Day 18 Rosemary’s
Baby [1968]
Screenplay Roman Polanski
Based
on ‘Rosemary’s Baby’ by Ira Levin
Director Roman Polanski
Cinematography William A. Fraker
Music Krzysztof Komeda
Leads John Cassavetes, Mia Farrow, Ruth Gordon
Production William Castle Productions
IMDb 8/10
Rotten Tomatoes 99%
Must
admit I read the script before watching this one and it probably ruined the
film a bit. I read the script first because it is an excellent
piece of writing and I did enjoy it. This film is pretty creepy, and certainly
must have been even creepier back in the sixties. Mia Farrow is very good in
it. I did spend the whole film wondering how the fuck she didn’t think the
people next door were creepy. Perhaps it’s because I read the script but this
film didn’t really do it for me.
I
do want to take the opportunity to discuss the problem of sex in Hollywood
(Polanski of course). A lot of high-profile men have been accused of rape,
inappropriate behaviour, sexism etc and it is disgusting. NO doubt about it,
these men have taken advantage of their positions, their fame, their looks and
used it to act outrageously. It is unacceptable. However, it brings up a
question of how one should react to their work. I personally believe that you
cannot think about a person’s personal life when watching their work (although
in some cases, it gives a scary insight into what was going on behind the
scenes e.g. Polanski, Woody Allen, Louis CK). However, it is not up to the
audience to sort the problem out. If you are offended by the sight of a sexual
deviant, then don’t go and watch their films. Leave it to the production
companies to not cast or hire these monsters. Yes, Hollywood is
still a male-dominated world and people are scared to speak out and that is
intrinsically wrong and needs to be changed. All I’m trying to say is that I
will continue to stay neutral when watching a film and judge the
acting/directorial performance, but understand that I am firmly against all
forms of sexual crime and sexism. It is horrific that it still exists and
something needs to be done.
Acting 3.5 / 4
Writing 3.5 / 4
Cinematography 2 / 4
Music 2 / 4
HWF rating 2.5 / 4