Rotten Tomatoes: 49% Larry Clark's incredibly controversial sex drama Kids explored the attitudes to both sex and drugs of a group of sexually active teens in New York City during the mid-90s. Much debate has gone on over the years about whether the movie has artistic merit or, due to its scenes depicting young actors simulating sex, if it is merely exploitation. Though the movie is deeply unpleasant and tough to stomach, it would be completely dishonest if it wasn't just that, given the grim subject matter. With Kids, Clark helped launch the careers of young actresses Chloë Sevigny and Rosario Dawson as well, though the performances of the young, largely unprofessional cast across the board are excellent and lend the entire endeavor a high level of authenticity. Though it's easy to see how some might just pawn off Clark as a perverted old man who wants to watch young people cavorting around, his movie's emotional power should mitigate any such criticism: to call the movie titillating or exploitative is to completely forget what the movie is about: HIV and its potential pervasiveness amid our youth.
Stay at home dad who spends as much time teaching his kids the merits of Martin Scorsese as possible (against the missus' wishes).
General video game, TV and film nut. Occasional sports fan. Full time loon.
