Revisting Roman Polanski and AMPAS, and other Tuesday thoughts
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) invited 928 people to join their ranks this year. One of those people was actress Emmanuelle Seigner. She has been married to director Roman Polanski since 1989. She is refusing the chance to join AMPAS and wrote an open letter to the French newspaper Le Journal du Dimanche as to why she is refusing the honor. Here is an excerpt:
"Of course, artists are not exempt from justice. But it should be the same justice that exists for all, not a justice that goes back on its word and violates its own principles. That was the case in Los Angeles in 1977, when his first confinement in prison was supposed to be his punishment. Today, Roman has served more than the maximum sentence for the offence committed."
She also makes the very valid point that in 2003 when Mr. Polanski was awarded a Best Director Oscar for The Piano, all of the same things about him were true as they were when he was recently expelled from AMPAS. What's changed since then is the #MeToo movement. Other than that, nothing is different.
Ms Seigner is incorrect about the 42 days that Mr. Polanski spent at the Chino State Prison being his "punishment." He was there for a 90 day psychiatric evaluation and was released early. He still had not been sentenced, The probation officer, examining psychiatrist and the victim were all recommending probation only. This is where the wheels of justice went awry. The judge in the case, Laurence J. Rittenbrand, had an ex parte communication with an attorney from the L.A. District Attorney's office regarding the case. As the result of that conversation, the judge was overheard saying he would send Polanski to prison and then order him deported. The ex parte communication was a violation of ethics law. But rather than let the system work, Polanski fled.
As a result, technically the other five charges that were dropped as part of his plea agreement are still open. Mr. Polanski has not completed his punishment at all. Now I happen to think that at this point, he shouldn't do any more time in jail. But that's assuming he comes back to L.A. and faces justice. He won't do that.
His wife has a point. He should have been expelled from the Academy before he was awarded an Oscar. That was a different era in Hollywood. Some of the people who stood and applauded when he was honored are among those who called out Harvey Weinstein.
* * *
That's the Sears Christmas catalog from 1973. Almost 45 years later, the last Sears in the city of Chicago will close its doors permanently this coming Sunday. They were the largest US retailer until 1989 when they were overtaken by Walmart. In 1969 the company decided to consolidate all of its non-store operations in Chicago in one location and the result was the 110 story Sears Tower (now known as the Willis Tower).
I remember waiting very impatiently for the Sears catalogs to arrive back in those days. They were wish books for so many of us, because even if we couldn't afford the things in the book, we could wish for them.
I don't know if all brick and mortar retail operators are doomed, but things don't look good for most of them.
* * *
* * *
Random ponderings:
That's a screenshot of Donte DiVincenzo's bank accounts, which contain $3.71. All the fuss about him having to live on that until he gets his first NBA paycheck on November 15th is a load of crap. Given that he's owed $2.5 million for his first season once he signs his rookie contract, he should have no trouble borrowing enough money to get through until that first check arrives.
What idiot involved in the Miss Massachusetts pageant this year thought it would be a good idea to put on a skit mocking the #MeToo movement?
As liberal as the state of New York is, I don't think declaring she is a Democratic Socialist will help Cynthia Nixon's chances of making the primary ballot through petition. Governor Andrew Cuomo got 95% of the delegates at the state convention.
How does someone manage to graduate from college, then law school and then be stupid enough to post really outrageous stuff on social media without knowing there will be blowback? I'm referring to Michael Selyem.
The more cases of necrotizing fasciitis that I read about, the more frightened I am of being potentially exposed to it. I don't see me going back into the ocean after reading about a man who may lose all of his limbs after contracting the deadly bacterial infection after he was crabbing. Yes, I'm a coward.
"Of course, artists are not exempt from justice. But it should be the same justice that exists for all, not a justice that goes back on its word and violates its own principles. That was the case in Los Angeles in 1977, when his first confinement in prison was supposed to be his punishment. Today, Roman has served more than the maximum sentence for the offence committed."
She also makes the very valid point that in 2003 when Mr. Polanski was awarded a Best Director Oscar for The Piano, all of the same things about him were true as they were when he was recently expelled from AMPAS. What's changed since then is the #MeToo movement. Other than that, nothing is different.
Ms Seigner is incorrect about the 42 days that Mr. Polanski spent at the Chino State Prison being his "punishment." He was there for a 90 day psychiatric evaluation and was released early. He still had not been sentenced, The probation officer, examining psychiatrist and the victim were all recommending probation only. This is where the wheels of justice went awry. The judge in the case, Laurence J. Rittenbrand, had an ex parte communication with an attorney from the L.A. District Attorney's office regarding the case. As the result of that conversation, the judge was overheard saying he would send Polanski to prison and then order him deported. The ex parte communication was a violation of ethics law. But rather than let the system work, Polanski fled.
As a result, technically the other five charges that were dropped as part of his plea agreement are still open. Mr. Polanski has not completed his punishment at all. Now I happen to think that at this point, he shouldn't do any more time in jail. But that's assuming he comes back to L.A. and faces justice. He won't do that.
His wife has a point. He should have been expelled from the Academy before he was awarded an Oscar. That was a different era in Hollywood. Some of the people who stood and applauded when he was honored are among those who called out Harvey Weinstein.
* * *
That's the Sears Christmas catalog from 1973. Almost 45 years later, the last Sears in the city of Chicago will close its doors permanently this coming Sunday. They were the largest US retailer until 1989 when they were overtaken by Walmart. In 1969 the company decided to consolidate all of its non-store operations in Chicago in one location and the result was the 110 story Sears Tower (now known as the Willis Tower).
I remember waiting very impatiently for the Sears catalogs to arrive back in those days. They were wish books for so many of us, because even if we couldn't afford the things in the book, we could wish for them.
I don't know if all brick and mortar retail operators are doomed, but things don't look good for most of them.
* * *
My husband just tried to help a neighbor with hedge trimming.— Honest is Easy (@MimiHuynh1) July 9, 2018
She yelled at him to get out of her country, he has no right to be here.
When I got outside I shut her down.
My husbby's a Vietnamese refugee who served the USN for 24 years. Please show him love.#TheResistance pic.twitter.com/VaJIAJgAAH
Then there's this:
Yet Republicans are talking about a lack of civility when protestors confront members of the Trump Administration, while remaining silent about this kind of thing.
Just because someone looks a certain way means nothing about whether or not they are citizens, here legally, or here illegally. Just as we cannot tell by looking that someone is actually handicapped and entitled to that blue placard and preferred parking.
Even if someone is not here legally, that is a matter for the immigration authorities. Individuals have no business telling anyone what they should and shouldn't be wearing. That's just as true for MAGA hats as it is for t-shirts with the flag of Puerto Rico.
What makes this worse is that the police officer on the scene did nothing. I will follow this case to see what, if anything, happens to this man.
* * *
Random ponderings:
That's a screenshot of Donte DiVincenzo's bank accounts, which contain $3.71. All the fuss about him having to live on that until he gets his first NBA paycheck on November 15th is a load of crap. Given that he's owed $2.5 million for his first season once he signs his rookie contract, he should have no trouble borrowing enough money to get through until that first check arrives.
What idiot involved in the Miss Massachusetts pageant this year thought it would be a good idea to put on a skit mocking the #MeToo movement?
As liberal as the state of New York is, I don't think declaring she is a Democratic Socialist will help Cynthia Nixon's chances of making the primary ballot through petition. Governor Andrew Cuomo got 95% of the delegates at the state convention.
How does someone manage to graduate from college, then law school and then be stupid enough to post really outrageous stuff on social media without knowing there will be blowback? I'm referring to Michael Selyem.
The more cases of necrotizing fasciitis that I read about, the more frightened I am of being potentially exposed to it. I don't see me going back into the ocean after reading about a man who may lose all of his limbs after contracting the deadly bacterial infection after he was crabbing. Yes, I'm a coward.
posted by me at 8:33 PM
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