Posted on 10/06/2009 4:06:36 PM PDT by Bubba Ho-Tep
With all the studio hirings and firings in the last 24 hours, I've been too busy to revisit until now one of the most wonderfully bizarre twists in the Roman Polanski case. For days on end, I've been reading stories everywhere about how the Hollywood elite has rushed to Polanski's defense, saying he should be released from custody in Switzerland, seemingly glossing over that in 1977 he gave a 13-year-old girl champagne and a Quaalude and had sex with her.
There is no disagreement about the sex. But I take issue with all the stories -- including this latest one from Wall Street Journal critic Terry Teachout -- that claim Hollywood's support of Polanski is evidence of just how out of touch the movie industry is with the rest of the world. Teachout bashes all of the "Hollywood celebrities" who have rushed to Polanski's defense, starting with Harvey Weinstein, who was quoted in a story in my paper, describing Polanski's vile conduct as a "so-called crime." Teachout rattles off the names of a host of filmmakers -- including Woody Allen, Jonathan Demme, Sam Mendes, Mike Nichols and Martin Scorsese -- who signed an international petition that "demands the immediate release of Roman Polanski."
There's only one problem: All of those filmmakers, along with Harvey Weinstein, live far, far away from Hollywood and, with occasional exceptions, make their movies outside of Hollywood as well. If you look up the rest of the names on the best-known petition in circulation, it is filled with the names of foreign filmmakers, writers and actors -- including the likes of Pedro Almodovar, Wong Kar Wai, Alfonso Cuaron, Isabelle Adjani and Salman Rushdie -- who also rarely set foot in Hollywood.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimesblogs.latimes.com ...
Yes.
Next question?
Polanski was denied bail by the Swiss courts today.
Wow, this could just as well be titled “It’s not the Martin Scorcese that I knew, or Weinstien, or Cruz, or Mike Nichols etc., etc. etc.”.
It was rape, he raped her anally after she said NO
I notice these articles usually miss the R word.
I don’t agree. Having children has become the Hollywood passion and pastime. Many of these people have young children and know the depth of depravity that Polanski plumbed.
I guess Hollywood types, celebrities and executives really think they don’t need any moviegoers who have, are, or know someone who has ever been 13.
Well, if so many Hollywood elites are against the child rapist, why haven’t they said anything? Why haven’t they prepared a petition, something along the lines of NOT IN MY NAME! They are playing it safe, protecting their careers by not contradicting the Scorcese set - does that really count as being against anything? Defensive silence as protest? Can they blame us for thinking Hollywood is supporting POlanski when celebrities will use their clout to support him but remain silent and guard their clout if they are against freeing him?
Isabelle Adjani? Nooooooooo!!!!
Why haven't you? From the article:
Towards the end of the piece, we’re treated to this jaw-dropping bit of whimsy: “it's almost impossible to find anyone publicly condemning Polanski.” I’m compelled to point out that it’s not entirely easy finding people who support him, either. It’s so hard, in fact, that you have to do some serious number-fudging to make it look like you found any at all. And I have to wonder, did you ASK anyone? Because, as I said earlier, alerting the media that you don’t have a problem with a fugitive from justice being caught is not exactly normal behavior. That nobody does it is hardly evidence that everyone supports crime.In the next day or so, there will be all sorts of petitions flying around town from people in response to this article, and all the other poorly reasoned anti-Hollywood rants that have arisen from this situation. Countless of my fellow filmmakers will attest to the fact that they think Polanski should be brought to America to face his punishment. It will make some difference, I’m sure, but the damage has been done. The stupid questions have already been asked, and cannot be un-asked. Anyone who doesn’t sign these petitions will now be suspect to all the lazy reporters, internet bloggers, conservative mouthpieces, and talk radio mouth-breathers who are so up in arms.
But some of us won’t sign the damn thing, because if we accede to the ludicrous demand that we sign petitions stating that it’s a good thing when wanted criminals are brought to justice, the next thing they’ll demand is that we take loyalty oaths. I don’t need to see Melissa Silverstein, Jonathan Kuntz or, frankly, ANYONE sign a petition telling me that they disapprove of molesting children. I don’t need them to swear under oath that they think it’s good for a fugitive from justice to be hauled in. I’ll take it on faith, because I assume that, in spite of their penchant for drama and their apparent need to demonize people they know nothing about, they’re mostly decent people.
Talk about a dishonest attempt to excuse the movers and shakers of the entertainment industry by resorting to a supposed technicality. "Hollywood" is just the all-encompassing generic term for the movie and TV industry just like Kleenex is the generic term for all facial tissues. And of course not everyone in/associated with Hollywood supports Polanski but some of the biggest big shots do and even signed on the dotted line.
This writer knows that the signers of that petition made a major mistake and is attempting to cover their butts. Too late.
“Polanski was denied bail by the Swiss courts today.”
I am thankful for a bit of integrity from the Swiss in this matter.
Thank you for the post (extending the text). I expect those in the industry with clout to say something to contradict those purporting to represent the film industry’s respect for an artiste. Celebrities lend their name where they believe it may make a difference- I am neither in the industry nor have the clout. I am speaking up in my own sphere where I live and work (not glamorous, not film industry, not surrounded by artistes, not with the profile to entreat Sweden to do anything) when the subject comes up and I am posting here and on other threads. Thanks again for the extended posting - it does help.
Hollywood isn’t behind Roman, because none of those people actually live there. :)
You prudes need to get your story straight. :)
Really? Who are the big shots? Harvey Weinstein? Maybe ten years ago. A half dozen name directors, maybe two of whom can get a movie made on their name alone. Jonathan Demme? A big shot? Give me a break.
"Hollywood" is just the all-encompassing generic term for the movie and TV industry just like Kleenex is the generic term for all facial tissues.
Right, and "America" is a generic term for everyone who lives in the United States. Therefore, if a half dozen Americans sign a petition demanding something, clearly it's fair to say that America supports that position, right?
“Hollywood” is a term to describe the crowd that makes TV shows and movies, not necessarily a town near LA. You’d think that would be fairly easy to figure out.
Give credit to Jewel and, yes, N.O.W. (among others) for speaking up early, when it was risky to do so.
Good point. The following quote is from the petition itself.
“Filmmakers, actors, producers and technicians - everyone involved in international filmmaking - want him to know that he has their support and friendship.”
NOW and Jewel do not fall under this umbrella statement much but it still takes guts for them to speak up.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.