A Hooker with a heart of gold!
Hollywoood did it. Again. And again.
No, I don't want to discuss if it was a good or bad idea.
In fact, I loved Naomi Watts' performance.
But please tell me your opinion as to WHY Hollywood uses this meme ("Hooker with a heart of gold") SO OFTEN.
I am sure that 99.99 % of the readers here can't relate to this from his (or her?) personal experience.
So why is this meme used so often? What's the point?
In their defense, at least they made her a little bit evil. But, worth it all for Naomi's legs.
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Call them ISIL. Isis is an overloaded term that has many other legitimate uses.
Maybe they use this cliché so that the female audience can feel superior to the character in some way. Of course, Naomi Watts is very attractive, so if they can't match her in looks, well she is a hooker after all.
Plus movies like realistic, gritty characters. And you can't get much grittier than prostitutes.
It's the profession where the practitioners are most likely to be tuned in and cynical about the worst that human nature has to offer. And what is more dehumanizing (literally) than being reduced to this orifice or that one?
So the cinematic "hooker with a heart of gold" is lovely to behold--like a real live unicorn. She hasn't been irreparably worn down by degradation. Maybe she even enjoys the healthy sexual nature of her job and is quick to see the good in all her clients. Against all odds, her warm heart and generosity of spirit remain unscathed.
In other words, she's special.
It's simple juxtaposition which almost always works to great effect for film and literary characters.
The Hooker With The Heart Of Gold is a noble person in an ignoble profession; an honorable woman doing dishonorable deeds. Many have been mentioned already but the classic example is the courtesan, Violetta, in La Traviata - one of the greatest operas of all time dating back to 1850.
The Gentle Giant juxtaposes an imposing physical form with a kind soul. Obvious examples are John Coffey in The Green Mile; Fessik in The Princess Bride; Lennie in Of Mice And Men; Boo Radley in To Kill A Mockingbird.
The Nice Killer is a cold blooded murderer who happens to be pleasant or good-natured or decent - Christoph Waltz in Django Unchained; Ben Affleck in The Town; Jason Statham in The Mechanic; Jean Reno n Leon.
Idk but I need to find one.
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