A small victory

[yendi]

Emma Thompson has been convinced to have her named pulled from the list of people who support raping children. Still doesn't excuse her stupidity in putting her name on that list in the first place (and sorry, I don't buy any of the excuses), but it's a small step.

Note that Wes Anderson's name remains on that list, and he's unrepentant in his pro-rape stance, which is why The Fantastic Mr. Fox is off my radar this fall. As far as I know, the only other November film directed by one of the rape-supporters is Broken Embraces (which, as a bonus, stars petition-signing rape apologist Penelope Cruz), directed by Pedro Almodóvar. Fortunately, there are plenty of other films to spend your money on this month.

Comments

[coyotegoth.livejournal.com]

I'm almost dreading the release of Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus, for just that reason: I haven't missed a Gilliam in a theater since Jabberwocky.

[robyn-ma.livejournal.com]

Oh, c'mon. Not everyone who signed the petition is a 'rape supporter.' By that reasoning, is Samantha Geimer also a rape supporter, since she's been saying for years that Polanski should be let go?

And will the boycott extend to everyone who works with the 'pro-rape' directors, since by working with them they legitimize the 'rape apologist' stance far more than seeing a film directed by a 'rape supporter'? If so, your options in entertainment are going to be awfully limited.

I mean, we get it. Polanski did the crime, now he's most likely going to do the time, the petition didn't work. I can see boycotting Polanski's films, but boycotting all these other people? Doesn't do anyone a whole lot of good.

[hinj.livejournal.com]

ah, but it's the American way. Boycott with your dollars. It's the ONLY way anyone will listen.

[28bytes.livejournal.com]

No offense, but I don't think it's particularly fair to use the victim's position on the matter as a way to wave away the culpability these people have in publicly standing by Polanski.

[yendi]

FIrst, it's not a boycott (which is an organized attempt to foment change). This is just me deciding how and where I wish to spend my money. As I've said before on a similar topic (OSC's homophobia and book-buying), there are more enjoyable in any given year than I'll have time to see anyway; if someone signs this petition, I can choose to support other artists.

As far as the petition itself goes, yeah, it's rape-enabling. Granted, to quote what I said a couple of months ago, "I have no reason to believe that anyone who signed the petition gives a shit about anything but the fact that their friend or hero was arrested," but they've certainly had time to think through the implications since then (and if Thompson could have her name removed, others clearly could as well).

Geimer -- who, like all rape victims, has been put through more than her share of wringers since the rape -- wanting the case to go away is not all like the folks signing the petition.

And as far folks who work with the pro-rape directors, it's tough, but A) I don't see many of them having a choice while working in the industry, and B) being able to follow everyone who signs the petition. Signing the petition, angry as it makes me, isn't the same as actually committing rape, and I don't expect everyone in Hollywood to be keeping up with everyone who made a statement on the topic.

well

[hamlet423.livejournal.com]

I think its been said before--Brett Ratner's support for Polanski should be reason enough not to support him. The evidence? All of his movies? Of note, saw Michael Mann's "Manhunter" and despite poor version of the Harris book, much more fun to watch than "Red Dragon." If its not a Rush Hour sequel, Ratner is hopeless. Polanski has hardly been living like a pauper in paris, winning oscars, and avoiding the ultimate issue--even being a great director is not really an excuse for getting a 13 year old drug and then drugged. " I thought she was 18" excuse didn't work for Luis Polonia, it ain't gonna work here..