On D List of Movie Reviews
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Dirty Pictures (2000)
Rate:
7
Viewed:
6/21
6/21:
I have to hand it to James Woods for being involved with many compelling telefilms for a long time, and
Dirty Pictures is one of them.
Everything as presented is news to me. As much as I don't care for Robert Mapplethorpe or his stuff, the primary discussion
of the film is First Amendment rights. Censorship is a major issue that's a no-no in the United States of America. Sadly, it has
come back in full force by tech companies in conjunction with the government.
The only red flag I see in the Mapplethorpe controversy is child nudity. When is it casual, when is it art, and when is
it pornography? The lines are sometimes blurred because if parents take pictures of their offsprings this way while as babies,
I'm sure it's harmless and a spur-of-the-moment thing. The only time it becomes child pornography is when somebody
takes pictures incessantly and the activity looks like it's going too far.
As for adults, I don't see what the problem is. If they consented to be filmed in the nude, then so be it. What matters at
the end is the consumers making a choice whether or not they want to see the product. Hence, I've never heard of
Robert Mapplethorpe.
The acting is good in general, especially from James Woods and Diana Scarwid. Low production values is the disappointment here.
It also has some weird editing going on which presents a one-sided viewpoint that's punctuated by many pro-Mapplethorpe
supporters. Of course, the outcome is a no-brainer as Dennis Barrie was going to be found not guilty of whatever he was
charged with.
All in all, often thought-provoking, Dirty Pictures further stretches the First Amendment rights discussion post
The People vs. Larry Flynt.