Dakota Fanning tells "Hounddog" critics she is mad

Reuters ^ | 1/24/07 | Bob Tourtellotte

[Roberts]

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Precocious 12-year-old Dakota Fanning, star of the kids movie "Charlotte's Web," is as mad as she can be and is not going to take any more criticism about her latest role -- a rape victim.

Fanning saw her newest movie "Hounddog" premiere at the Sundance Film Festival this week after months of complaints from religious groups and others who questioned whether her family and the film's maker acted responsibly when asking her to act in a rape scene.

"When it gets to the point of attacking my mother, my agent ... my teacher, who were all on the set that day, that started to make me mad," she said in an interview.

"I can let other things go, but when people start to talk about my mother, like, that's really bad in my opinion ... that's an attack, and that's not fair. They hadn't seen the movie," she added.

Since the age of six, when Fanning appeared in an episode of U.S. television program "Ally McBeal," her fan base has grown into millions of people around the world.

She has starred in Hollywood movies ranging from "The Cat in the Hat," based on the Dr. Seuss children's book about a magical cat, to Steven Spielberg's "War of the Worlds," in which she played a young girl on the run from space aliens.

But Fanning is now entering her teen-age years -- she'll be 13 in February -- and like any girl or boy who is growing older and maturing, she finds herself attracted to new stories and roles she finds challenging and thought-provoking.

[Roberts]

Oh no, a "mad" 12-year-old girl? LOL!

[Pontiac]

Oh no, a "mad" 12-year-old girl?

Is there any other kind?

[doc1019]

Last time a 12 year old got mad in my house, the 12 year old got soundly spanked … of course the 12 year old was not making “millions”, not that would have made a difference!!

Old fashion guy, old fashion family … with old fashion ideals.

[mozarky2]

Well, I've always loved Dakota's movies. I have said ever since seeing her in "I Am Sam" that she was not only the best child actress out there, she was possibly the best actress, period. I think she has made some very wise choices in her roles. Perhaps she has in this one as well. I'll see the movie and then decide, as I hope my fellow FReepers do, also...

[Gay State Conservative]

How long will it be before this kid makes her visit to a rehab clinic?

[Shimmer128]

Your open mind is just so impressive! (not)
I don't need to see a movie of a 12yog involved in rape and incest scenes to make an informed, wise, considered judgement against it.
But I guess i'm just funny that way.

[RockinRight]

The entire concept is sick from the ground up. The fact the movie depicts it (it's one thing to IMPLY it in the movie, another entirely to show it) and the fact they cast her to do this part. Sick pedophile bastard.

[motormouth]

I couldnt sit through a rape scene...whether it was a 30 year old woman or a 14 year old girl. I dont believe you have to actually show it for an audience to realize that its happened.

MM

[zerosix]

Sick "Art" made for a "Sick Society" - America is Not "Slouching Toward Gomorrah", we are racing toward it at super sonic speed.

[NCC-1701]

"...How long will it be before this kid makes her visit to a rehab clinic?

This needs a slight update.

"How long will it be before this kid makes her FIRST visit to a rehab clinic?"

Since she's in whorellyweird, it's almost a given she'll be in and out of rehab throughout her career. Having said that, WHAT THE HE!! is wrong with that place?? Just when you think that depravity can't go any lower, it does. It's a cesspool that needs the Sodom and Gomorrah treatment.

[ishabibble]

>>>...My mother, my agent, my teacher...<<<

Does Dakota have a Dad? Where is he while his daughter is being pimped out by "my mother, my agent, my teacher"?

Dakota wants "challenging and thought provoking"? She ought to sit her pampered, clueless little butt down and watch the video of former world's top star Britney Spears submit to a lesbian "Kiss of Death" from Madonna. That is the exact moment that Britney's career ended. If this girl is so smart, she'll heed the lesson.

[Fierce Allegiance]

Or a guy in prison?

[zook]

This is nobody's business but Dakota and parents. There have been lots of movies where awful things happen to kids and this is really no different. The movie doesn't sound like my cup of tea, but I wish her all the best.

[motormouth]

Even a guy in prison.

MM

[motormouth]

American History X...forgot about that.

MM

[Borges]

This isn't a Hollywood movie.

[Wolverine]

Subject: Hounddog Film- From Department of Justice

From U.S. Department of Justice on the matter of Robert Redford's Sundance Festival lauding the movie "Hounddog" which 'artistically choreographs' the raping of a 12-yr. old child. Do share, please.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

From: "Division, Criminal"

To:

Sent: Wednesday, January 24, 2007 10:20 AM

Subject: Hounddog Film

Thank you for your e-mail to Andrew G. Oosterbaan, Chief of the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section of the U.S. Department of Justice's Criminal Division, regarding your concerns with the film "Hounddog," starring 12-year-old Dakota Fanning. Your e-mail was forwarded to the Criminal Division for a reply.

Based on media reports, we understand that this movie had its initial public screening on January 22, 2007, during the Sundance Film Festival. We have received a large number of e-mails from citizens voicing their outrage that a rape of a minor child is depicted in this film, and demanding that action be taken against those who produced this film under federal child pornography or obscenity statutes.

The Department of Justice takes the protection of our nation's children very seriously. Similarly, we are committed to enforcing the nation's obscenity laws. Accordingly, we will be referring the substance of the many citizen e-mails we have received about this film to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for review and appropriate action.

Thank you very much for your e-mail. We hope you have found this information helpful.

[roses of sharon]

Will Redford be frogmarched out of Sundance?

[Wolverine]

Redford will frogmarch himself to the bank...

[Lizavetta]

Where's the "trying to give a damn" meter that gets posted on FR for threads such as this?

A prepubescent twit is "mad" - that this even makes news is in itself pathetic.