The Catholic League is all upset about an independent film called Hounddog staring Dakota Fanning. There is a scene in the movie where Dakota Fanning’s character is raped. Now, just to clear this up, Miss Fanning was not actually raped, this is a movie and the scene never actually happened. (It should be noted that she was wearing a body suit during the entire scene and at no point appears nude in the film.)
The League claims that Fanning’s mother and the producers of the film are “accessories to a crime” and have asked the Department of Justice to investigate it.
The Catholic Church has been criticized for allowing sexual abuse of minors to occur, he said. “Let’s see now whether Hollywood will be held to the same level of scrutiny.”
The Catholic Church has been criticized for allowing actual sexual abuse of minors to occur. Widespread sexual abuse, might I add. Why should Hollywood be held to the “same level of scrutiny” for one instance of fake sexual abuse?! Do these morons even recognize the difference?
1. Someone is trying to say something positive about the Hays Office? Those creeps fronted for the Catholic Church and the American Legion — trying to shut down anything that didn’t support obeisance to god and country!
2. The kid is talented; but, if I ever hear her scream again at the pitch and intensity in War of the Worlds, I may have to wear my shooting ear muffs.
Who cares?
Rape isn’t sex, it’s violence. It’s only because it is being confused with sex that anyone has objected. The Catholic Church is objecting because they can’t tell the difference between sex and violence or real life and make believe. If her character was being hacked to pieces with an axe the church would presumably be ok with that.
#28 Bill Donohue went from criticizing to control.
From the article
“Bill Donohue, president of the New York-based Catholic League ”
“Donohue said he asked that the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section of the Department of Justice to investigate. He said he would try to enlist the help of First Lady Laura Bush.”
I am all for freedom of speech. But some people have to control what I see, hear and do.
28. “Hey it might even encourage a few whackos to have a go at the real thing.”
You are right, up to the release of this movie, there were no sex crimes against children. And there were certainly no sources of actual child pornography that perverts could have access to. The producers of ‘Hound Dog” have ruined everything.
“They certainly don’t have the force of law enforce correct speech and thinking. ”
Actually, they were asking the FBI to investigate the makers of this movie. that is what I would call attempting to use the force of law to suppress speech they don’t like.
“Aren’t the Democrats currently pushing for a hate speech law?”
No they are not. Such a law would be obviously unconstitutional and would likely never take effect.
the article you link to mentions (but does not link to)
http://tinyurl.com/2yjtzb
which would provide assistance to State law enforcement for investigating hate CRIMES not hate SPEECH. to wit:
“Whoever, whether or not acting under color of law, willfully causes bodily injury to any person or, through the use of fire, a firearm, or an explosive or incendiary device, attempts to cause bodily injury to any person, because of the actual or perceived race, color, religion, or national origin of any person”
presumably, you don’t think shooting people or firebombing them is free speech, regardless of what you think about adding additional punishment for bigotry-motivated violent crimes.
Hollywoodland… yuck!
The thing I see about Dakota is that she’s quite cute now, and will most likely be a real looker when she’s older.
That, coupled with the extensive experience she’ll have when she can make some serious movies, will make her a powerhouse.
That’s a good thing.
This is an ACTRESS playing a ROLE in a movie. Sheesh.
~chewy
My wife who is a full card-carrying lefty leftist liberal, also thinks simulated rape of minors should not be legal. It makes me seriously consider the conservative objections to this movie.
11,
Whatever my opinion is of the issue was not something I brought up. I just asked if there is a law that prevents of age actors depicting minors in sexual acts.
Don’t have the answer? Don’t question my character instead.
38. “My wife who is a full card-carrying lefty leftist liberal, also thinks simulated rape of minors should not be legal.”
You apparently haven’t noticed this before, but sometimes a person can go so far to one extreme that they end up on the opposite end of the spectrum.
40. “I just asked if there is a law that prevents of age actors depicting minors in sexual acts.”
There are child porn laws in the US which forbid kids age 17 and under to be used in sexual material. Thus, if you’re married to your 17 year old wife and take pictures of her nude, you could be arrested for producing child porn. And this isn’t some bizarre hypothetical, it has actually happened. Parents have also been arrested for taking “nude” pictures of their kids, e.g., taking a bath.
However, courts have consistently refused to apply the law when the material is not gratuitous and its purpose is not to titillate but for a genuine artistic value. The best example of this is the movie the Tin Drum. That movie was banned by numerous cities in the US but the higher courts have always overturned those decisions.
Odd, the two films getting the most press at Sundance had a child rape and bestiality, respectively. Yet, my friend’s $300,000 documentary on the life of George Washington didn’t even get picked to attend.
Odd how the world is, isn’t it?
43. “Yet, my friend’s $300,000 documentary on the life of George Washington didn’t even get picked to attend.”
Your friend should have taken some historical liberties and presented George as being gay. That would have guaranteed his attendance!
There are child porn laws in the US which forbid kids age 17 and under to be used in sexual material.
And there are apparently loopholes or workarounds. Thora Birch was only 17 when she did the topless scene in American Beauty. (One of my favorite movies in recent years.)
42,
Yeah, I remember the TIN DRUM situation. Though I must say, the nude scene in it had me feeling excited and so lecherous at the same time…
Yes, it may not be real, but this is still another (rather extreme) case of perversion and degeneracy in the media. There is no reason for this kind of garbage to exist, other than to make some scumb-bag a bucket of cash. The mother of this little actress should indeed be ashamed of her self, and thrown into jail for exploiting her child for a buck.
A better PR move for the CL in this case would have been a few ads saying, “we think this movie is a bad idea, and we know what we a talking about”. Taking a too high profile position on a subject which you have about the same level of credibility as Keith Richards doing a 12 Step infomercial is just dumb. Who knows how being part of this will effect Dakota Fanning in the long run. Probably about the same as being surrounded by adults whose primary concern is making big bucks off her name recognition. Because where there’s money involved, kids always come first, right?
The catholic church has a problem with a simulated on screen rape, but have allowed priests to rape and molest children for years with impunity; what’s wrong with this picture?
#39. Hey, you were the one who suggested a hate crimes bill as outlawing hate speech.
“And I hope you are right that Hate Speech laws will “never” arise in the US. ”
so long as we have plenty of those liberal activist judges and the ACLU, they won’t.
And the Catholic League certainly has the right to criticize the movie. But they wen’t further and sought to have the FBI go after the filmmaker.
#48, Jason, you may take your pointy little head out of the sand now. Have you even seen the movie or are you passing judgment on the Catholic League’s complaint?
Now why would you suggest the mother be jailed? Neither the mother nor the child have done anything illegal or wrong. The true danger is the little pointy headed armpits of the world that insist they know what is best for me. The same group that sat quietly by while alter boys were being molested by those celibate priests.
Your audacity is very disturbing.
#41 >>You apparently haven’t noticed this before, but sometimes a person can go so far to one extreme that they end up on the opposite end of the spectrum.
No I’ve noticed that. I’ve also notice that when both sides agree on something, it’s worth paying attention to.
#53 Mr. Fusion: Thanks for the warning that Knox, Indiana is filled with demented, pluralistic individuals such as yourself. I’ll be sure to steer clear…
#56, look up pluralistic, I think you meant to use another word. Also, why do you suppose Knox to be a homogenized city full of Mr. Fusion clones? If a city has one person you don’t like, you won’t go there?