esrosedotblog

FUSION

It has been interesting to see the discussion of McCain as VP on a fusion ticket with Kerry. But today in The New Republic we see another take; a lot more practical: Kerry's Best Surrogate. John McCain as a dissenter from the bush message.

Low and behold, this afternoon in Yahoo News, the headline: McCain Says Kerry Not Weak on Defense dissenting from the speech by that dick Cheney. It is working. McCain is not a liar and not crooked. He will not be pigeonholed with the zombies who mindlessly support the ticket. Good for him. Good for Kerry. Good for the country.

CONTINUING

I have been thinking a lot about the film we saw the other day: THE ACCUSED with Kelly McGillis and Jody Foster (Link to THE ACCUSED).

Particularly, I have been struck by the indelible performance of Foster in the role of rape victim. There are two aspects of it. The first is only startling in its rarity in today's films; Foster absolutely inhabits the role of Sarah. She IS Sarah. She is a recognizable 'type' and yet utterly unique and totally realized. The second part is the way both Foster and the director have been able to show not tell the fact of Sarah's almost complete isolation and loneliness. She has no true friends; in fact, her only girlfriend ends up testifying against her. Her live-in is a sex-machine drifter doper who she throws out.

I have not taken Foster seriously as an actress I guess. I have not seen a lot of her films. I guess she has to go on the list as a not-to-be-missed; certainly a not-to-be-DISmissed player.

Another aspect of this film is its honesty. Foster's character is not a 'good girl'. In fact, she is a rather bad girl and just skirts the limits of what is often thought of as 'provocative' behavior in the rape situation. Taking the risk to fly that close to the flame of cliche; the canard that 'she asked for it' is put to rest. Sexy and sexual do not equal either wanton or 'wanting it'. Rape is rape no matter what the circumstances. A lot of assumptions get smashed in this memorable film.