Favorite Roman Polanski Film?

[Shep]

sampo said:

Polanski is hiding out in France, where he's protected against extradition back to America, where he's wanted for statutory rape of a 13 year old girl.

The crime allegedly took place back in the 70s (I think), and he's been hiding out ever since.

I'm sure a google search can give you more details.

Anyway, I have no respect for the man. He's a fugitive from justice and he's not man enough to stand up to face the consequences of his actions.

He's a controversial figure, definitely. Personally, I've always been able to keep the man and the artist separate, but I'd never say a grown man having sex with a minor is acceptable behavior, because it isn't.

Though here's an interesting bit from the victim herself in a 1989 article:

Samantha Geimer, who lives in Hawaii with her husband and three sons, went public in March to say she forgave Polanski for drugging her and raping her when she was a starstruck kid. She told London's Mail on Sunday that he should be pardoned. It was not immediately clear when Polanski, director of "Chinatown," "Rosemary's Baby," and "Frantic" might return to Los Angeles.

Here's the site where I got this from:

www.vachss.com/mission/roman_polanski.html

He's never coming back to America. He wouldn't even got to England for his Vanity Fair lawsuit because he was afraid he'd be extradited to America.

He's screwed-up and he's a jerk and a coward, yeah, but if I ever met the guy I'd still probably shake his hand and ask him questions about "Tess" and "Chinatown."

[Shep]

admin said:

See Shep, my problem is is exactly that - we seem to forgive people if they have artistic talent, and that's not good (IMO). Now, however, if this minor had agreed to have sex with Polanski, then it's be easy to forgive him. I'd be disappointed in his behavior and frown upon him, but I also frown upon minors seducing older men just for money - but according to this, she was drugged and raped against her will. And rape, IMO, is something not to be excused,

Hell, if Stanley Kubrick raped a girl, especially a minor, I'd never shake his hand no matter how good his films are. Think about it man, if Michael Bay raped a girl you'd probably not shake his hand, but condemn him even more.

It's as silly to say,' yeah Hitler was evil, but I'd like to shake his hand because he drew such wonderful pictures.'


All that said, don't take this personally, I still love ya' Shep!

I love you, too, man. LOL

I don't take it personally, Forrest. Different opinions/viewpoints are what the forum's all about.

And you right, I do cast Polanski in a more forgiving light because he's a (sometimes) great artist.

[mummifiedstalin]

Solution: bootlegged movies. Enjoy the art, he gets no money. I have similar feelings about other people: Jean Genet (a French writer who spent a lot of time in prison for various crimes), Antonio Negri (an Italian philosopher who was associated with certain Italian communist terrorist groups). Genet's dead, so it matters less, but I always get Negri's books second hand so no money makes it back to him. Morality and brilliance don't always go hand in hand...so I say hunt them down and enjoy the products at the same time.

Oh, and this reminds me of some screwed up moral rationalizing: I once knew a guy who said that what Roman did was more excusable because Manson killed his wife (Sharon Tate). So apparently victims can get crime credit? Cool!

[siamesesin]

I'd heard that too, mumms. Too bad we can't ask Sharon Tate how she felt about her husband drugging and raping a thirteen-year-old eight years after she died.

[Blurryeye]

I never knew any of the details about Polanski's personal life. I knew that there was something bad about a 13-year-old, and that the Manson murders took place in his house. Somebody said that he had married a 13-year-old, which I don't think is all THAT bad, but what he really did is much, much worse.

But he's still one of my favorite directors. Mummi's solution of obtaining the works secondhand is quite compelling. Luckily I haven't bought any of his movies, so I haven't given him any money. Now I'll only look for his movies on TV and record them, or buy used copies.

Oh, and I chose "Rosemary's Baby". That movie really disturbs me on a deep level, yet I am fascinated and enjoy it, too.

[siamesesin]

I've gone the mumms method with this kind of stuff myself.

I have watched and appreciated the movies, but I won't pay for them.

[Citizen Kane Hodder]

The Ninth Gate for me.

[LetGoOfItSlappy]

Chinatown...hands down....I'm a poet and don't even know it.

And yes.....he is a child rapin (allegedly) coward who needs to (but won't) face the music....ah well...he'll get judged someday

[Chuck]

I've got to get that crack in the ceiling looked at . . .

[lisalovelace]

I loved the fearless vampire killers when I was a kid. I watch it every now and then even now. I still like it very much.

[Citizen Kane Hodder]

I loved Fearless Vampire Killers as well. I just wish there was a director's commentary track on the dvd. The extras were pretty cool though.

[lisalovelace]

The last time I seen Fearless Vampire Killers was when I rented it in VHS format a few years ago. I did not know they had a dvd release of it. I'll start checking around for it. Thanks CKH

[Citizen Kane Hodder]

No problem, I always just check on amazon.com for most of my stuff. It just came out last year or so but there are some pretty cool extras and nice packaging as well.

www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002KQNJU/qid=1147959173/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/103-8105336-8147057?s=dvd&v=glance&n=130

[Emperor Cupcake]

I couldn't pick -- it was a three-way tie between Repulsion, Rosemary's Baby, and The Tenant. For some reason I haven't got around to seeing Chinatown or The Pianist yet.

[The Demon's Head]

I say Chinatown; nothing like Nicholson and...MURDER... BWAH-HA-HA-HA-HA!