What do you think of Elvis being used in this movie?

[JDD]

I don't care for this at all. Now I'm not saying they have no right to do it but its certainly not something that I have any desire to see, and for sure not to see that little kid being abused and frankly I'm wondering what EPE thinks and why they would allow it given that they are supposedly so protective over the image and likeness.

I also have to wonder what the man himself would have thought of it. We really have no clue because during his life he never had a similar issue to deal with.


This is what I'm talking about :


http://www.nydailynews.com/front/sto...p-367837c.html

All shook up over Dakota's 'Hounddog'

Twelve-year-old Dakota Fanning deals with rape and child abuse in 'Hounddog.'
Cute-as-a-button child star Dakota Fanning, who turned 12 in February, is venturing into sexually disturbing territory in a movie being filmed in North Carolina.

The screenplay for "Hounddog" - a dark story of abuse, violence and Elvis Presley adulation in the rural South, written and directed by Deborah Kampmeier - calls for Fanning's character to be raped in one explicit scene and to appear naked or clad only in "underpants" in several other horrifying moments.

Fanning's mother, Joy, and her Hollywood agent, Cindy Osbrink, see the movie as a possible Oscar vehicle for the pint-size star. But despite Fanning's status as a bankable actress - whose movies, including last year's "War of the Worlds," have earned more than half a billion dollars since 2001 - the alarming material seems to have scared off potential investors from the under-$5 million indie project.

"The two taboos in Hollywood are child abuse and the killing of animals," a source close to the situation told me. "In this movie, both things happen."

Fanning's carefully choreographed rape scene has already been filmed. But then the production - which also stars Robin Wright Penn, David Morse and Piper Laurie - was shut down for lack of funds. Penn, who's also an executive producer, gave a pep talk to the dispirited cast in the days leading up to the shutdown. The desperate producer, Jen Gatien, daughter of former club czar Peter Gatien, sent out an SOS to New York entertainment entrepreneur Lawrence Robins. Robins located emergency investors, filming resumed, and the movie is scheduled to wrap tomorrow.

"The subject matter is very tough," Robins told me, "but I was attracted to it because in the end it's a story about human understanding, about a little girl who's dealt a very bad deck of cards, but finds solace in the music of Elvis and survives."

The script requires the preteen actress to confront tougher challenges than Brooke Shields and Jodie Foster did when, at Fanning's age, they played child prostitutes.

"It's not just the rape scene - the whole story is challenging Dakota as an actress," Fanning's longtime agent, Osbrink, told me. "And I've never been so proud of her in my life. I've seen the dailies, and in every scene she gets better and better."

[Diane]

Dakota Fanning has to be my all-time favorite child star but the thought of her staring in this type of role really upsets me. I think using Elvis as the child's only consolation after the abuse is not a bad thing, he was a consolation in a few other children's lives in real life. I don't think EPE cares one way or another unless it brings down sales in some area.

But, I understand what you're saying JDD, it's a very strong subject matter for a movie and it sounds like it may be too graphic. Wish they had picked another child for the part but I can't think of another one that would be as effective.

I don't know if I will see it or not......

[JDD]

Dakota Fanning has to be my all-time favorite child star but the thought of her staring in this type of role really upsets me. I think using Elvis as the child's only consolation after the abuse is not a bad thing, he was a consolation in a few other children's lives in real life. I don't think EPE cares one way or another unless it brings down sales in some area.

But, I understand what you're saying JDD, it's a very strong subject matter for a movie and it sounds like it may be too graphic. Wish they had picked another child for the part but I can't think of another one that would be as effective.

I don't know if I will see it or not......

I won't be seeing it,I can't, regardless of how good it gets reviewed. Not because of the Elvis connection, but because of the rest of the subject matter. Makes me sick thinking about it. I know it exsists, but I try and use my movie , TV time as an escape from reality. Thats one reason why when some bash Elvis films as "light hearted affairs" was TV guides favorite description of them, I liked them because they were light hearted feel good, the good guy wins etc.

I agree with you that the fact that he's used as the positive for the charicter is ultimatly a good thing. I just think they completly used Elvis as another sale tool even calling it "Hound Dog" in a very harsh sounding movie.

[Diane]

I agree with you totally JDD. The more I think of this movie the more I worry about what it could do to that little girl just starring in it. That can't be a good experience for a twelve year old.

No, I don't think I'll be able to see it either unless someone from this site tells us that it wasn't so bad or as graphic as we thought. Still.......like you said the subject matter is horrible. I don't feel they should be allowed to make this movie.

[Jim Saidhello]

This is a difficult one, and I'm glad someone brought it up. I saw this and was going to do the same, but thought it a little dark.

1) I find the subject of child molestation distasteful and disturbing. Most people feel the same way and choose to ignore it, which is one reason it persists. Hopefully a film such as this will help to bring this taboo subject into the daylight and create some positive change.

2) The news article made the film sound tasteless and sensational. I'll have to trust in the Hollywood machine (personal agents, focus groups, etc.) that the scenes of nudity and abuse will be excised or handled tastefully - remember, it only said these things were called for in the script, and a lot can happen between script & screen.

3) Most of all, I'm pleased to see Elvis portrayed in a positive light - as the healer of broken souls. (Compare with the 1980 TV movie "Touched By Love," in which a young cerebral palsy victim is helped by her pen-pal relationship with Elvis.) I don't know what Elvis would have thought of the movie, but I'm sure he would have been thrilled to help out a troubled spirit like Dakota's character.

4) I doubt EPE just rubber-stamped their OK to this project on a whim - I'm sure they thought long and hard about it, and decided that not only would the film be appropriate to Elvis' image, but that the theme was positive and in keeping with the Elvis approach to life.

I'm not saying I endorse this film 100% or even 50%. But I am optimistic. It will be a difficult film to watch, but I'll be there.