Purplereign
Loungeroom Dancing Queen
It's pretty simple for me. He's a brilliant director that needs to go to jail. Buying movies from him doesn't condone his actions.
It's pretty simple for me. He's a brilliant director that needs to go to jail. Buying movies from him doesn't condone his actions.
Said much more succinctly (and with less swearing!) than my post.
I am not sure why everyone in the media keeps quoting the complainant/victim. Whether or not he is prosecuted has nothing to do with what she wants or how she feels. It isn't her choice and it's not how the criminal justice system operates.
The celebrity petition is idiotic and frankly, sounds stupid. Switzerland is a "neutral" country - really? Neutral as to what?
People forget that this man was a fugitive for 30+ years. I don't believe that it's necessarily the best use of judicial resources to pursue this case now, but the fact that he was not caught or extradited earlier is more of a statement on the pathetic nature of the justice system than some sort of justification of why he should continue to be a fugitive.
Also, really, starting off that petition with Woody Allen's name on it kinda makes you in any case.
He is probably insane and disturbed since his parents died in the Holocaust and his wife was murdered and the baby cut out of her by the Manson family.
I hadn't posted in this thread before because I really couldn't find the words to express the massive levels of grey I feel exist in this matter. Thanks for this post.Well, people don't like to take this stuff into account. It makes it easier to see things in black and white.
You can deplore someone's actions AND attempt to understand what psychological issues would cause someone to do them, as well as understanding the culture (early 70's Hollywood) at the time, and especially the behavior of the victim's mother (encouraging her daughter to hang out alone with older men with wild reputations) and the victim herself (who was already having sex and taking drugs). No one here is without responsibility, and it looks like it was an unfortunate perfect storm of bad behavior all-around.
While the law dictates that Polanski should have his official day in court and face the music, one has to wonder what the true definition of justice served is. Isn't the point of imprisoning someone not simply to punish them, but to rehabilitate them, where the time apart from society will cause them to reflect on their actions and change their ways? Obviously this doesn't happen as often as people would like, but the bottom line is that Polanksi has lived a productive and law-abiding life for 35 years, and now has daughters of his own. You don't think he understands the error of his ways? He's not in some ivory tower laughing like a cartoon villain because he got away with something.
Put him in jail for a year if need be, just to make a point. But to treat him like Frankenstein's monster at this point is rather unnecessary, and will only serve to damage the lives of more people.
On a scale of culpability where Wacko was a nine and a half, Polanski is around a six.
A jail sentence is certainly appropriate.
. . .and the victim herself (who was already having sex and taking drugs). No one here is without responsibility, and it looks like it was an unfortunate perfect storm of bad behavior all-around.
There is no way to defend Polanski IMO. Being on the run for the crime of rape (for 30 years) and basically thumbing his nose at the US justice system is not law-abiding in my book. He is a sick fuck. And even if you agree with Whoopi Goldberg and other Polanski apologists who want to quibble about what kind of rape it was, the consequences of those defenses will only lead to attacks towards the victim or introducing the idea that statutory rape is a bullshit crime. I don't think most people will want to side with either of those positions. He, however RAN. I believe in rehabilitation of some sort, but I also believe in real and just consequences. I don't think 1 year of prison is anywhere enough for the rape and running.
Hell, he qualifies as one of those To Catch A Predator stars. He went beyond what any of those schmucks did on the show. Unfortunately, they didn't have the riches or the connections to enable them to flee as Polanski.
He also drugged her and gave her alcohol, which I guess for the girl was a good thing, since she got to experience some anal rape as well. I thought she might have looked like a really old 13 year old, and Polanski got snookered into having sex with her but pictures of her during that time period show no such thing.
I was wondering when the victim blaming would start!
. . .and the victim herself (who was already having sex and taking drugs). No one here is without responsibility, and it looks like it was an unfortunate perfect storm of bad behavior all-around.
Apparently you missed (or ignored) the part about how the girl had already experimented with drugs, alcohol, and rape. d lead a normal, responsible life.
Yeah. It's all her fault. She should be the one in prison right now. Sterilized, tortured, you name it.
oh no, i'm not saying that! i was mocking people who say that anytime something like this happens. i totally agree with you.I don't want to see him rot in jail, nor do I want him to be raped by cellmates.
Surely there's a happy medium between "rotting in jail" and "living the rest of his life with his family and France."
Like, oh, saaaaaaay, I don't know ..... coming back to face his sentence for the crime he commmitted?
Now I know why I don't come in here.
You can deplore someone's actions AND attempt to understand what psychological issues would cause someone to do them, as well as understanding the culture (early 70's Hollywood) at the time, and especially the behavior of the victim's mother (encouraging her daughter to hang out alone with older men with wild reputations) and the victim herself (who was already having sex and taking drugs). No one here is without responsibility, and it looks like it was an unfortunate perfect storm of bad behavior all-around.
FlyingFuManchu said:There is no way to defend Polanski IMO. Being on the run for the crime of rape (for 30 years) and basically thumbing his nose at the US justice system is not law-abiding in my book. He is a sick fuck. And even if you agree with Whoopi Goldberg and other Polanski apologists who want to quibble about what kind of rape it was, the consequences of those defenses will only lead to attacks towards the victim or introducing the idea that statutory rape is a bullshit crime. I don't think most people will want to side with either of those positions. He, however RAN. I believe in rehabilitation of some sort, but I also believe in real and just consequences. I don't think 1 year of prison is anywhere enough for the rape and running.
Hell, he qualifies as one of those To Catch A Predator stars. He went beyond what any of those schmucks did on the show. Unfortunately, they didn't have the riches or the connections to enable them to flee as Polanski.
He also drugged her and gave her alcohol, which I guess for the girl was a good thing, since she got to experience some anal rape as well. I thought she might have looked like a really old 13 year old, and Polanski got snookered into having sex with her but pictures of her during that time period show no such thing.
Apparently you missed (or ignored) the part about how the girl had already experimented with drugs, alcohol, and rape. You're acting like he pulled a van up to a playground, threw some unsuspecting girl inside, and had his way. He didn't go trolling for this situation, unlike most of your To Catch a Predator examples, who didn't go beyond what Polanski did because they are all targets of sting operations! You don't think these guys would go all the way if Hansen and the film crew weren't there?
Also, while Polanski committed a crime by fleeing the country, he was advised to do so by his attorney. I don't know that living in exile for 30 years with restricted travel options, even if he is in France, somehow equates to "thumbing his nose" at the U.S. justice system. It's not like there's tape of him bragging about his exploits and evasion of the authorities. What I see is a guy who attempted to put this behind him and lead a normal, responsible life.
And if he's a sick fuck, then what exactly is someone who is a serial rapist and pedophile? Just a sicker fuck? "Sick" implies to me someone with a chronic problem that needs attention. Polanksi may have been out of his mind and a "sick fuck" when this incident occurred, but he probably isn't now.
Do you have the ability to see degrees in anything?
if the legal system were based on innuendo and hearsay, maybe.
Polanski pled guilty. Jacko did not, and he was never convicted of anything.
He took nude photos of her as well. He's a pedo! So I think sick fuck applies.
Hold on.
Some here would suggest the photos be considered "art".
<>
and the victim herself (who was already having sex and taking drugs). No one here is without responsibility,
the girl had already experimented with drugs, alcohol, and rape.