HBO’s devastating ‘Allen v. Farrow’ is a nail in the coffin of Woody Allen’s Legacy

[Niamh.]

Is Woody Allen’s career finally toast?

The question has been asked frequently in recent decades, both in response to a midcareer slump and, later, as the #MeToo movement brought new scrutiny to his marriage to Soon-Yi Previn and allegations that he abused Dylan Farrow, his daughter with actress Mia Farrow, when she was a child. For the most part, Hollywood promptly answered — with standing ovations, multiple Oscar nominations (and one win, in 2012, for writing “Midnight in Paris”) and a steady film-a-year pace.

But things might be about to change.

HBO’s powerful four-part series “Allen v. Farrow,” from investigative filmmakers Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering, is a comprehensive, convincing and ultimately devastating documentary that threatens to burn what’s left of his career and legacy to the ground. And Dylan, now 35, is here to tell her side of the story.

The filmmaker first faced the accusation that he’d sexually abused 7-year-old Dylan, whom he’d adopted as a baby with his longtime partner Mia, in 1992. As part of his public defense, Allen, who has repeatedly denied the allegation, admitted to having an “affair” with Soon-Yi, Mia’s adopted daughter from her previous marriage to composer André Previn. (At the time, Allen was 57, Soon-Yi was 21.) Mia was a scorned girlfriend, he said, and she coerced false claims out of Dylan. A media frenzy ensued, and as twisted as his defense was, Allen largely won that skirmish in the court of public opinion.

Even after he lost his battle for custody of Dylan, with an appellate court concluding that “the testimony given at trial suggests the abuse did occur,” Allen remained New York City’s hometown hero and a “genius” filmmaker who attracted Hollywood’s bold-faced names for his films: Robin Williams, Julia Roberts, Cate Blanchett, Scarlett Johansson and Emma Stone among them. As for the pre-#MeToo culture of showbiz, the industry’s permissiveness around men it deems too talented to touch is briefly explored here via Oscar-winning predator Roman Polanski.

“Allen v. Farrow,” which premieres Sunday, goes beyond the scandalous headlines and makes a compelling argument that Allen got away with the unthinkable thanks to his fame, money and revered standing in the world of film — and that a little girl never received justice. The documentarians pored over years of custody trial evidence, home movies, recorded phone conversations, photo exhibits and more, piecing together a harrowing picture of Allen as an abuser and master manipulator and Dylan as his silenced, disbelieved victim.

https://www.latimes.com/entertainmen...JO7_kaGVC81Ed8

[The Slim Reaper]

How does a court rule that it looks like the abuse happened, but then everybody just goes home and calls it a day? Shouldn't it then be instantly referred to the police?

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by The Slim Reaper

How does a court rule that it looks like the abuse happened, but then everybody just goes home and calls it a day? Shouldn't it then be instantly referred to the police?

Are you even surprised anymore with what these Hollywood assholes got away with?

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

Is Woody Allen’s career finally toast?

The question has been asked frequently in recent decades, both in response to a midcareer slump and, later, as the #MeToo movement brought new scrutiny to his marriage to Soon-Yi Previn and allegations that he abused Dylan Farrow, his daughter with actress Mia Farrow, when she was a child. For the most part, Hollywood promptly answered — with standing ovations, multiple Oscar nominations (and one win, in 2012, for writing “Midnight in Paris”) and a steady film-a-year pace.

But things might be about to change.

HBO’s powerful four-part series “Allen v. Farrow,” from investigative filmmakers Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering, is a comprehensive, convincing and ultimately devastating documentary that threatens to burn what’s left of his career and legacy to the ground. And Dylan, now 35, is here to tell her side of the story.

The filmmaker first faced the accusation that he’d sexually abused 7-year-old Dylan, whom he’d adopted as a baby with his longtime partner Mia, in 1992. As part of his public defense, Allen, who has repeatedly denied the allegation, admitted to having an “affair” with Soon-Yi, Mia’s adopted daughter from her previous marriage to composer André Previn. (At the time, Allen was 57, Soon-Yi was 21.) Mia was a scorned girlfriend, he said, and she coerced false claims out of Dylan. A media frenzy ensued, and as twisted as his defense was, Allen largely won that skirmish in the court of public opinion.

Even after he lost his battle for custody of Dylan, with an appellate court concluding that “the testimony given at trial suggests the abuse did occur,” Allen remained New York City’s hometown hero and a “genius” filmmaker who attracted Hollywood’s bold-faced names for his films: Robin Williams, Julia Roberts, Cate Blanchett, Scarlett Johansson and Emma Stone among them. As for the pre-#MeToo culture of showbiz, the industry’s permissiveness around men it deems too talented to touch is briefly explored here via Oscar-winning predator Roman Polanski.

“Allen v. Farrow,” which premieres Sunday, goes beyond the scandalous headlines and makes a compelling argument that Allen got away with the unthinkable thanks to his fame, money and revered standing in the world of film — and that a little girl never received justice. The documentarians pored over years of custody trial evidence, home movies, recorded phone conversations, photo exhibits and more, piecing together a harrowing picture of Allen as an abuser and master manipulator and Dylan as his silenced, disbelieved victim.

https://www.latimes.com/entertainmen...JO7_kaGVC81Ed8

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by The Slim Reaper

How does a court rule that it looks like the abuse happened, but then everybody just goes home and calls it a day? Shouldn't it then be instantly referred to the police?

Wasn't Ronan Farrow the guy that helped put a spotlight on all these abuses in Hollywood cases too? That has to tell you something I think

[The Slim Reaper]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

Are you even surprised anymore with what these Hollywood assholes got away with?

Well no, unfortunately. I would expect that something like that is followed through with. Having accusers silenced or bought off is one thing, but once it's in the court records it should be dealt with.

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by The Slim Reaper

Well no, unfortunately. I would expect that something like that is followed through with. Having accusers silenced or bought off is one thing, but once it's in the court records it should be dealt with.

Yeah but then I've heard judges in America tell a convicted rapist that he was going to go easy on him because he made a mistake and was from a good family with a bright future ahead of him so who knows ..........

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

Yeah but then I've heard judges in America tell a convicted rapist that he was going to go easy on him because he made a mistake and was from a good family with a bright future ahead of him so who knows ..........

when you look at that picture, he is basically a paedo hiding in plain sight

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Cherie

when you look at that picture, he is basically a paedo hiding in plain sight

I mean the fact that he married his step daughter at 21 when he was 56 tells you everything you really need to know about the guy

[hijaxers]

How he's got away with the things he's done for all these years is beyond me ! I read Mia farrows book years ago ~ What falls away and that confirmed what i always thought Woody Allen is a paedo bastard.

[Alf]

Tip of the Hollywood iceberg.

[Oliver_W]

Originally Posted by The Slim Reaper

How does a court rule that it looks like the abuse happened, but then everybody just goes home and calls it a day? Shouldn't it then be instantly referred to the police?

Hollywood says hi.

The entire cesspit deserves to burn tbh

[Dezzy]

I have Ronan Farrow's book about his investigation into Weinstein and such but I've yet to read it. I imagine it'll be a difficult read.

As for Woody Allen, he has escaped justice for too long, if he cannot be brought to justice in court, then I hope his legacy is completed razed. The fact that the family court ruled abuse had taken place but nothing was done afterwards is shocking.