Then I hit on it: Jodi Foster. The quintessential 1970s teenager, she was everything me and my girlfriends wanted to be: Beautiful, talented, famous, and whip smart. We drank Jodi Foster films: The Little Girl Who Lived Down the Lane, Foxes, Freaky Friday, and even the utterly bizarre, flirting-with-the-edge-of-creepy, Bugsy Malone.
Then there was Taxi Driver. Which doesn't need any explanation or introduction. If you haven't seen it, shame on you. If you have, you know what I'm talking about. I'm not sure any filmmaker could get away today with what Scorsese did then. Or if any other actress could have handled the role of Iris, the 12-year-old prostitute, with such self possession. Foster somehow managed to turn in a performance both disturbing and poignant. Interesting side note: Scorsese originally wanted Melanie Griffith for the part. I think he chose the right girl.
There isn't a decent clip of any of these movies to be had on YouTube. This is about as close as it gets and the quality sucks.
Check out everyone's else's picks over at Milk River Madman's Place.
10 comments:
Huge crush on Jodie. She's just a little older than me. Great movie as well. The clip wasn't too shabby. Back when DeNiro could still act and wasn't playing the same character like he has of late. Great choices all across the board this week.
Ooooh, interesting choice indeed! I remember Jodie Foster from tv shows back in the 60's and she always played the tomboy. So even before I knew what it was, I had her pegged for gay. She did grow into a beautiful woman. But has the other question ever been answered? I'm not sure.
Great pick. I totally spaced on what day is it, because of the long weekend, I thought it was Tuesday.
LOVE Jodie Foster and I love how she's aged too. Still working.
Taxi Driver. "someday a rain will come..."
Happy MCW!
great choice. my favorite jodie is as "clarice starling" in "the silence of the lambs". she was perfect for the role and infuses core strength with surface vulnerability like nobody's business. taxi driver is an american classic but I dont enjoy it that much.
Eewwww !!! I always thought Jodi Foster was HIDEOUS !! Especially in the early Disney movies.
LOL to Heff's comments! "but of course!"
I love Jodie Foster and she was my preferred hero at the time (over Tatum o Neal) LOVE 70's movies and that grainy feel to them, the color of movies from that time.
Sounds like you had a good ol weekend, what did you bake? I did cinnamon chile brownies, ooh yes, yes!
Kudos to you for using the Star Trek Blog Queen, I am surprised you know her!
I always liked Jodie Foster in this but the movie really belonged to DeNiro. For this time period, Foxes is my favorite Foster movie. She can play really strong characters.
Happy MCW.
Milk River: Seriously, right? I mean De Niro is nothing more than a cliche these days. He should learn how to say no.
Pam: I think I read somewhere where she and her long-time companion (a woman, and a top Hollywood producer) recently split?
Boxer: There are sooooooo many good lines in Taxi Driver!
Chickory: You are spot on on both counts. I credit Foster's performance with elevating SOTL beyond the standard horror schlock into something complex, brilliant, and truly frightening. Taxi Driver, while also genius, is nonetheless one of the most uncomfortable movies ever made.
Heff: Seriously? Sure, as a child she was, like most prepubescents, exceptionally dorky looking. But I think she's a stunning woman.
La Diva: I recently caught Little Darlings on cable with Tatum and Kristy McNichol. I thought to myself, "WTF was up with Tatum's voice?" Was she doing Marilyn Monroe? ANNOYING.
Buzz: I agree with you on Foxes. I have seen it a good half dozen times. I just couldn't find a decent clip, either.
Jodie's always been a sister of the Rainbow Traveling Pants. She and Kelly McGillis were an item back in the day and yes she recently split with her long time partner. It sounds like the '70s were not too good for the actresses.
Shamu: "Rainbow Traveling Pants?" Bwahahahaha! Sounds very '70s.
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