, 25 May 2008 04:22:35 GMT

HD~~

Yes, I remember that as well. I actually remember that Allen took great pains in interviews to refer to Soon-Yi as "the adopted daughter of Mia Farrow," perhaps as a way of verbally distancing himself from potential controversy.

re: Jailbait Cinema: 16 Films That Make Us Nervous (Part One)

HD — Fri, 23 May 2008 23:22:34 GMT

Just to nitpick. Mia Farrow and Woody Allen were never married. His now wife was never his step-daughter.