This Film Is Not Yet Rated

Today happens to be my birthday and since it's common knowledge that one gets to do whatever one wants on one's birthday (like use the overly pretentious term "one"), I'm going to review a movie.

The other night Fimoculous.com mentioned that the entirety of This Film Is Not Yet Rated directed by Kirby Dick was up on Google Video. I've been wanting to see this documentary about the MPAA ratings system for a while and this seemed to be the perfect opportunity. Dick covers many issues regarding movie ratings throughout the film. He interviews famous directors whose films were at first given an NC-17 rating such as John Waters (A Dirty Shame), Kimberly Peirce (Boys Don't Cry), Wayne Kramer (The Cooler), Mary Harron (American Psycho), Kevin Smith (Jersey Girl) and Jaime Babbit (But I'm A Cheerleader). In addition to discussing why their movies didn't get R ratings like movies with similar scenes, most of these directors feel that their films were denied for include gay themes or "overtly displayed" female pleasure. During one montage, Kirby Dick shows very similar straight love scenes from R rated movies and gay love scenes from NC-17 rated movies. In addition to pointing out that there are no rules for the ratings board to follow or precedents that directors can quote in an appeal process, Dick tries to unmask the members of the rating board who are kept secret by the MPAA with the help of Becky, a private investigator. The members are supposed to serve for 3 years and have children between the ages of five and 17. Without spoiling the surprise, let's just say that the actual members fit a very different profile. Finally, Dick goes through the appeals process that directors may go through when their films receive an NC-17 rating and uncovers the members of the appeals board including two members of the clergy (Catholic and Episcopalian - never different religions) which is unbelievable to me. Overall this movie, like any good documentary, made me angry about the status quo and appreciative that someone tried to blow the cover off of this system that one director accurately described as fascist.