Comments on: Cannes Review: Emmanuelle Seigner A Raucous Revelation In Polanski’s Otherwise Stagy, Pointless ‘Venus In Fur’

By: patchthehavoc

patchthehavoc — Fri, 13 May 2016 09:49:20 +0000

… well, what an interesting digression into the land of sexist ad hominems thinly disguised as indignation over the critical objective lens being applied.

I haven't seen the film, obviously, but the play is excellent and the direction by Walter Bobbie was extremely even-handed in its treatment of the inherent gender politics, agency, power shifts, etc., and Vanda's agent-of-change role did not feel as if it was undertaken in service of Thomas' journey of self-discovery at all; it felt more like an unexpected but mutual embarkation. Reading this review, it sounds to me — sight blind, naturellement — that the lens through which Polanski filtered the source material is… well, perhaps one that appeals to him/one through which he understood the material. The critique of the male gaze through which to see the film is certainly a valid one, and I would not be surprised if the whole thing is thrown fatally off-kilter because of that shift in focal perspective. I was never going to see it anyway, because I have little interest in putting a cent of support behind a criminal and his apologists; I just think that this is a pity, because the material is EXCELLENT and deserves better treatment and I'm sure the performances must have been very good as well.

By: Charles78

Charles78 — Fri, 13 May 2016 09:49:20 +0000

Wow does this review need an edit. Are there no editors working for The Playlist?

By: JulesJim

JulesJim — Fri, 13 May 2016 09:49:20 +0000

Looks like Jessica Kiang forgot to wipe the misandry out of her eyes this morning before she watched & reviewed this film…..

By: Szinkfoer

Szinkfoer — Fri, 13 May 2016 09:49:20 +0000

Quite funny how Jessica calls this movie "pointless" in her headline… Jessica, just incase you didn't realize… according to reviews/responses worldwide over the net, you were the only person in the audience that didn't "get" it. This film clearly went over your head. There's a difference between calling a movie "pointless" and just not getting it. Also: calling it "stagy" proves the ignoramus mindset you had this morning. The movie is based off a play, and takes place in a THEATER… majorly on a stage… Yeah I think it's safe to say this film went over your head…

By: Steven

Steven — Fri, 13 May 2016 09:49:20 +0000

You people need to get a life. If you don't like the reviewers on The Playlist, stop reading and go elsewhere. There are PLENTY of other critics reporting from Cannes. Find someone you like, and follow them.

By: TheBigLachowski

TheBigLachowski — Fri, 13 May 2016 09:49:20 +0000

This is one of the worst reviews ever posted on this (usually) great blog. Were there no other available writers this website could have utilized? This review single handedly dwindled the blogs credibility, in the opinion of me and my colleagues…

By: Hugo

Hugo — Fri, 13 May 2016 09:49:20 +0000

The reviewer forgot Polanski's Macbeth, which would make four films, not three, based on a play.

By: TwitterBusted

TwitterBusted — Fri, 13 May 2016 09:49:20 +0000

Jessica Kiang (the reviewer) called herself "misty-eyed" the night before this review on Twitter. I think this comment section has some harsh feelings toward misty-eyed-Jessica-Kiang… Better invest in some eye drops… Your hazy vision produced a hazy critique. 😉

By: Sir Richard

Sir Richard — Fri, 13 May 2016 09:49:20 +0000

Polanski has been mastering intimate 1-on-1 scenes his entire career. No one can work a camera around 2 characters like Polanski, in my opinion. I'm surprised to read an extremely unflattering review of the film (almost the same grade Jessica Kiang gave Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 2, ouch!) This play seems ripe for Polanski's to display his "icy wit" and unflinching eye. Still excited to see this! Polanski's world-view isn't for everyone… One must separate the artist from the man. (cough, cough)

By: El Hanso

El Hanso — Fri, 13 May 2016 09:49:20 +0000

Why is it that the Playlist readers are among the most hostile in the online film news world? I visit quite a few different sites, but nowhere else does stuff like this happen. And it happens frequently. Readers attacking and insulting the writers for the slightest mistakes. I mean, yes, if there are mistakes (like the "Macbeth" omission here) – point them out. If you disagree, tell us about it. But it sometimes feels like people are just desperately looking for that one however big or small mistake to force another rant. A rant that very often feels smug and pretentious. Because on The Playlist it's somehow 'en vogue' to badmouth everything. And to be honest, it's kind of pissing me off.

By: jacob

jacob — Fri, 13 May 2016 09:49:20 +0000

I don't get the fuss. It's a good review from a person who didn't like the film. Settle down, y'all.

By: BEF

BEF — Fri, 13 May 2016 09:49:20 +0000

Yes there are mistakes; however, people are expecting reviews immediately on this site to know what's up at Cannes … there are gonna be mistakes and human errors to get it to you guys so freakin' fast. I'd appreciate a little more time to craft the review, however, so many folks would be posting "where's the XXXXXXX review?" if they'd seen a review of it somewhere earlier.

By: Alan B

Alan B — Fri, 13 May 2016 09:49:20 +0000

Actually I finally saw this movie and quite liked it.

By: Edward

Edward — Fri, 13 May 2016 09:49:20 +0000

What the hell is going on in this thread??

By: AS

AS — Fri, 13 May 2016 09:49:20 +0000

Oh dear, Jarrod's at it again. Whether it's on Letterboxd (under the name "Ryan"), Rope of Silicon (under an assortment of different names ranging from "Jarrod" to "alex") or The Playlist (generally under "Alan B.," although he assumes various different aliases here as well), Jarrod never fails to incite random arguments, correct grammar and quibble about SEMANTICS. It's shocking that a 28 year old man – who claims to work almost EVERY DAY – has so much free time to troll. He doesn't need to "get a life" (as Realer Alan B suggests below) because this IS his life.

By: Spoi

Spoi — Fri, 13 May 2016 09:49:20 +0000

Exhibit A: Mental illness on the Internet – This comments section.

By: The Doctor

The Doctor — Fri, 13 May 2016 09:49:20 +0000

I had to give this comment section a read, since I heard the review was stirring up controversy. I cannot comment on the review itself because I am not familiar with the play/film… but the way I read these comments were: People critiquing the review (harmless/expected) > People critiquing the critiques of the review (hypocritical) > Alan B throwing a hissy fit (pathetic) …

By: JC

JC — Fri, 13 May 2016 09:49:20 +0000

Another movie by a pedophile giving vent to his twisted fantasies.

By: CJ

CJ — Fri, 13 May 2016 09:49:20 +0000

Isn't the writer of this review the same girl who listed Charlize Theron in Young Adult as one of the top 10 "Essential Anti-Heroes in Cinema History"… Why even bother?

By: Vino

Vino — Fri, 13 May 2016 09:49:20 +0000

Polanski should stop filming >plays< repped by his talent agency.

By: Finish or Ban him

Finish or Ban him — Fri, 13 May 2016 09:49:20 +0000

This guy, who we should not name, because he obviously has to prattle on, is a cancer.

By: Mr Anonymous

Mr Anonymous — Fri, 13 May 2016 09:49:20 +0000

Wow, what the hell is going on here?!

Came here to read the review and got a shock when i noticed 113 comments and thought the film can't be that good! Can it? What have i missed? Lol.

By: filmstager

filmstager — Fri, 13 May 2016 09:49:20 +0000

If you have ever spent time in France you will find that dramatic textures poured like thick syrup are the cultural signatures. They revel in slight intrinsic nuance and its not always about the destination but the implicit slow journey to get there. American sensibilities are removed from such subtle meanderings, we want answers…now!

By: Guy with an opinion

Guy with an opinion — Fri, 13 May 2016 09:49:20 +0000

The best thing that could ever happen to the internet is to have all comment sections removed from every website. Then all of you sad people that post garbage day after day after day after day………would realize that none of it means anything. You are literally wasting your lives. You may as well be standing in a forest repeatedly poking a tree with your finger for all the effect you are having on the world. Do yourselves a favor – instead of posting something on a website tomorrow, go take a walk instead; you'll feel better and if you do it for a few days in a row the smart ones among you will realize that, omg, your opinion is absolutely irrelevant and you're better off using your time to do something that actually betters your life. But that won't happen, will it? You're all too narcissistic and egotistical. You actually think what you write on these stupid, little forums that tens of people visit is important. It's all so very sad.