The iconic Jodie Foster, whether we like it or not, is one of the most visible and well known lesbians in the world. Isn't it safe to say that, at this point, everyone knows she's a lesbian? Her public tribute to "my beautiful Cydney" in 2007 seemed to remove any lingering doubt. And isn't it also safe to say that the lesbian community is just plain uncomfortable with Jodie? The reasons for this are mounting. First, even though Jodie seems to live her life as a lesbian—cohabiting and co-parenting with another woman (before
they broke up)—we are all miffed at her for not just coming out decisively and unambiguously. The lesbian community sees Jodie's magnitude of fame and influence and considers it a lost opportunity to promote lesbian visibility. I get it. But personally, I'm not that bothered. I'd be more disappointed if she lived a closeted life and outright denied the rumors. But, from my impeded view, she seems to be living her life openly and unapologetically as a lesbian.
Okay, but onto the truly compelling reasons for the lesbian community's disapproval of Jodie Foster. In a nutshell, it's her men. We all know she has defended and stood by Mel Gibson. This spring she will release her extraordinarily titled film,
The Beaver, in which she directs Gibson and co-stars with him. In the drama comedy, Jodie plays Meredith Black, a weary suburban housewife and mother whose troubled husband (Gibson, in a fine Barbour coat) begins to communicate only via a hand puppet. Incidentally, lesbian thespian Cherry Jones is in the cast, too. If
the trailer is any indication, the movie actually is pretty good. And Jodie has been showering praise over Mel. In recent interviews Jodie has publicly stated her commitment to Mel Gibson as a friend and her regard for him as an actor. While her loyalty is admirable (who wouldn't want a friend like that?), the recent behavior of Mel Gibson is just so deplorable that her positive statements about him are almost offensive. Okay, so that's one.
Additionally, there is the news that Jodie has joined the cast of Roman Polanski's film
God of Carnage, which begins shooting next month in Paris. The controversial Roman Polanski pled guilty to unlawful sexual conduct with a minor in 1977, served 90 days in prison, and escaped final sentencing by fleeing to Europe. In 2009, Polanski was arrested in Switzerland at the request of US authorities, but the Swiss ultimately refused to extradite him. He is a free man, but the US charges are still pending, making it unlikely he will ever return to the States.
Polanski elicits strong feelings. Many believe he should be in jail for his crime and that his films should be boycotted. Others express sympathy for him as a traumatized survivor of the Holocaust and the widower of the brutally murdered Sharon T
ate. Some point to the fact that the victim of his assault, who is now an adult, says she wants all charges against him dropped. In any case, most people have respect for Polanski as a brilliant filmmaker. Honestly, I will have a hard time not seeing
God of Carnage. The cast and the story are too captivating. Kate Winslet, Jodie Foster, John C. Reilly, and Christoph Waltz will play two sets of upscale parents in Brooklyn who meet to discuss the schoolyard fight between their respective sons. In their well-dressed and civilized setting, the parents end up behaving very badly. The film is based on the Tony Award-winning play by Yasmina Reza. Jodie will play the role of Veronica, a writer, and John C. Reilly will play her husband, a self-made businessman. Kate Winslet will play Annette, whose wealth is displayed in her good shoes. The play has been compared to
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf because of the intense emotional wreckage. Jodie's character, Veronica, has been described as a cultured, altruistic, artistically inclined, educated, liberal parent "who melts down to primordial chaos by the play’s end."
The iconic Jodie Foster, whether we like it or not, is one of the most visible and well known lesbians in the world. Isn't it safe to say that, at this point, everyone knows she's a lesbian? Her public tribute to "my beautiful Cydney" in 2007 seemed to remove any lingering doubt. And isn't it also safe to say that the lesbian community is just plain uncomfortable with Jodie? The reasons for this are mounting. First, even though Jodie seems to live her life as a lesbian—cohabiting and co-parenting with another woman (before they broke up)—we are all miffed at her for not just coming out decisively and unambiguously. The lesbian community sees Jodie's magnitude of fame and influence and considers it a lost opportunity to promote lesbian visibility. I get it. But personally, I'm not that bothered. I'd be more disappointed if she lived a closeted life and outright denied the rumors. But, from my impeded view, she seems to be living her life openly and unapologetically as a lesbian.
Okay, but onto the truly compelling reasons for the lesbian community's disapproval of Jodie Foster. In a nutshell, it's her men. We all know she has defended and stood by Mel Gibson. This spring she will release her extraordinarily titled film, The Beaver, in which she directs Gibson and co-stars with him. In the drama comedy, Jodie plays Meredith Black, a weary suburban housewife and mother whose troubled husband (Gibson, in a fine Barbour coat) begins to communicate only via a hand puppet. Incidentally, lesbian thespian Cherry Jones is in the cast, too. If the trailer is any indication, the movie actually is pretty good. And Jodie has been showering praise over Mel. In recent interviews Jodie has publicly stated her commitment to Mel Gibson as a friend and her regard for him as an actor. While her loyalty is admirable (who wouldn't want a friend like that?), the recent behavior of Mel Gibson is just so deplorable that her positive statements about him are almost offensive. Okay, so that's one.
Additionally, there is the news that Jodie has joined the cast of Roman Polanski's film God of Carnage, which begins shooting next month in Paris. The controversial Roman Polanski pled guilty to unlawful sexual conduct with a minor in 1977, served 90 days in prison, and escaped final sentencing by fleeing to Europe. In 2009, Polanski was arrested in Switzerland at the request of US authorities, but the Swiss ultimately refused to extradite him. He is a free man, but the US charges are still pending, making it unlikely he will ever return to the States. Polanski elicits strong feelings. Many believe he should be in jail for his crime and that his films should be boycotted. Others express sympathy for him as a traumatized survivor of the Holocaust and the widower of the brutally murdered Sharon T
ate. Some point to the fact that the victim of his assault, who is now an adult, says she wants all charges against him dropped. In any case, most people have respect for Polanski as a brilliant filmmaker. Honestly, I will have a hard time not seeing God of Carnage. The cast and the story are too captivating. Kate Winslet, Jodie Foster, John C. Reilly, and Christoph Waltz will play two sets of upscale parents in Brooklyn who meet to discuss the schoolyard fight between their respective sons. In their well-dressed and civilized setting, the parents end up behaving very badly. The film is based on the Tony Award-winning play by Yasmina Reza. Jodie will play the role of Veronica, a writer, and John C. Reilly will play her husband, a self-made businessman. Kate Winslet will play Annette, whose wealth is displayed in her good shoes. The play has been compared to Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf because of the intense emotional wreckage. Jodie's character, Veronica, has been described as a cultured, altruistic, artistically inclined, educated, liberal parent "who melts down to primordial chaos by the play’s end."
