Harvey Weinstein is a serial rapist and molester, a sexual predator who abused his social, industry and physical power in order to assault women.
Women who, thanks in no small measure to Rose McGowan, are finally feeling able to stand up in accusation and defiance.
And- sadly- none of this turns out to be "The Problem". Weinstein is thoroughly outed. The women are getting their stories told and believed. And it seems likely that there will be appropriate legal action and social vindication for them. What happened to them is, of course, horrific, but it is also, finally, being processed.
"The Problem" is... Weinstein's predatory actions went on for a long time. And no one in a position to stop it, to bring it out into the light of day, did so. There was a massive silence, which, in the end, was enabling. Which, in the end, allowed it to be systematised and to a nasty extent, normalised.
Women seeking work with Weinstein were "warned". Women complaining about Weinstein were "handled". Women were paid off, or intimidated into silence. Men who have, in part, built their careers on an appearance of decency shuffled away from any mention of this, any dealing with this, with hands in pockets and shit eating grins.
Affleck. Damon. Others. Brad Pitt seems to have been confrontational about his wife, but - and this is telling- no one else. He did not generalised, and none of them were alone.
And though this has all been cracked like an egg? How much more of this foetid, rancid sexual intimidation and assault is still shelled and silenced?
I don't know how this can all be aired and handled, but I think that it has to be. Because the damage is going to continue, otherwise. Things will leak out in dribs and drabs, and careers- as well as people's lives- will be damaged and destroyed. This cannot go on to be looked at as dues, as what someone has to endure to get ahead, a price to be fucking paid.
As it seems to always have been. At some point, at some date, I would like to think that we have enough enlightened humanity in general to stomp a foot, raise a fist and say-scream- no more! No more will this be tolerated, excused, worked around, handled. From here on out, there will be no tolerance for this, it will be weeded out, root and branch.
I would like to think this will start now, that this is a good time to do it. But... there have been good times in the past, and signs that a fire has been lit- only to burn out.
I am grown darkly cynical with age.
But, regardless of my estimations of humanity, I can, and will, act for myself.
I'm not going to another movie with which Weinstein's been involved. Or Affleck, or Damon. Or Pitt. Or anyone associated with Weinstein who can be reasonably assumed to have known and been silent. Or possibly to have enabled.
Will that do any good, make any difference? It would be gross cupidity to think that any boycott, personal or organised, would make any real difference to them, or their careers, or their handlers and enablers _now_.
But now is not then.
And it will make a difference to me.
No way in hell I can sit through, say, Justice League, without thinking about all of this.
It may be a failing. I still believe that you can separate the art from the artist. That you can appreciate good work even from the most wretched bastard alive.
I just don't think it can or should always be done.
I keep thinking of Asia Argento. You can find, and read her uncomfortably blunt story on line. Beyond the physical brutality, the emotional brutality, the effects of intimidation... I can't be aware of that, and sit, placidly, in the theatre. Even as a paying member of the audience, I cannot be a part of this.
So. No Justice League. No, well, lots and lots of movies.
It's not a tremendous sacrifice, I think. And one I am certain that I will not be alone in making.
