slow but steady wins the race

[scarfman]

I want to keep my own list of names I recoginze, and am disappointed to see, from the petition to release Roman Polanski.

• Woody Allen
• Monica Bellucci
• Ethan Coen
• Robert Cohen
• Penelope Cruz
• Guillermo del Toro
• Jonathan Demme
• Terry Gilliam
• Buck Henry
• Sylvia Kristel
• John Landis
• David Lynch
• Michael Mann
• Alexander Payne
• Brett Ratner
• Martin Scorsese
• Tilda Swinton

I'm not surprised not to see Alan Alda on the list.

Stipulating, because I've never seen them, that Polanski has made some superb films before and after he drugged and raped a 13-year-old girl, that doesn't absolve him from the consequences of his actions.

Unless we show her the films and that removes the trauma. From what I've read of them, they're more likely to trigger flashbacks.

Apparently part of his supporters' argument is that he's 76 years old and it's cruel to sentence him now. Well, that makes a little sense ... except, wait a minute, he was about 44 when the sentencing was originally scheduled and he ran away.

Comments

[garpu.livejournal.com]

I'm glad Kevin Smith came out against that petition. Like I needed another reason to like the guy, beyond the fact that he's Catholic. ;)

[acmespaceship.livejournal.com]

Well, let's see of the top of my head...

Woody Allen slept with and ultimately married the child who knew him as her stepfather from the age of 7.

John Landis pipelined drugs to John Belushi and there was that little matter of careless stunt direction whereby he killed two children and Vic Morrow with a helicopter.

So there's a pedophile and a child killer right there. I don't think everyone on the list rises to that high standard, but they should be aware of the company they keep.

[kiri-l.livejournal.com]

and let us not forget the nature of Lynch's film topics. oh the list does go on does it not...

oh the other hand.. I ran across a short but poignant list of people who have refused to sign that petition, - and in fact in some cases have openly stood on the other side of the issue.

some of them are..
the aforementioned Kevin Smith
and

Luc Besson
Greg Grunberg
Kristy Alley
Tim Burton
Peter Jackson
Steven Spielberg
Robert Zemeckis
George Lucas
Christopher Nolan
Brad Bird
Edgar Wright
to mention a few and I liked thos quip from another reader..

"Guess what, y’all? The Time Travel Robot Monster Pixar Space Zombie Batman Alien Goth Hobbit fellowship didn’t sign that petition today." ~ Hortense from SD

(edited for lost letters.. because my keyboard was trying to escape)

[judiang.livejournal.com]

Good to know about these people. I'd thought Hollywood had lost its mind with this business.

[bodybag-pilgrim.livejournal.com]

The one argument I have ever seen in Polanski's favour is that the victim has come out against prosecuting him repeatedly, in public, and long since reaching adulthood.

That said, I honestly do not see that that on its own is enough.

[scarfman]

I'm not a lawyer, but I believe that between conviction and sentencing is too late to drop charges.

[bodybag-pilgrim.livejournal.com]

Wouldn't surprise me. As I say, I don't see it being enough.

[antikythera.livejournal.com]

She's come out against prosecuting him so that she can get on with her life. I don't see any reason why she should have to be involved, frankly. She testified when she was younger. All the evidence is there.

[drake57.livejournal.com]

Rape is rape,time dosen't lessen the crime, he needs to go to jail.
Sad to see people wanting him released.

[hergrace.livejournal.com]

I say throw the book at the prick. I'm surprised to see any woman's name on that list. I'm not surprised to see Woody Allen (he's borderline paedophile himself, some might say.) Terry Gilliam has lost a lot of my respect today, sadly. What a shame.

[elliptic-eye.livejournal.com]

Guillermo del Toro
Terry Gilliam

OH, TERRY GILLIAM, NO

[chocolatescifi.livejournal.com]

I'm just waiting to see how Charles Manson feels about the case.