Day #18 - Lolita

IMDB Link:  http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119558/

Lolita was one of my Jeremy Irons viewing in California - it came highly recommended from Matt and Melissa and since they have talked about it for awhile, I figured, let's go for it!  I knew the subject matter was going to be controversial but that didn't bother me - it's a movie, people.  Get over it :) 

Lolita was directed by Adrian Lyne who also did Indecent Proposal, Fatal Attraction, Unfaithful....see a trend?  It was based on the book by Vladimir Nabokov.  Jeremy Irons plays a middle aged Professor who moves to the United States from England to teach.  When he arrives, he rents a room from a woman and her 15-year-old daughter, Dolores (aka Lo, or Lolita).  From the moment he sees Lolita, he is infatuated with her.  Lolita seems a bit mature for her age and flirts with him, probably knowing how it tortures him.  He winds up marrying her mother, not because he loves her, but because he wants to stay in the house.  This is interesting considering it made him Lolita's step-father.  He ends up picking up Lolita from her summer camp after her mother was killed and from there he and Lolita travel across the country together, their relationship getting more complex....I think he was completely in love with her and obsessed - and she was perhaps fond of him, but not in love with him.  She played her game - she knew what she had to do to get what she wanted.  He always gave in - he couldn't help himself.  By the time the movie is over, his jealousy, paranoia and control over her drove her away...and the end I won't ruin in case you want to see it.  Let's just say Frank Langella's performance, though really small, was QUITE memorable :)

Overall, I liked the movie but wasn't crazy about it - the subject matter didn't bother me, I just thought it was a bit too slow and dreary.  I loved Dominique Swain as Lolita - for her first movie she was perfect.  Jeremy Irons was great of COURSE but I need another viewing to pick up some of the subtleties that Matt and Melissa pointed out.  His yearning for Lolita is so obvious and palpable.  He could have ventured into being a creepy old man VERY easily, but he didn't, and I imagine you would attribute that to great acting and directing.

.....and interestingly enough, this movie was never released in theaters due to its subject matter...it was released through Showtime to a record viewing audience.