Pretty Baby

Not a perfect film, but at the end of the day-- sensitive, provoking, honest.

Though it features fine performances by a very talented cast, perhaps moreso than it deserves, & gets credit for its interesting & bold ideas, it also fails to do very much with those ideas & is largely a flat effort that suffers from a sluggish pace, jumbled narrative, & oddly romantic, lighthearted take on preteen prostitution. Shields' unnecessary (& gratuitous) nude scenes aren't great to watch, either. Overall, very meh and not very worthwhile.

Too careful and tasteful, but effective. Carradine's physical inarticulateness is immensely effective, and Shields does well with the caprices of the preadolescent whore.