Paul Haggis

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Paul Haggis Testifies in Sexual Assault Civil Trial
Jury Awards Accuser
of Paul Haggis $7.5M
updated
Nov 10, 2022 5:20 PM CST

Jury Awards Accuser of Paul Haggis $7.5M

Jury also decides to order filmmaker to pay punitive damages

(Newser) - A jury ordered filmmaker Paul Haggis on Thursday to pay at least $7.5 million to a woman who accused him of rape. Haleigh Breest said in a statement that she was grateful that "the jury chose to follow the facts—and believed me," the AP reports. As...

One of the Sex Assault Cases Against Paul Haggis Dropped

But he still faces a civil suit in the US

(Newser) - An Italian court has dropped the sexual assault case against Oscar-winning filmmaker and famous ex-Scientologist Paul Haggis. A judge on Friday ruled there were no grounds to continue the investigation, the Guardian reports, and Haggis' Italian lawyer says that "after viewing the evidence and hearing arguments from both sides,...

Paul Haggis Arrested on New Sex Assault Charges

Director in Italy for film fest, accused of 'non-consensual' sexual relations with woman for 2 days

(Newser) - Paul Haggis, filmmaker and well-known former Scientologist, was arrested Sunday in Italy on charges of sexual assault and aggravated personal injury, according to multiple reports in Italian media as well as a statement from public prosecutors in the region. Haggis, the director of Crash and screenwriter of Million Dollar Baby,...

Foes Blame Scientology for Haggis Rape Accusations

Rape allegations 'very suspect,' Remini, Rinder say

(Newser) - The co-hosts of A&E series Scientology and the Aftermath are defending fellow ex-Scientologist Paul Haggis, suggesting the church may be behind sexual misconduct accusations against him , which include two allegations of rape. In an open letter , Leah Remini and Mike Rinder say it is "very suspect" when people...

2 Women Say Filmmaker Paul Haggis Raped Them

2 others accuse Oscar-winner of sexual misconduct

(Newser) - A civil lawsuit charging Oscar-winning filmmaker Paul Haggis with raping a publicist has prompted three additional women to come forward with their own sexual misconduct accusations, including another publicist who says he forced her to perform oral sex, then raped her. One of the other women speaking out told the...

Top 10 Magazine Articles of 2011

From Paul Haggis to the weirdest movie ever

(Newser) - The year's best magazine articles cover everything from Scientology to conjoined twins to religious slavery in a Louisiana prison. Slate lists 10 favorites via Longform.org , including:
  • "The Apostate," The New Yorker. Famed Hollywood screenwriter Paul Haggis reveals his falling out with the Church of Scientology. "
...

Haggis: I Ditched Scientology Because It's Anti-Gay

More from the New Yorker: 'Moral issue' finally breaks tie, screenwriter

(Newser) - More from the New Yorker's 26-page Scientology takedown: Screenwriter Paul Haggis finally broke with Scientology after years in the cult because of its stands against homosexuality, he has revealed. "I was in a cult for 34 years. Everyone else could see it. I don't know why I couldn't,"...

Inside Scientology: Abuse, Human Trafficking, FBI Probes

Extensive Paul Haggis profile reveals allegations against church

(Newser) - The New Yorker ’s massive, 26-page takedown of Scientology is here, and it discloses—among other things—that the FBI has been investigating the church on suspicion of human trafficking for more than a year. Staff writer Lawrence Wright offers an extensive profile of ex-Scientologist Paul Haggis, the writer-director...

Stars Remake 'We Are the World'

(Newser) - One hundred stars of stage and screen converged on Henson Studios in Los Angeles yesterday to record a new version of iconic 1985 hit "We Are the World." The all-new recording is designed to raise money for earthquake-ravaged Haiti. Once again produced by Quincy Jones, the song features...

Director Haggis Quits Scientology Over Prop 8

Crash auteur shames church with letter denouncing gay marriage stance

(Newser) - Oscar-winning writer-director Paul Haggis dealt a stunning blow to Scientology when his recent resignation letter went public. Haggis, writer of Crash and Million Dollar Baby, left Scientology after 35 years thanks to the church’s backing of California’s Proposition 8, according to the Hollywood Reporter. Haggis was also angered...

Iraq Films Get Army's Attention

Film liaisons offer help; some directors see spin

(Newser) - War films can help shape public perception, and the Army is trying to guide moviemakers away from negative portrayals of the Iraq conflict like the ones that dominated films about Vietnam. Army liaisons to Hollywood offer equipment, expertise—and script alterations that some filmmakers see as spin. The LA Times...

'Elah' Bares Iraq Rage, Sorrow
'Elah' Bares Iraq Rage, Sorrow
Sep 14, 2007 8:50 AM CDT

'Elah' Bares Iraq Rage, Sorrow

Critics hail 'lacerating' murder probe that lays bare social scars

(Newser) - "In The Valley of Elah," a murder mystery with an Iraq war vet veteran as the victim, is “a raw, angry, earnest attempt to grasp the moral consequences of the war,” writes A.O. Scott of the Times. He's one of several critics who hail the...

Iraq War Pics Win Fans at Venice Festival

De Palma's Redacted and Jones vehicle Elah generate critical buzz

(Newser) - Films about the Iraq war are hits at the Venice Film Festival, Reuters reports. One critic calls Brian De Palma's Redacted, about the rape of an Iraqi girl by US soldiers, "truly a blow to the stomach." Others tout In the Valley of Elah, starring Tommy Lee Jones...

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