I am trying to wrap my head around it when it comes to seeing his movies. I haven't seen a John Landis film since the Vic Morrow manslaughter (if you haven't read the book about that debacle, and how Landis acted during the trial, do). In that case, even if I hadn't thought Landis responsible, his reprehensible treatment of the trial would have me stay away.

Then again, banning Landis films is not a huge void in my cinematic experience. Polanski is something else. Also, Landis was filming when it occurred, so banning his movies makes easy sense. It wasn't something that occurred in his personal life.

I waffle and waver and don't fall down.

I am going to the Polanski film tonight. I am conflicted about it, but in some way I guess what the man produces trumps his awfulness as a person.

If you've read any of the Hitchcock biographies (other than the authorized one), there are some horrendous stories in there. Probably nothing on the level that Polanski went to, but if Hitchcock had been born several decades later, who knows.

Doesn't make me think less of his great films, but it makes me sad.

And I'm afraid artists of all sorts through history have been far worse than being just utter shitheels.

Does NOT excuse what Polanski did, but I'm also not going to avoid his movies because of it.

ION, finally saw the new Sherlock Holmes and DAMN that was a fun movie. Not brilliant plot-wise, but Downey and Law were so much damn fun, and the atmosphere was a nice balance of grunge and steampunk. Also, I liked the soundtrack (mainly because the dulcimer kept pinging me back to the Seven % Solution)

And I hope that RD,J is surmounting his demons. Has any actor had more combacks after so completely fucking up? I'd love it if he'd finally found some peace from whatever was driving him in his off hours (having always heard he was a consummate professional while working, even in his worst years).

You know, that sounds like Holmes, too.

Just finished The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus.

What a mess.

I've been trying to find reviews that don't just talk about the meta.

Just finished The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus.

Hopefully, I will be seeing that tomorrow.

What a mess.

Well, that describes many a Gilliam movie. I think, in fact, it could describe them all (including Holy Grail).

Juliebird, back to The Road, nope, haven't read it. It's been sitting on my bookshelf for years though!

Frank, I will probably eventually see it. You make good points. I just wish he'd die, then I wouldln't feel torn about being part of the machine that supports him.

That was such a nice thing for me to say. I don't really wish he'd die, it would just make my decision easier. And it's all about us, right?

You know, that sounds like Holmes, too.

You are not wrong Erika. And I hadn't even thought of it that way. I do suspect that RD,J tends to get back into drugs when he's bored, much like Holmes.

That was such a nice thing for me to say. I don't really wish he'd die, it would just make my decision easier. And it's all about us, right?

I hear you. And then I start to think about all the shit he dealt with as a child. And then got to the "promised" land of Hollywood. And then had what had happened happen again in a bizarro form. And it is no way an excuse, but that has to fuck you up.

Couple that with Hollywood where, as long as you were somewhat discreet, you could get away with anything from way back in the day, and then fast forward to 70's Hollywood, and all the new, exciting drugs that were around. I mean, Charlie Chaplin had the same thing for young girls; we just don't know if there's anything as ugly as Polanski did on record.

I don't even know what I think about Imaginarium.

I will say that Terry's wonderful visual style is watered down by CGI.

And all that meta hype is horribly misdirecting about who the focus of the movie is on --although first thirty or forty minutes sans Heath is a big clue, but that was thirty or forty minutes I was all "so, where's the lead?" before I realized that his role (flashy! hype! hype!) wasn't that important. And that's important I think, in order to stomach the end.