Cesar Winners: "Les Misérables" is tops... but now we're curious about "La Belle Epoque"
Saturday, February 29, 2020 at 12:00PM Yes yes, we were supposed to be taking the weekend off. But we forgot about the Césars held yeseterday in France. So...
Cast & Crew of "Les Miserables" at the Cesars
While Roman Polanski's "J'Accuse!" led the César nominations in the end it lost "Best Film" to France's Oscar nominated Les Misérables. Both films won multiple prizes. Curiously considering two prizes for Polanski himself, two films which center on the sexual abuse of kids (By the Grace of God and "M") also won Césars. The dramedy La Belle Epoque, starring longtime gallic icons Daniel Auteuil and Fanny Ardant, also made a strong showing with 3 wins. A complete list of winners, some stats, and the trailer to La Belle Epoque are after the jump...
Best Film
- “La Belle Epoque,” Nicolas Bedos
- “By The Grace of God,” François Ozon
- “The Specials,” Eric Toledano, Olivier Nakache
- “An Officer And A Spy,” Roman Polanski
- “Les Miserables,” Ladj Ly ★
- “Portrait Of A Lady On Fire,” Céline Sciamma
- “Oh Mercy,” Arnaud Desplechin
Best Director
- François Ozon, “By The Grace of God” (5th nom in this category)
- Eric Toledano, Olivier Nakache, “The Specials” (3rd nom together in this category)
- Roman Polanski, “An Officer And A Spy” ★ (5th nom AND 5th win in this category)
- Ladj Ly, “Les Miserables” (1st nom, debut film)
- Céline Sciamma, “Portrait Of A Lady On Fire” (2nd nom in this category)
- Arnaud Desplechin, “Oh Mercy” (5th nom in this category, 1 previous win)
Yes, Polanski has won every time he's been nominated as a director at the Césars, starting with Tess (1979) which also nabbed him an Oscar nomination for direction.
Best Actress
Emmanuelle Devos with César winner Anaîs Demoustier at the Cesars
- Anais Demoustier, “Alice and The Mayor” ★ (4th nom, 1st win)
- Eva Green, “Proxima” (1st nomination)
- Adele Haenel, “Portrait Of A Lady On Fire” (7th nom, 1 previous win)
- Chiara Mastroianni, “Chambre 212” (2nd nom)
- Noemie Merlant, “Portrait Of A Lady On Fire” (2nd nom)
- Doria Tillier, “La belle époque” (2nd nom)
- Karin Viard, “The Perfect Nanny” (13th nom, 3 previous wins)
Best Actor
Roschdy Zem takes Best Actor at the 45th Césars
- Daniel Auteuil, “La belle époque” (14th nom, 2 previous wins)
- Damien Bonnard, “Les Miserables” (3rd nom)
- Vincent Cassel, “The Specials” (7th nom, 1 previous win)
- Jean Dujardin, “An Officer and a Spy” (3rd nom)
- Reda Kateb, “The Specials” (3rd nom, 1 previous win)
- Melvil Poupaud, “By The Grace of God” (4th nom)
- Roschdy Zem, “Oh Mercy” ★ (6th nom... though not all were for acting)
Best Foreign Film
- “Pain and Glory,”
- “The Young Ahmed,” Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne
- “Joker,” Todd Phillips
- “Lola vers la mer,” Laurent Micheli
- “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” Quentin Tarantino
- “Parasite,” Bong Joon-Ho ★
- “The Traitor,” Marco Bellocchio
Parasite dominated this particular award in just about every country. But it's worth noting that this was Pedro Almodóvar's fourth time up for Best Foreign Film at the Césars. Volver, All About My Mother, and Tie Me Up Tie Me Down were also nominated in their years with All About... winning as it did at the Oscars.
Best Documentary
"M"
- “68, mon père et les clous,” Samuel Bigiaoui
- “The Cordillera of Dreams,” Patricio Guzman
- “Lourdes,” Thierry Demaizière, Alain Teurlai
- “M,” Yolande Zauberman ★
- “Wonder Boy Olivier Rousteing, ne sous X,” Anissa Bonnefont
While "M"'s poster features the smiling image above, it's actually a documentary about sexual abuse. It follows the actor Menahem Lang (Promised Land, Jellyfish) returning to the town of his childhood east of Tel Aviv where he was repeatedly raped and the closed utra Orthodox community that makes discussing such things difficult.
Best First Film
- “Atlantics,” Mati Diop
- “In the Name of the Land, Edouard Bergeon
- “Wolf’s Call,” Antonin Baudry
- “Les Miserables,” Ladj Ly
- “Papicha,” Mounia Meddour ★
We haven't yet seen Papicha (Algeria's most recent Oscar submission) but we're a bit sad that Atlantics couldn't take any Césars. Have you watched it on Netflix yet?
Best Original Screenplay
- Nicolas Bedos, “La Belle Epoque” ★
- François Ozon, “By The Grace of God”
- Eric Toledano, Olivier Nakache, “The Specials”
- Ladj Ly, Giordano Gederlini, Alexis Manenti, “Les Miserables”
- Céline Sciamma, “Portrait Of A Lady On Fire”
Best Adapted Screenplay
- Costa-Gavras, “Adults in the Room”
- Roman Polanski, Robert Harris, “An Officer and a Spy” ★
- Jeremy Clapin, Guillaume Laurent, “I Lost My Body”
- Arnaud Desplechin, Lea Mysius, “Oh Mercy”
- Dominik Moll, Gilles Marchand, “Seuls les bêtes”
Best Supporting Actress
Fanny Ardant with La Belle Epoque's writer/director Nicolas Bedos. They both won Césars.
- Fanny Ardant, “La Belle Époque” ★
- Josiane Balasko, “By The Grace of God”
- Laure Calamy, “Seules les Bêtes ”
- Sara Forestier, “Oh Mercy”
- Hélène Vincent, “The Specials”
Best Supporting Actor
Swann Arlaud
- Swann Arlaud, “By The Grace of God,” ★ (3rd nom, 2nd win)
- Grégory Gadebois, “An Officer and a Spy” (3rd nom, 1 previous win)
- Louis Garrel, “An Officer and a Spy” (6th nom, 1 previous win)
- Benjamin Lavernhe, “Mon Inconnue” (2nd nom)
- Denis Ménochet, “By The Grace of God’ (2nd nom)
Best Female Newcomer
Lyna Khoudri, who starred in Algeria's Oscar submission Papicha won Best Female Newcomer
- Luàna Bajrami, “Portrait of a Young Lady on Fire”
- Céleste Brunnquell, “Les Éblouis”
- Lyna Khoudri, “Papicha” ★
- Nina Meurisse, “Camille”
- Mama Sané, “Atlantics,”
Best Male Newcomer
Alexis Menenti won Best Male Newcomer for "Les Miserables"
- Anthony Bajon, “In the Name of the Land ”
- Benjamin Lesieur, “The Specials”
- Alexis Manenti, “Les Miserables” ★
- Liam Pierron, “La Vie Scolaire”
- Djebril Zonga, “Les Miserables”
Best Animated Feature
- “La Fameuse Invasion des Ours en Sicile,” Lorenzo Mattotti
- “Swallows of Kabul” Zabou Breitman
- “I Lost My Body,” Jérémy Clapin ★
Best Editing
- Anny Danché, Florent Vassault, “La belle époque” (1st nom for each)
- Laure Gardette, “By The Grace of God” (3rd nom, 1 previous win)
- Dorian Rigal-Ansous, “The Specials” (3rd nom)
- Hervé de Luze, “An Officer and a Spy” (10th nomination, 3 previous wins)
- Flora Volpeliere, “Les Miserables” ★ (1st nom, 1st win)
Best Cinematography
- Nicolas Bolduc, “La Belle Epoque” (1st nom)
- Pawel Edelman, “An Officer and a Spy” (3rd nom, 1 previous win)
- Julien Poupard, “Les Miserables” (1st nom)
- Claire Mathon, ” Portrait of a Young Lady on Fire” ★ (2nd nom, 1st win)
- Irina Lubtchansky “Oh Mercy” (2nd nom)
A deserved win for Claire Mathon, who also exquisitely shot Atlantics this past year, but why was this the only prize that Portrait won? Why don't the French love it as much as we do?
Best Costumes
Jean du Jardin in Chavanne costumes
- Emmanuelle Youchnoski, "La Belle Epoque" (1st nom)
- Thierry Delettre, "Cyrano My Love" (1st nom)
- Pascaline Chavanne, "An Officer and a Spy" ★ (9th nom, 2nd win)
- Alexandra Charles, "Jeanne" (2nd nom)
- Dorothee Guiraud, "Portrait of a Lady on Fire (1st nom)
Best Production Design
- Stephane Rozenbaum, "La Belle Epoque" ★ (2nd nom, 2nd win)
- Benoit Barouh, "The Wolf's Call" (2nd nom)
- Franck Schwarz, "Cyrano My Love" (1st nom)
- Jean Rabasse, "An Officer and a Spy" (6th nom, 2 previous wins)
- Thomas Grezaud, "Portrait of a Lady on Fire" (1st nom)
Best Original Score
- Fatima Al Qadiri, "Atlantics" (1st nom, debut film)
- Alexandre Desplate, "An Officer and a Spy" (10th nom, 3 previous wins)
- Dan Levy, "I Lost My Body" ★ (1st nom, 1st win)
- Marco Casanova & Kim Chapiron, "Les Miserables" (1st nom)
- Gregoire Hetzel, "Roubaix, Une Lumiere" (4th nom)
Best Sound
- "La Belle Epoque"
- "The Wolf's Call" ★
- "An Officer and a Spy"
- "Les Miserables"
- "Portrait of a Lady on Fire"
Other Prizes...
Audience Award
- Les Misérables ★
Animated Short
- La Nuit Des Sacs Plastiques ★
Here's the trailer to LA BELLE EPOQUE if you're curious... It's got a bit of a Westworld without all the violence vibe or Fantasy Island without all the Mr Roarke and Tattoo or The Truman Show without all the deception. We're officially curious.
So the nom/win tally went like so
- AN OFFICER AND A SPY - 12 nominations / 3 wins
- LES MISERABLES -10 nominations / 4 wins
- PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIRE - 10 nominations / 1 win
- LA BELLE EPOQUE - 9 nominations / 3 wins
- BY THE GRACE OF GOD - 8 nominations / 1 win
- THE SPECIALS - 8 nominations / 0 wins
- OH MERCY - 6 nominations
- I LOST MY BODY - 3 nominations / 2 wins
- ATLANTICS - 3 nominations / 0 wins
- PAPICHA - 2 nominations / 2 wins
- THE WOLF'S CALL (LE CHANT DU LOUP) - 2 nominations / 1 win
- CYRANO MY LOVE and SEULES LES BETES and IN THE NAME OF THE LAND- 2 nominations / 0 wins
Reader Comments (59)
Les Misérables is one of the best films of the year.
Will see Portrait of a Lady on Fire Tuesday.
Ew Polanski. Seeing their foreign film category is very cool. Would make a great piece investigating the history of Best Foreign Film at the Cesars. Maybe a Claudio, Glenn or Eric piece?
"Portrait of a Lady on Fire" was the best film of the year.
"Les Misérables" is solid, but a pretty conventional policier overall, with a muddled perspective.
"Portrait" is crap so it's good that "Les Miserables" won (though it should have been "An Officer and a Spy").
And two wins for Polanski himself! Awesome! <3 <3 <3
I haven't seen Fanny Ardant in anything since 8 Women, so it's great to see her still looking amazing and adding hardware to the trophy shelf.
I will forever admire Adele Haenel and the entire Portrait of a Lady on Fire not just for the movie they made, but for what they did when Polanski won.
@starlit: They behaved like sad morons who did not know how to loose.
Polanski won becaue he was the best. :)
These results feel a bit like a slap in the face. Portrait of a Lady on Fire gets only one award, Polanski wins two including Best Director. To add insult to injury, Claire Denis, a director chronically disrespected by the Cesars, is the one to present the directing prize. Kudos for Adele Haenel and the other members of the Portrait team that walked out. I can't imagine the anger she, who was raped by a director when she was a minor, felt in a room so openly celebrating a rapist like Polanski.
I know many will say we should separate the artist from the art, and I get that to a point. However, even taking Polanski's infamy away, J'Accuse is only a solid period piece, at best. At worst, it's an inconsistent procedural wearing a patina of moldy prestige.
It's dispiritingly banal and full of unnecessary flashbacks, awkwardly inserted into the first half of a film that forgets it was using that mechanism once the plot thickens. Cinema continues to tell the story of Dreyfuss while completely ignoring his perspective as is tradition with these historical dramas. While the recreation of 19th century Paris was beguiling in its immersive detail, what Polanski does with that evocative setting is rather uninteresting. Solid work, nothing special.
If another director had been responsible, I doubt anyone would be proclaiming J'Accuse as an unimpeachable masterpiece capable of justifying all these accolades. It didn't deserve all of this, not by a longshot. I can understand Costume Design, and Production Design, which the film didn't even win, but directing and screenplay are a couple of steps too far.
These Césars felt like a middle finger from the French industry towards those that demand the betterment of values and procedures, for those who fight against rape culture and dare to criticize the César's notorious habit of being unashamed retrogrades and reactionaries too.
Shame on the Césars and endless applause for Haenel!
This is only your opinion, Alves. "An Officer and a Spy" isn't, obviously, Polanski's best work but is very good in its own terms and is far better directed than majority of movies of the last year so...
Yeah, it was a middle finger to Haenel and those who criticize Cesar Awards but how can you not show middle finger to people who behave like Haenel did, walking out, disrespecting her fellow nominees, just moments before "Les Miserables" won 'best picture'. Polanski didn't even show up so all those people were walking out when the 'best picture' category was presented. Disgusting. She should be banned from the Cesar Academy for eternity.
And Polanski won also 6 years ago (for "Venus in Fur") and Haenel was attending the ceremony (she won also, for "Suzanne") - why she wasn't disgusted by Polanski at that time? His story is older than 6 years. It wasn't trendy enough then? Or maybe her protest this year wasn't caused by Polanski's victory but rather by her loss. She couldn't cope with being defeated.
She is a horrible human being.
Someone -- Of course it's my opinion. Whatever judgment we make regarding movies is our opinion, there's no objective film criticism.
Even if I agreed with your other assessments regarding Haenel, which I don't, how can you say she's a horrible human being for being rude while Polanski is worthy of applause while being a child rapist? I'm sorry, but even if Haenel was monstrously rude, that wouldn't be justification for calling her a horrible human being in comparison to a literal child rapist.
Well, it happened 44 years ago. After such a long time everybody deserves forgiveness.
And it wasn't a rape but only 'statutory rape' - which is a legal term in American law but isn't a RAPE actually so...
Adèle Haenel is having none of this.
Someone -- Ignoring your ideas about forgiveness, how is statutory rape not rape? Do you believe a child can give consent?
Well i think If we are calling someone a terrible human being it must be polanski not haenel , Regardless of how great directot he is!
Claudio, respectfully, I'd suggest that Someone is being a troll and not worth this time.
Arkaan -- You're probably right. Thank you, genuinely.
Actually, Someone has some valid points though it was Polanski that actually took the high road and not show up. He didn't want those stupid bitches overshadowing the awards and he didn't want to be the center of attention. With the exception of what he did in 1977, is there any truth to these accusations? He's defended himself too many times and at least has been honest about his faults and what he did in 1977. Yet, what about these accusers? Are they really telling the truth?
IMO Polanski is a very nice person. Very likable 86-year old guy who is still a very good director and is worth recognition.
And yeah, I think that in this story between Polanski and Samantha Geimer there was no true rape. But even if there was, IT WAS 44 YEARS AGO. Who cares after such a long time? In some countries there is a 'non-claim' in law rules that even forbids to pursue the accused after such a long time.
I love how the French industry felt zero pressure to change the date of their awards to match the Oscars. Take note Baftas!
Ozon now has lost 16 times! It is really upsetting.
I adore Fanny Ardant but I was rooting for Balasko for playing Arlaud's Mother Courage.
I'm very happy that Les Misérables won specially Alexis Manenti.
J'accuse is visually gorgeous and it has a very strong opening scene. I'm sad that you won't see it in the US. Banning movies is not very progressive.
La Belle Epoque is a wonderfully charming movie and a must-see. The 3 awards make total sense. It's nostalgic without being revisionist, it's tecky without being overbearing, Dora Tillier is a powerhouse and a hidden gem, the script is smart even when it doesn't make sense, and if you read a bit about the director / screenwriter and his relationship to the lead actress, you'll realize how layered and meta it becomes.
I haven't left the movie theatre with that big a smile in a long time.
First it was the hateful comments about a child actress (Quvenzhané Wallis). Now it's dismissing statutory rape (which is rape) and calling women bitches. My, the contempt for nearly half the world's population is ramping up around here...
Fanny Ardant defended Polanski on the red carpet. Said he was "one of the family".
On March 10, 1977, 43 year old film director Roman Polanski drugged and raped 13 year old Samantha Gailey. The act took place in Jack Nicholson’s home. His then girlfriend Anjelica Huston arrived at the home and banged on the locked bedroom door which Polanski refused to open.
The victim testified that Polanski orally, vaginally and anally raped her despite her begging him to stop. Polanski’s attorney plea bargained to a lesser charge of engaging in unlawful sexual intercourse to avoid the charges of rape by use of drugs, perversion, sodomy and lewd and lascivious acts upon a child under 14 years of age. Upon learning, that the lesser charge would still result in a prison sentence, Polanski fled to London and then France to avoid extradition.
In 1988, Gailey (now Geimer) sued Polanski and settled out of court, though in 1995 Geimer again filed papers that Polanski had not paid the amount determined. In 2009, Geimer filed to have the charges dismissed stating that the on-going publicity and the media’s focus on lurid details continued to victimize her. Because Polanski was charged and pled guilty, there is no statute of limitations. Her efforts to stop the notoriety failed.
In 2010, Swiss police detained Polanski when he arrived in the country to get an award. Polanski published an open letter on the Internet stating that he could “remain silent no longer!” The fugitive claimed he had been promised that the 42 days he had served before the sentencing was the only prison time he would face. It wasn’t fair. A number of celebrities, including Harvey Weinstein, spoke out in favor of Polanski. The Swiss released Polanski and did not deport him to the US.
Polanski and his wife, actress Emmanuelle Seigner, have been married for thirty years and have two children. Mr. Seigner is three years younger than Samantha Geimer.
I contend that people who have not known the life long agony of childhood sexual assault cannot speak for its victims. The repeated comment from apologists who insist we must separate the art from the artist may work for men who have been dead for centuries. Publicly celebrating a living rapist is another matter. I contend justice is more important than a tub of popcorn and a decent flick.
Lastly, I think this is essential information. Polanski lured the 13 year old girl by approaching the girl’s mother and offering Samantha a photo session for an upcoming issue of Vogue where he was to serve as a guest editor. The photos he took of the young girl “disappeared.” As a result of Geimer’s 1988 lawsuit, the never seen photos which were stored in Polanski’s attorney’s office were brought forth. Geimer used one as the cover of her book, The Girl: a Life in the Shadow of Roman Polanski. Here is a link so that you can look at the face of the child who was drugged and repeatedly raped by a famous 43 year old man.
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/roman-polanski-rape-victim-unveils-591015
I found this list on Twitter and I can't help but wonder how many of them would sign it again https://www.indiewire.com/2009/09/over-100-in-film-community-sign-polanski-petition-55821/
James, it might be worth doing some further research. Geimer did indeed testify "that Polanski orally, vaginally and anally raped her despite her begging him to stop." Since then she has repeatedly said that the unscrupulous prosecution team all but forced her to exaggerate what happened and that that official testimony was essentially inaccurate. She remains furious that people are still using her name to attack Polanski and says if you care about her as the victim you'll stop. If you actually do care about her story, you should read her book on the subject.
Dan Humphrey,
I read the book. I also know all too well that the stories of sexual assault survivors will change over time as they attempt to cope with their pain. I don't presume to know which account is accurate.
However, if you suspect that the rape charges were exaggerated, perhaps should read the rape allegations against Polanski by Renate Langer who (then 15) reports she was repeatedly raped in 1972 or Charlotte Lewis who (then 16) reports she was "sexually abused in the worst possible way" in 1973 or Robin M. who (then 16) reports she was "sexually victimized" in 1973 or Valentine Monnier who (then 18) reports she was drugged and brutally raped in 1975.
Please read that fu**ing Roman by Polanski before call him a rapist.
Anyway, we are here for the movies. So I'm very happy that a beautiful film as J'accuse snatchd 3 deserved prizes
@James: Accusation of sexual assault are now trendy but no one believes in them unless they are proven in court. At least it should look like that and it looks like that among intelligent people. :)
"My, the contempt for nearly half the world's population is ramping up around here..."
? :)
I love women like Brigitte Bardot, Catherine Deneuve or Fanny Ardant who said some things in defense of Polanski or were against #meToo. It shows that they are intelligent and great and have my admiration. :)
Yay for Roman Polanski's talent in directing!
All the crying outrage because the female director of "Portrait" was not nominated for an Oscar... And not even here she is winning something.
Please post the pic of Charlotte Gainsbourg with silk stockings and a leg plaster.
As a programmer of a local Filmfestival I saw a private screening of La Belle Époque last July with a couple of collegues. Within 30 minutes after the screening, we decided that it would be are opening film for our Festival in September 2019. It had all the right ingredients for it, as you don't want your opening to be very heavy, there still needs to be a opening party afterward, so you want something good, but also light at heart. This was a perfect, and the responses of our audiences were outstanding.
Someone - Remember that raping a minor is acting much worse than "sad morons who did not know how to loose". Or 'lose'. I have to be pedantic with an imbecile such as yourself. It's evident that basic information is not processed by your feeble brain very easily. If you think rape is worthy of forgiveness than so is what you would consider "rude", and at a much more expedited rate if you are consistent in you so-called logic. Then again you are already "it's not rape-rape"-ing, so we know to disregard your comment."Alleged" imposters adding insightful and positive comments under the Peggy Sue name got removed from the comment section, yet your objectively harmful and disgusting views are still here for all to see is certainly an indictment on Nathaniel. Nathaniel dear, with Claudio, Glenn and Eric doing the heavy lifting on this site content-wise, the least you can do is show some decency and consistency in comment moderation. Love you, but you find faux civility a weird hill to die upon. And of course one of your protected breed, thevoid# (can't be bothered to look it up again) is espousing trash from their gullet again, but silence is fine. Plus the aforementioned Peggy Sue flippantly talking about separation of art and artist when the artist is an uncontested criminal fleeing from justice. This strange favoritism you have takes away from great commenters like James who may not have the history of favor of you, but add the most to the comments section. Art made when you are avoiding justice and the morally right thing to do is not worthy of awards people.
Atlantics is a police procedural, a labor dispute story, a love story, a refugee drama, and a ghost story all in one. I thought it was hauntingly good. It definitely isn't for everyone, but it was for me. Last I checked, it was streaming on Netflix. Recommended!
@Hey Zeus: Look, it's good that you are a piece of shit but you don't have to show it publicly. :)
Polanski is great. He's almost like a God of Cinema. He deserves all honors which he gets.
I don't care what he did 44 years ago. Awards are for art not for being a saint.
But I am aware of the fact that stupid people like yourself can't understand the obvious. :)
But hey, whatever.
He WON <3 and you can't do anything about it now. :P
Art won, stupidity lost! <3
Alexis Menenti looks interesting...
I know it will be uncomfortable, but I have to point out that after all the pedophile scandals, Woody Allen films are still constantly celebrated here by a lot of people. Yes a lot of people on this site. You know who you are.
(To Someone, void, Peggy Sue, etc.) Keep your seat, trash.
Another uncomfortable fact is the Polanski petition. Petition-signers include: Wim Wenders, David Lynch, Tilda Swinton, Pedro Almodovar, Gael Garcia Bernal, Martin Scorsese, Wes Anderson, Penelope Cruz, Costa Gavras, Ariel Dorfman, Guillermo del Toro, Wong Kar Waï.
Well Mattie my dear, Like most intellectuals, they're intensely stupid.
Rape apologists in the comment section? Groundbreaking.
@Sam - It is so unfair to compare Polanski to Allen. Both went to court, one was guilty, the other one not guilty. One left the country because he knew he did it, the other one continued the process as stated. I really do not understan why people call Allen a rapist since the authorities have already stated that he is not. It did was a false report and Mia Farrow should have been investigated as well for domestic violence and parenting allienating. So please, Polanski and Allen do not belong on the same room.
Apparently, Natalie Portman and Isabelle Huppert were also on the 2009 Polanski list. One of the two apologized.
And why people should apologize for this list?
Only those who DID NOT SIGN it should apologize. To Polanski.
@Mattie Ross: It's better to be trash than you so thanks, you moron. :)
Everyone: What happened to politeness? We've all got time to think about the responses we compose before we hit "create post". I like reading this site, because even though we share enthusiasms, we don't all think alike, so we can all learn from each other, but while there are lots of good points buried in this comment thread, some of you are muffling your own arguments by insulting each other.
I agree with MARK.
Woody Allen and Polanski are not the same case. Allen has been working for over 40 years with hundreds of actresses and have never face another acusation of harassment, rape, or whatsoever. He was found not guilty in two separate lawsuits. The guy even took a lying detector test, while Mia Farrow refused to do so. The situation itself is very controverse, with Ronan and Dylan telling one story and the older brother, Moses, saying the complete opposite.
About Polanski: great director, but, with all those accusations, it's hard to think he isn´t a rapist.
When I see people on the right engage in lynch-mob culture ("three strikes and you're out" laws, capital punishment for all murders--at least those committed by racial minorities, guilty as soon as accused, etc.) it makes me angry. When I see people on the left engage in lynch mob culture ("women NEVER lie about sexual assault," "once you've made a mistake in terms of sexual behavior, your career should be over, period," etc.) I just want to cry. I guess in some deep way, conservatives and liberals really are the same on the basics. Only the details differ.