Shades of Gray-
The Lethal Weapon movies have contained sexual violence and the What Women Want or something movie did as well.

I don't want to sound naive but what did Roman Polanski do that is upsetting everyone?

On Mel Gibson:

1) While I'm always skeptical of religious changes
in Hollywood folks in particular, it does happen & it can happen to anybody.

2) Even if an actor has done some bad movies, if he does something good I try to take it as just that without bringing his personal character into it. Good people do bad things, bad people do good things. Becuz there's "bad" & "good" in all of us.

3) Probably I'll watch the movie just to see how Jesus Christ is portrayed, irregardless of the character of Mel Gibson, as the movie is not about the life of Mel Gibson but the life of Jesus Christ.

That's all IMHOFWIW.

Bisulatino:

For more on this Polanski uproar see this thread:

http://www.malesurvivor.org/cgi-local/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=11;t=000045

Victor

Bisulatino

This is the holywood hero -

Nominated for seven Oscars, including best picture, is The Pianist,
directed by Roman Polanksi, who sexually assaulted Geimer when she was
13 years old.


Polanski was charged with six counts of assault but
having served 43 days in jail agreed to plead guilty to the least
serious charge ? statutory rape ? in exchange for his freedom.

At the last minute the judge, Laurence J Rittenband, changed his mind
and demanded Polanski stand trial. Faced with up to 50 years in jail, he
fled to Paris and has been unable to return to the US since for fear of
being arrested.

At the risk of making people angry...

I don't feel that a person's past or character should be taken into account when he is being considered for an award based on artistic merit. Polanski is a sick asshole for doing what he did, but the award was just for "best director," meaning he was the best at directing. It didn't make any assumptions about the rest of his character. That's just how I feel about it. If Jeffery Dahmer or somebody horrible like that made a film that won an award I would not contest it... it's just a judgement of the film and the director's ability, not a judgement of whether the director is a worthwhile person or not.

Hope that doesn't upset anybody... it's just how I see it.

I agree Sick Pup, with what you are saying. However, it seems that at least in recent years Hollywood has tried to stand for something. Most Hollywood people seem to be ostensibly trying to make the world a better place, but look at how the world has degenerated since the medium of film has made it's mark. Everybody is trying to make the world a better place, but a better place for them, not for everyone. Movie stars have promoted self serving views on sex and marraige, in doing so, making the world a better place for them, but look at how those ideas have effected thier children. Read some of Victor's posts to see how this forward new thinking has effected his life.

If it feels good do it seems to be the gospel of Hollywood and that is the gospel of all of our perps.

Peace
MO Healing

Sick Puppy-A bigger problem I see is that because Roman Polanski is a sick asshole with connections. He can make movies that people will go to see because Hollywood tells us to go see it. He will make more money and continue to live very comfortably and well in Paris for the rest of his days. We are making life for this criminal easy and acceptable. The Academy Award is the biggest achievement in filmmaking. We are cheering him on for doing what he did when his ass should be sitting in a jail cell. Instead we give him an award and say everyone go to this great movie and let's make this guy a ton of money. He does not deserve that right and we are the fools giving it to him.

Shades of Gray, I saw an article about the subject of Mel Gibson possibly being under attack in the future, and the next day I saw a tabloid with his picture on the cover for drinking too much or something. I'll look for it. Just because Mel Gibson may (or may not, I don't know) believe in standing up for what is right, doesn't mean he wont get attacked and dragged through the mud.

As far as drawing conclusions based on meeting someone, I spent about 8 hours total over the house of a huge television star over the course of two days and I drew the conclusion that he was the nicest guy in the world. Then I read the autobiogrphy he gave me, and I couldn't believe it was the same guy. He seems to be very misguided to say the least. I really believe he means well though, but so did the 9-11 highjackers.

The reason I say maybe Mel has had a change of heart is because his old movies are full of violence, revenge, fornication, adultery etc etc. I think Jesus would tell him he would rather have him follow his words before he goes out and makes a movie about them.

Peace
MO Healing

There's a lot of myths surrounding the movie biz. And while I think movies are often pretty lowbrow and crummy, the truth is that things aren't really degenerating. The first famous movie ever made was DW Griffith's Birth of a Nation, an epic celebrating the Klu Klux Klan. There are, it seems as always, good and bad movies out there right now.

I too felt a pang when Polanski won, and I'm an enormous fan. He understands darkness and psychological trauma better than most filmmakers out there, and his films have helped me heal in many ways - particularly Chinatown, a beautiful film that delves into the pain of incest and childhood sexual abuse. But I had a girlfriend who lived with Polanski for a year - when she was thirteen! She said it was hell and that he was beyond sadistic and depraved.

But maybe we should cut him some slack. I think he's a sick, tortured soul who has found an artform to honestly express himself, and like the shrinks who consult Perps, he deserves a voice as well. An Academy Award? Who knows. One beneficial result of his win is the massive press blitz about his past that hit the news, including an interview with his victim who never would have seen airtime had it not been for his nomination.

Food for thought.

I was thinking what ever happened to Frank Capra, and I remembered my Dad used to listen to this country song by the Statler Brothers when I was a kid, it came out in 1973.

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO RANDOLPH SCOTT ?

Everbody knows when you go to the show
You can't take the kids along
You've gotta read the paper and know the code
of G, PG and R and X
You gotta know what the movie's about
Before you even go
Tex Ritter's gone and Disney's dead
The screen is filled with sex.

CHORUS
Whatever happened to Randolph Scott
ridin' the range alone
Whatever happened to Gene and Tex
And Roy and Rex, the Durango Kid
Whatever happened to Randolph Scott
His horse, plain as can be
Whatever happened to Randolph Scott
Has happened to the best of me.

Everbody's tryin' to make a comment
About our doubts and fears
True Grit's the only movie
I've really understood in years
You gotta take your analyst along
To see if it's fit to see
Whatever happened to Randolph Scott
Has happened to the best of me.

CHORUS
Whatever happened to Johnny Mack Brown
And Alan "Rocky" Lane
Whatever happened to Lash LaRue
I'd love to see them again
Whatever happened to Smiley Burnett
Tim Holt and Gene Autry
Whatever happened to all of these
Has happened to the best of me.

Peace
MO Healing