Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired

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Ed . Lights, camera, your honor! The subject of this documentary is NOT Roman Polanski. Its subject is the California legal system and the way the Court mishandled the case against Polanski. This documentary paints the judge, Laurence Rittenband, as a highly educated and accomplished man who spent too much time and effort in the wrong court: the one of public opinion, rather than what was best for its victim and the citizens of the State of California. He wasn't an evil man, but one who developed poor judgment and who deserved reprimanding. He was eventually removed from this case. It's remarkable that the PROSECUTOR of the case is in agreement with Polanski's DEFENSE ATTORNEY in regard to the behavior and errors of the judge assigned to the case and was in support of his removal. This is separate from Polanski's guilt of his actions or the sentence he deserved. In the end, the judge failed to act or negotiate with integrity in a forthright, honest manner. Rather than flip flop on his intent in sentencing Polanski, he should have been wiser and clearer in communication. The judge should never have promised Polanski a pre-determined light tap on the wrist. Polanski should never have done a lot of things. Hollywood embarrassed themselves in fawning over Polanski's win for Best Director at the 2003 Oscars. I wonder how these sycophants feel today about their actions. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 08/29/25 Full Review Audience Member Made by and for Polanski apologists. I wholeheartedly agree with critic Miller's assessment of the film: "A premeditated act of propaganda in the service of exoneration with a creative genius defense, instead of remorse." Thankfully a decade later, the inherent idea behind this film is that obvious. Along with the powerful #MeToo movement, a creeper like Polanski is more likely to be held accountable. How "Hollywood" let predators like Roman Polanski, Woody Allen, Bill Cosby, and Harvey Weinstein (just a few) get away with sexual crimes just because they have a talent to subjectively entertain, is ludicrous and reprehensible. Serving sentenced time, paying fees/damages, being listed if required, and receiving mandatory therapy with appropriate monitoring is the aim of todayâ(TM)s justice for the victim(s). I had hoped this 2008 doc would shed light on how things were handled so out-of-hand; how perpetrators and their victims were treated, previous to this more transparent and less forgiving time period, when some powerful person or group decides to "turn a blind eye" (often repeatedly, as with the Catholic Church too), but isn't necessarily getting a free pass or the closest thing to it...the ability to readily flee after big bail money hits the court clerkâ(TM)s countertop. In recent cases, ankle monitoring has likely prevented similar avoidance and actual runs from the law. Sexual predation, by men or women, should NEVER be acceptable or "excused", like we see in Marina Zenovich's apologist film. -January 2019 Rated 0.5/5 Stars •  Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 01/15/23 Full Review Audience Member Even-handed review of the Polanski statutory rape case that manages to make relatively clear the legal shenanigans that have been involved while also making it clear that the director was guilty. Just taking one look at the school photo of the 13-year-girl makes you realize how wrong he was - so young. I don't think it mitigates things to ponder the fact that Polanski's parents died in the Holocaust and his wife, Sharon Tate, was murdered by the Manson family. In archive interviews, Polanski himself seems to brush off the seriousness of the charges, as did the French, who received him when he fled the US. However, this documentary does make it clear just how much Polanski was jerked around by the judge, a publicity-seeking knob (as suggested by both prosecution and defense lawyers in interviews), and why he decided to escape to avoid any further complications in the case and its resolution. I didn't realize that the film was 8 years ago and therefore omits the most recent moves by the U. S. to extradite Polanski again and their unwillingness to allow him to wrap things up with "time served" as even the victim and her family now think should happen. I'm of two minds - 42 days isn't much of a sentence (the time he actually spent in prison) - but 40 years in exile might be. As a parent (albeit of boys), it is hard not to see the ugly side of things and hard not to doubt the complicity of the victim at the time. All told, this is a lot of talking heads to watch but director Marina Zenovich keeps things interesting. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/04/23 Full Review Audience Member (***): [img]http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/user/icons/icon14.gif[/img] Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/18/23 Full Review Audience Member Review to Come For now: Mia Farrow, you nutty hypocrite . . . Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/14/23 Full Review Audience Member Documentary accurately concentrates on the events surrounding the Polanski rape trial. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review Read all reviews

Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired

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