This Film is Not Yet Rated
Documentary
97 min.
Limited Screening Opening Night, Nuart Theater, Santa Monica, Friday 9/1/06

Did you know there are two secret policy influencing organizations in the U.S? One is the CIA and the other is the Motion Picture Association of America's Raters board. Eight people decide what rating to give (G, PG, R etc..) every major released film in the U.S. and their identities remain a secret ... until now.
Filmmakers Kirby Dick and Eddie Schmidt were on hand at the Nuart yesterday night to promote their new documentary. Soapbox-y at times, but incredibly informative, the film not only documents the MPAA's shady mission and history but exposes the Raters' identities by hiring a private investigator. The 30-day stakeout, captained by Becky the PI, is the most entertaining part of the film. There are also cartoons comically illustrating the MPAA's list of no-nos, such as non-traditional sex acts, drug use, and violence against children. Michael Moore (Fahrenheit 9/11) and Morgan Spurlock (Supersize Me) fans have seen the stick before. In fact, Kirby Dick comes off as a Michael Moore wannabe, putting himself in the role of valiant muckraker to the heinous acts of censorship and blatant contradictions by the MPAA officers. Nonetheless, I am thankful the Hollywood expose is out, especially when Dick and Schmidt detail the process of avoiding the dreaded NC-17 stamp. We are familiar with the double standard game the ratings board plays for studio pics vs. art house film when it comes to taboo topics like masturbation, homosexual sex, drug use, and gratuitous violence. Dick and Schmidt also identify, through other filmmakers' testimonies, there is not set standard the MPAA follows - so bloodless violence in big budget action flicks receive less severe ratings than war documentaries. Also a boy can masturbate into a pie but a girl can't show any sign of pleasure from oral sex for a prolonged amount of time. Puppets can't even simulate any position other than the approved missionary (see Team America - even when we all know the raunchier "uncut" version can be bought at Best Buy.) Most informative is Kimberly Peirce's tale of cutting the orgasm scenes in her directorial debut Boys Don't Cry. The board deemed Brandon's post cum shot too racy but the scene when he's beaten to death acceptable. Most applaud goes to Kevin Smith (Clerks) for stating on camera that the most despicable act of violence often slipping by as an R or even PG-13 is violence against women and would like to see any rape or woman-in-peril plot device struck from the filmmaking language. Right on.
The limited engagement starts up this month - but help them get the word out by requesting This Film in your local theaters and sign their petition to revise the ratings system.

Labels: film, reviews