Pretty Baby
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Movie Reviews of Pretty Baby
Movie Review: I love you once. I love you twice. I love you more than beans and rice!
Summary: 4 Stars
I like this movie and I have seen this countless of times. 'Pretty Baby' is a testament to the fact that the 70's were vastly more liberated than our times, at least when it comes to sexuality. In here pretty baby is twelve-year-old Violet, played by Brooke Shields. Violet has grown in the environment of a circa World War I whorehouse in New Orleans, where her mother Hattie (Susan Sarandon) practices the oldest of professions. She still acts like a child, one who likes to chase lizards in the underbrush and who throws tantrums when she doesn't get her way. When her mother leaves the brothel to start a respectable life, Violet remains and allows her virginity to be auctioned off to the highest bidder. She finds herself drawn to a photographer, Bellocq, who is taking portraits of Storyville prostitutes. Realizing that she is love, the young Violet declares her intention to marry Bellocq...
Brook performance literally carries this movie. Yes, the movie is quite explicit about the business of prostitution during that time, but it is never exploited and gives one the sense of how it really was, and what might happen to children born into prostitution. Malle's dispassionate take on all of this outraged viewers a quarter-century ago, but it all seems rather tame today. Perhaps too tame.........
Malle's restraint is so great at times that one wishes he'd pushed the envelope even more. But he got an amazing performance out of Shields, one that she never topped in her career as an actress -- Violet is a mesmerizing combination of innocent child and sly young woman, and that we never see her as a victim is to both her credit and Malle's. Some of the other acting in the film is less impressive, especially Frances Faye as the brothel's elderly owner, Nell -- she's simply horrible, turning in one of the worst performances seen outside of early John Waters' movies. Still, it's a beautiful movie. Its slow pace may frustrate some viewers, but 'Pretty Baby' is a gorgeous, emotionally stunning experience.
Movie Review: Brooke's forgotten Lolita role
Summary: 4 Stars
Girl child stars have been used as either virginal beings or Lolita. Brooke Shield's mom knew what to use with Brooke when she was just such a child star. While these days we see Lolita more in the music visual genre (ex. Britney Spears), Brooke was one of the sexiest young girls ever to grace the silver screen. While more famous for the nearly nude scenes in Blue Lagoon, this was a movie that has since fallen into the slush pile but had her reputation solidified as Lolita.
Brooke is a twelve year old girl whose mother, Susan Sarandon, runs a brothel in New Orleans around the turn of the twentieth century. As Brooke is turning twelve, she is ready to be sold as a baby prostitute in her mother's brothel. Brooke rarely dresses in a provacative way, she wears make up with the terrible heavy hand that only a twelve year old can apply to her own face. She's cute, sweet, innocent, and childlike. What man wouldn't bid on her virginity? *Shudder*
It was more of the thought that things like this really happen in the world that made us think. And to think that Brooke herself was being sold to the highest bidder to star in a movie about this is what made us cluck our tongues. What a horror story.
But it worked for Brooke and her mom. Unlike her counterpart child stars who would fall apart from the stereotypical child star fast life, Brooke grew up to be a well adjusted, well educated, and very successful adult. She is the exception, but there are hundreds of others out there who are not so lucky, really living this hideous life. That's the real horror story.
Movie Review: superb
Summary: 4 Stars
The year is 1917, during the last months of legal prostitution in New Orleans. Hattie (Susan Sarandon) is a prostitute at the home of Madame Nell. Hattie has just given birth to a boy, and already has a 12-year-old daughter Violet (Brooke Shields). Photographer Ernest Bellocq (Keith Carradine) visits them one day, takes pictures of Hattie and fascinates Violet. Nell arranges for Violet's virginity. Hattie goes off to Missouri to marry and leaves Violet at Nell's. Alone, Violet is uninterested by everything except Bellocq; before long, she seeks refuge at his home and they marry.
I can't picture any other director than Louis Malle for this movie. Brilliantly directed and acted by a superb cast, this is a lovely film. I can only imagine how much more beautiful the motion picture might have been if the original choice for Director of Photography, Tonino Delli Colli, had accepted to go to America to work with Malle on this picture. Sven Nyquist did a great job though.
Brooke Shields was simply (and is still to this day) gorgeous. Her emotions are developed all through the film and appear to be genuine. Carradine is a bit weak and unemotional at times. Sarandon is perfect for the role of Hattie.
A simple masterpiece that shows the world of a mother and her daughter as prostitutes, this film does not show useless nudity and Malle rather gives a fine representation of it.
This is a work of art, recommended for mature viewers.
Movie Review: Brooke's early work...
Summary: 4 Stars
Let's start by stating, that if you have seen Brooke in either The Blue Lagoon or Endless Love, this is a different Brooke Shields. Brooke is very young in this film, and gives an almost natural, innocent performance, and considering the subject matter, that is very special. The film itself is slow at times, but Susan Sarandon is very good and Brooke alone is worth the watch. I won't give away too much of the story here, but Pretty Baby feels like a more in depth Lolita-type story. This movie also does not leave you feeling strange considering it involves child prostitution. It actually feels like a nice little character study. In closing, this is a must see for Brooke fans, and don't expect this to be some skinflick, because it is all handled tasefully.Movie Review: modest and tasteful
Summary: 4 Stars
A very good film for it's time. Too much hype was placed on Brook Shields and her nude scenes. Gives a realistic feeling for what the life of a child of a prostitute may have been like. Her scenes were modest and well filmed. No need to get so alarmed. Brooke's nudity was brief and never sexual in nature. Good film! Not for everyone. Prudes need not view. This is for open-minded adults.