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EXCLUSIVE: John C. Reilly will star alongside Jodie Foster, Kate Winslet and Christoph Waltz in God of Carnage, the Roman Polanski-directed feature adaptation of Yasmina Reza’s Tony-winning play. The play involved two sets of parents who meet after their kids brawl in the schoolyard, and they get along worse than the kids did. Reilly will play Michael, the role originated onstage by James Gandolfini, and Foster plays his wife. Filming begins January in Paris. Reilly, who just wrapped the Miguel Artera-directed Cedar Rapids alongside Sigourney Weaver and Ed Helms, is repped by WME and Framework Entertainment.
Jodie Foster and Kate Winslet To Star In Roman Polanski’s ‘God of Carnage’
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Why is it that no one seems to care that this dude raped a 13 year old?
I mean, I would sort of rule out working with someone who plead guilty to that.
Rape is an awful crime, no disputing that. My mother was raped. But human beings and sexuality are extremely complex. I have been told that the girl involved (now of course an adult) has expressed her desire that Polanski be left alone and the matter dropped. Polanski isn’t just another film director, he truly is a great artist – on the scale of Pablo Picasso or Hitchcock. Considering what the victim herself has said, and the fact of Polanski’s immense contribution to culture over the past several decades, a mature Society needs to balance what is best overall. What is lost if a genius is locked away and cannot create? Example: When I was in college a professor explained to us that a special effort was made to extricate Igor Stravinsky from Nazi occupied Europe. The question raised by this was the moral legitimacy of saving this one man while others were left to probably perish. Our professor, a very learned Jewish scholar, explained that it was not Stravinsky being saved, but rather it was all that this man was going to give mankind that was being saved from destruction. I don’t know precisely what happened between Polanski and the girl on the day in question – only they do. But I do know the value of great art to all of mankind. Who knows, perhaps the woman involved understands that value also.
Wow. So if it was your daughter he raped, you’d still be okay with it?
I don’t know. I’m pretty sure I would have pretty damn strong feelings about it! I might even want to kill the guy. But like I said, there are complexities to life that can butt up against our emotions and patterns of moral dogma. I am sure of one thing: that Polanski and the girl(now woman) are entitled to resolution. Does the woman feel that Polanski owes her restitution, or does she strongly feel he needs to be punished? She seems to have indicated otherwise. What you and I are talking about is something different, and this has to do with what we feel Polanski owes society as regards the rape. This is where I can’t ignore all that he has contributed to society via his genius and creativity. I don’t know what the right answer is. I’m just trying to point out certain details that should be considered. Do productive geniuses deserve special consideration? If so, how much? I don’t know, but I think such questions are valid.
perhaps the most disgusting comment I have ever read on the internet since it’s creation.
It is simply disturbing that hero worship can mitigate the rape of a child – and even more disgusting that these women, Jodie and Kate, would commit all their credibility on women’s issues to this man. You are the company you keep, and if you condone the behavior you are no better than the one who committed the act. <– that’s a period
Anyone dares speak thoughts obviously outside of your personal jurisdiction and their thoughts you will label “disgusting”. Be that as it may, it is not hero worship. I’ve never met Polanski. Maybe he’s a prick, I don’t know. I have seen his work and it can be transcendent and at the very forefront of the medium’s leading edge – perfection. I wisely am worshipful of the man’s gifts – but not of the man himself. Culture and the Arts are as air and water to the viability of our society. Great art keeps all of us alive as a society. That’s what’s at stake here – life or death. And as for “the rape” – where you there? What exactly went down all those years ago? I don’t know and (I assume) neither do you. By now, and due to a celebrity being involved, “the rape” has achieved mythical status. This somehow gives everyone license to pass judgment. It is a fact that teenagers are having sex all the time, and all over the world. Does this fact make rape OK? Of course not, but still hundreds of thousands of teenagers, globally, are freely engaging in sex even as I write these words. For what it’s worth I’ve experienced very young teenage girls coming-on to me. I chose not to respond and walked away. These advances were not provoked, and I was surprised by them. I was surprised partly because, in a way, I think I was naive. I was in my late 20s and even then my notion was that young teens are chaste. That was stupid of me. Just because I was virginal as a teen does not mean the rest of the world was following my lead. As a final word (I’m done posting on this) I’ll offer the following: If I magically could know for a fact that Polanski violently and forcibly had sex with a weeping teenage girl I would want him in a jail cell right now. That is the sort of thing I chose to label “disgusting” – not opposing views or ideas I may be uncomfortable with.
WOW are you ignorant. Since you do not know what happened when polanski RAPED this 13 year old girl I will tell you.
She was first given alcohol, then drugs, then she was analy raped. Polanski then blew his load in her rear end. He then left her.
So that is what happened you ignorant leftist scumbag.
Here is what should happen to POlanski the Rapist, he should be sent to a state prison where he has the same opportunities to be analy raped like his VICTIM.
As for his crappy films, who cares if this RAPIST never does anohter film. His films suck and nobody but the elite liberals like his crap anyway.
If that was my daughter, I would have killed him, not figuratively, literally.
LOck him up and throw away the key. He is a horrible sub-human that deserves what he gave to that LITTLE girl.
John,
Your logic is lacking. Basically, you are saying that because Polanski, through his art, is contributing so much to society he should be treated specially and forgiven his past crimes. Who is to evaluate Polanski’s contribution to society? What if many people think his movies are marginal? Will Polanski, through his art, contribute more to society than an EMT or ER nurse who works to save lives every day? Should that EMT be given a pass after raping a 13 year old girl.
Let us recap what Polanski did so many years ago: he gave a 13 year old girl quaaludes and champagne, then raped her orally, vaginally and anally. The girl asked him to stop, and he forced himself on her anyway. He pleaded guilty to the crime then left the country.
To build on M. Tienne’s question, would you be any less outraged if your 13 year old was raped by a famous movie director than a pipe-fitter, school teacher or common street bum? The special status and consideration afforded artists in our society disgusts me.
Joe, the sincerity, dignity, and intelligence of your post forces me to again write on this (against my earlier intentions). My understanding of the incident was that it was never brought to trial because Polanski fled. Actually he did not admit to rape, but rather unlawful sex due to a partner being under the age of consent (I seem to recall the age of consent in some countries can be as low as 12 or 13). Just this year the French courts essentially exonerated him, apparently based on their reading of the facts. Also, it seems the victim has been very vocal about what actually happened, and she claims that Polanski does not deserve to be incarcerated. I believe she now holds that the judge misrepresented her statements as to what occurred. In fact the only anger she expresses is at those who have used the incident as an excuse to attack Polanski (and what he represents) based on ignorance, personal biases or political motivations. As for your feelings regarding “The special status and consideration afforded artists in our society” I think I know what you are referring to (and I agree), but upon closer analysis I believe you will observe it is the wealthy who get special treatment in the courts, not our artists. Money can keep one out of jail, not talent. / You ask “What if many people think his movies are marginal?” The answer to this has to do with the very nature of a cogent and systematized culture. In order for a society to even have a viable culture there must be set parameters and a qualitative hierarchy that evolves, but nonetheless is academically recognized and respected. What this means is that a great work of art will not stop being great just because someone may decide they don’t like it. For example, I may visit Rome and proclaim Michelangelo’s DAVID to be crap, but fortunately our systematized culture protects the great sculpture from any such unwarranted attacks. Great art is not about what you like (or dislike), but rather about how much you know. Too many of our politicians don’t want you to know too much, and this is one reason why you will find a right-wing government has no interest in the arts. Art will make you smart.
2nd best director oscar coming for Polanski
Reilly has proven himself to be a great comic actor, but it was getting to the point where people forgot he became well-known as a dramatic actor.
So this will be good.
Yeah John C. Reilly has the chops – and more recent play on his resume – but whoa, he’s replacing Matt Dillon? It certainly “looked” better with him in the role. I can see Dillon yelling and grumbling through this piece (versus the other 3 leads) but Reilly? Not so much. I can see the whine behind his heavy brow. CYRUS didn’t dilute any of that belief. It’ll be a stretch for sure.
John C. Reilly = South Side FTW!
What happened to Matt Dillon? That was perfect casting. It was in the last blog post. Now, it’s gone.
i like Reilly, but what happened to
Matt Dillon? he was originally slotted
to play the part. and why was Gandolfini
not considered? he would have been
the obvious choice to redo his role
from Broadway.
Oh, no. Not John C. Reilly.
Great stage piece. Should not be made into a movie.
Polanski, still a criminal.
Movies? Culture? PIRATES, FRANTIC, THE NINTH GATE, OLIVER TWIST, TESS,… Where would we be without them? Polanski has made one near great film, CHINATOWN with an enormous help from a script and concept from Robert Towne. He has developed no new way of looking at film like Wells, Murnau, Scorsese, Willis, Altman, Fellini, Antonioni, Keaton, Kubrick, Kazan, and many others. Hitchcock and Picasso changed their artforms for all time. Polanski has made no lasting contribution to cinema. All of this has no relationship to the crime he admitted to committing.
Not a big fan of his, but come on. “Rosemary’s Baby”, “Repulsion” and “Knife In The Water” are big deals. There’s a reason why everyone still wants to work with him.
I Saw Rosemarys Baby…it sucked.
^^ this guy obviously hasn’t seen Rosemary’s Baby, Repulsion, and Knife in the Water.
I’m sorry but only in the movies could John C. Reilly be married to Jodie Foster. And in all honesty, once they cast Jodie, Gandolfini would not have worked either – he’s twice her size.
Yes, lucky for John… But didn’t Academy Award winner Marcia Gay Harden just win the Tony for her brilliant portrayal of this role?? Where’s Marcia?