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Deadline Hollywood Roman Polanski breaks his silence. This is the whole statement. I find this whole tawdry decades old story so sad but the public reaction even more disturbing. Whether or not one thinks Polanski should come to the US and be sentenced it is very clear reading the comments on virtually any site/blog discussing this that for a huge swath of people nothing short of a death sentence would ever satiate them
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E.T. Steven Spielberg has chosen War Horse as his next film. That means he'll have two pictures coming out for 2011 (TinTin is also on the way). Isn't it strange how Spielberg always seems to be either completely absent or doubling up? Other two picture years: 1989, 1993 (what a year that was!), 1997 and 2002
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30 comments:
You forgot 2005 to the list of Spielberg double feature years...
And I'm not looking forward to War Horses. Really wish that Spielberg would move away from the World War films...
War Horse is a fantastic short novel, and the stage adaptation that's currently playing in London and will be appearing next season on Broadway at the Lincoln Center is noteworthy because of its fantastic puppetry, but I found myself more emotionally involved with the novel... but I don't see it succeeding as a film.
Ah, this is what I love about cinema-appreciation sites: their sense of perspective.
Polanski: rapes 13 year old.
Bloggers: express their anger at Polanski's lack of criminal sentence through hyperbolic means.
I ask you, filmexperience readers, who here is the real monster?
Nat, I love your site and love your reportage on all things cinematic but the perspective you choose to convey in the blurb to that link distressingly plays into a trend I've seen around movie websites (and from those actually in the industry too if that petition is to be believed) which downplays Polanski's actions by focusing on the supposed moral panic that it's generated instead.
You know, there's no such thing as consensual sex between a teenager and a middle aged person, so what Polanski did was raping and sodomising an adolescent (and if the victim's statement is to be believed and why shouldn't it, she made it clear she did not wanted to be with him).
What I find "tawdry" in this affair, is that in all those years Poanski did not have the dignity to stand up for what he did, to not once express remorse (at least not that I'm aware of) and instead plays the "victim card" himself.
Wow, that comment secton at Deadline got really ugly.
I won't comment on the details of Polanski's case because I'm gay and European :) which automatically makes me (for many people) unauthorized to talk about any moral issue. What I find inextricable, disturbing and why not, even sickening is that the same society that wants to see him hung in public is the same society that fully embraces and encourages the sexing up of teenage, underage pop culture idols.
X & laura & iggy -- it's not like I'm condoning polanski's actions. I just think that it's very easy for people to feel superior and demand blood and it's very hard for people to be sympathetic and forgiving.
should all heinous crimes get the death penalty just to appease everyone's sense of moral superiority?
I'm not saying that Polanski's a good person. But i just wonder what it would take for people to stop wishing ill on him? And I also wonder -- and I wish more people who want him sentenced to life in person would wonder -- how he is ever supposed to get a fair trial / sentence / anything because the public outcry is such that whoever is involved will have all these eextraneous issues coloring their judgment (making a name for themselves, media circus, moral outrage and whatnot)
I just firmly believe that no one will ever be satisfied with the outcome to this crime and punishment.
If he never returns to the US people will still collectively play the lynch mob whenever his name is brought up. If he does return it won;t help either: if he gets a light sentence people will say he got off easy because of his celebrity and will continue to bitch that he was free to live out most of his life in luxury in Europe. If he gets a heavy sentence people will wish it was heavier still.
how could this ever be resolved to anyone's satisfaction? and isn't there so many more important things to be spending the judicial and criminal systems money on?
Completely agree Nat but I've gotten so sick of having the argument I don't even post on the topic anymore. I mean Jesus if I just post a single frame from one of his movies I'll always get a comment screaming about how I'm abetting a rapist. The internet has damned a lot of people's ability to keep things in perspective.
It's funny, if you like someone you want people to go easy on him Polanski. If you don't you don't you just don't care- Michael Jackson.
I find it funny.
Just for the record because you replied to the three of us together, I don't share X and Lara's opinions. Mine is closer to yours, actually. Probably I didn't make myself clear in the comment above so I was going to do it now, but my mother always says "callado estás más guapo".
Iggy,
That's like saying it's okay to rape and molest young girls because of how sexy they dress. They asked for it.
I'm sorry, I can't help but feel like some people on here including Nathaniel approves of his actions. If Polanski wasn't a celebrity he would've been in jail a long time ago. He drugged and raped a 13 year old girl that is NOT okay. I don't care if you're his biggest fan.I guess the criminal system should only apply to those who aren't celebrities.
Nat, I love your site and love your reportage on all things cinematic but the perspective you choose to convey in the blurb to that link distressingly plays into a trend I've seen around movie websites (and from those actually in the industry too if that petition is to be believed) which downplays Polanski's actions by focusing on the supposed moral panic that it's generated instead.
3:44 AM
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X my thoughts exactly!
I for one agree with you Nathan. As per usual with the internet, the most vocal and "outraged" people tend to frame the debate as (in this case) "you either agree with me or you support rape."
I think you might be hard pressed to find someone who thinks Polanski didn't commit a crime and shouldn't serve for it, even among those concerned about the judge's conduct or those concerned about the precedent set by arresting someone at a film festival.
And yet while I believe Polanski should be punished I don't find that the situation fills me with any righteous indignation or moral superiority. Mostly it just makes me sad.
I saw The Human Centipede. It was exactly what I expected, dull. If you're curious about it and have 90 minutes to spare then watch it, but don't expect any type of masterpiece.
That said, I'd like to see Dieter Laser (Dr. Heiter) in a movie with a good script. He was great with what he was given.
The internet has damned a lot of people's ability to keep things in perspective.
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Tell that to my daughter who was raped.
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And yet while I believe Polanski should be punished I don't find that the situation fills me with any righteous indignation or moral superiority. Mostly it just makes me sad.
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No one feels morally superior mostly angry. The fact that you are suggesting that people feel morally superior by verbally lynching Polanki only tells me that you and Nathaniel are the ones feeling morally superior. “ Oh I am above such frivolity and it’s awful that people are so outraged by Polanski that they can see things like we do. People shouldn’t post such awful comments about Polanski. Society is so destructive.” Get over yourselves!
Yes you are absolutely right Nathaniel, our Judicial system has more important things to do. My 19 year old brother is in jail for robbing a liquor store. Yes it was stupid, but at least he didn’t Kill or rape anyone.
Iggy, what is my opinion on this matter? And what is yours? I'm not sure I can follow this discussion.
"should all heinous crimes get the death penalty just to appease everyone's sense of moral superiority?"
Generally speaking, the death penalty should be outlawed. And criminal law isn't about "satisfying" the general public.
Just because there are morally reprehensible people arguing a certain case, should not make said case indefeasible to prosecute criminally.
Iggy,
That's like saying it's okay to rape and molest young girls because of how sexy they dress. They asked for it.
I'm sorry, I can't help but feel like some people on here including Nathaniel approves of his actions.
What?? I'm sorry but if that's what you get from what I wrote, maybe you should improve your reading skills, to say the least. I can't (and I won't) speak for Nathaniel, but I don't approve his actions. And honestly, though I never get mad at what people say anonymously on the internet, people like you scare me almost as much as any rapist. Because, assuming gratuitously (and wrongly) what you do, I can also assume you could join a mob, take a torch and burn people.
people like you scare me almost as much as any rapist. Because, assuming gratuitously (and wrongly) what you do, I can also assume you could join a mob, take a torch and burn people.
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I scare you because I want Polanski to go to jail. Oh wow.lol.
I scare you because I want Polanski to go to jail. Wow.lol.
What I find inextricable, disturbing and why not, even sickening is that the same society that wants to see him hung in public is the same society that fully embraces and encourages the sexing up of teenage, underage pop culture idols.
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This is what you said, but it makes no sense. Because the society that I live in are mostly outraged by seeing young girls sexed up. You didn't hear the outrage when Britney Spears was on the cover of Rolling Stones or the outrage of Christina Aguilera's Dirrty video or the Outrage of Miley Cyrus's internet pictures or the topless photo on Vanity fair magazine. Sorry but fully embrace I think not. Even if they are sexed up it doesn't give anyone a right to rape them.
Iggy I think you are confusing society with Hollywood.
There are strong opinions on both sides, but the issue Nathaniel is referring to is the internet hate. Yes, it is extreme, but it was also a henious act and I can't say that I'm particular riled up about the response.
The Internet will be the Internet.
Kanye West got far worse than Polanski and all he did was take a Mic from Tayler Swift. Hell, he didn't even have celebrity support. Let's talk about that!
@anon... i fully agree that you can't blame the victim but i heartily disagree that our society doesn't want teenage girls sexed up. If people didn't want it then why does it keep happening? Teenagers are constantly being sexualized. Most of the time the public doesn't feel outrage about it but just buys their records or goes to their movies.
@everyone nobody -- including Polanski -- claims he's innocent in this situation.
this is what i hate about the whole debate. it seems like people have a hard time merely discussing it. instead we get into all these weird areas and strange leaps of logic are made. like "if you don't want Polanski strung up, you approve of rape" which is just SO not the case.
i probably should never bring it up but i thought if people hadn't read the statement it might interest them to read it. but maybe not.
@Lara
while i disagree with your point about no teenagers having the ability to have consensual sex with someone older (um... where is the line of demarcation there. is it just based on whatever country your in and when they turn that age they AUTOMATICALLY are emotionally mature enough to decide? and what is the age span when they can say "yes"?) i also don't see how it's relevant because no one claimed that the sex in this case was consensual.
on the other hand...
"Just because there are morally reprehensible people arguing a certain case, should not make said case indefeasible to prosecute criminally."
good point, Lara. I overstepped there.
AND I'M DONE TALKING ABOUT IT.
Ja you have the right idea choosing not to discuss it anymore so I'll follow suit. but it's insane that people think other people support crime when they support the artwork of someone who has committed a crime.
talk about a loss of perspective.
and talk about a limited amount of art one could enjoy if suddenly art by anyone with questionable morals was off limits to appreciate!
If people didn't want it then why does it keep happening? Teenagers are constantly being sexualized. Most of the time the public doesn't feel outrage about it but just buys their records or goes to their movies.
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I think you are generalizing.
There was a whole debate recently on Hit Girl and how her parents should be ashamed about her cussing,being violent and a bit sexualized. The actress is 13. The film didn't make much money.
Nathaniel WHO are buying their records WHO are going to their movies ( Although I can't really say I know about any other underage girls in sexed up films recently). Others teens. So I guess Hollywood is not responsible for this continuation of sexed up teens. A lot of the parents are not even aware of what their kids are watching or what records they are buying. My nieces love Hannah Montana because of that Disney show. Their mother doesn't know anything about her internet pictures or about her being sexed up because she doesn't follow the internet like that. The only time she sees her is on Hannah Montana. So yes, she buys the DVD series (which isn't sexed up) and her toys.
I mentioned Mily because I currently don't know any other underage sexed up teen, especially 13 year olds. Besides her movie flopped. Tayler Swift is not a teen nor is she sexed up.
Nathaniel,
Women have been sexualized for centuries. Society’s current distaste for it isn’t going to stop it from happening. Just like there will always be racists, bigots and homophobes.
If you can name me an instance where an underage girl was sexed up and there was no outrage then maybe I could see your point.
Even if it was a case of consensual sex and what age does one emotionally mature to sex with an older person. The girl was 13 not 17. If you really want to know for the most part the brain doesn’t fully develop into an adult one until 21 or 22 and no I’m not saying you should wait until you are 21 or 22.
Who said that you can’t like his films???? I didn’t see anyone here say that. Most people said that he should be punished.
anon -- but that's just what i'm saying with the generalizations. if the human brain is not fully adult until 22 should we be prosecuting people who sleep with 19 year olds?
but this is also what i'm saying... it's too easy to get off topic and make this about things that it's not even remotely about
sorry for bringing it up again.
just wanted to share the link. i could've just linked without blurbing. which is what i shoulda done.
Curious about the Spielberg effort, though it's not as if the other fantasy-to National Stage-to film did well (His Dark Materials/The Golden Compass).
Not much to say about the Polanski case that I haven't said before. I also haven't read the comment either.
Saw Revanche. Liked it.
Rewatched Duplicity. Audiences suck for staying away.
RIP Lynn. What a terrible year for the Redgrave family.
@Lara, I don't see the point in re-stating what you said and what I said again. It's clear you have an opinion and I have mine and that they differ. I just mentioned you because we were both referred to in the same sentence. That's all.
@anon 2:29 (and 11:59?) No, that's not the reason, but I'm not here commenting to educate you. Find it yourself.
@Mycal. I think I'm not confusing them. As much as we don't like to relate ourselves with Hollywood lifestyles specially in those aspects we find despicable, it's part of our society. They're not in a vacuum. And of course, I was referring to Hollywood because this is a film blog and because it's a reference we all can share. Talking about what's going on in my area wouldn't go anywhere.
On a lighter (and more cinematically related) note, Almodóvar confirms his next movie will star Antonio Banderas and won't have Penélope in it. It'll be a horror movie.
http://www.elpais.com/articulo/cultura/Almodovar/nueva/pelicula/Sera/terror/gritos/sustos/elpepicul/20100505elpepicul_1/Tes
Iggy, it wasn't a rhetorical question. I'm honestly not quite sure what you're trying to say and I know that my opinion isn't as black and white as you seem to think. In fact, I sometimes don't know what to think or make of it, so that's why I was asking. But maybe it's really best we leave it at that.
I find it sad that you find the decades old case "tawdry" and the public reaction "disturbing". I find it sad that so many people are willing to let a criminal go free because they respect and admire his work. I find it sad that Polanski doesn't give two shits about his victim (only the fact the she wants the rape case dismissed) but people still see him as the real victim.
But what I find most sad Nathaniel is those (like you) who express your discontent with those who want to give Polanski the death penalty, but not those who want to let the man off scott free. You say don't support the man's crimes but you sure have a funny way of doing so.
I think it's best if you don't talk about this case anymore (although it's your blog and you can do as you please) because reading your views on it really takes away from a generally positive experience one gets when coming here to read about films.
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