X
- 2006
- Unrated
- IFC Films
- 1 h 38 m
- 2006
- Unrated
- IFC Films
- 1 h 38 m
Summary Academy Award-nominated director Kirby Dick takes on the MPAA.
Directed By: Kirby Dick
Written By: Eddie Schmidt, Matt Patterson, Kirby Dick
- 2006
- Unrated
- IFC Films
- 1 h 38 m
- 2006
- Unrated
- IFC Films
- 1 h 38 m
This Film Is Not Yet Rated
75
7.3
Summary Academy Award-nominated director Kirby Dick takes on the MPAA.
Directed By: Kirby Dick
Written By: Eddie Schmidt, Matt Patterson, Kirby Dick
Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 33 Critic Reviews
75
94% Positive
31 Reviews
31 Reviews
6% Mixed
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 33 Critic Reviews
75
94% Positive
31 Reviews
31 Reviews
6% Mixed
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Funny, muckraking documentary.
Has a bright, dishy spirit.
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 26 User Ratings
7.3
85% Positive
22 Ratings
22 Ratings
8% Mixed
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
8% Negative
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 26 User Ratings
7.3
85% Positive
22 Ratings
22 Ratings
8% Mixed
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
8% Negative
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]
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I like the argument that ratings is censorship by an anonymous panel. They don't mind explicit violence but female pleasure is forbidden. Interesting that independent filmmakers are discriminated by not getting specific change recommendations. I like when they covered the communist searches, asking if you are a communist or union member. Interesting how **** discrimination is part of the ratings. Also interesting is how the ratings are used as brainwashing to make the public more violent. And how there are members of the clergy on the board.
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In the ultimate test, Kirby submits this very documentary to the tender mercies of the MPAA. It gets slapped with an NC-17 for graphic content. He appeals. He loses -- ten votes to zip.
Hugely entertaining catalog of MPAA follies.
Dick's strongest points are that these raters receive no training and are given no standards by which to judge movies. Experts in child psychology or media or social studies are not consulted. Nor are they allowed on the board. The days of counting F-words or pelvic thrusts need to end, and in the film's quieter moments, Dick makes this case compellingly.
The main activity charted in the documentary is a kind of adolescent mischief, as Dick and a private investigator seek to uncover and expose the anonymous MPAA employees.
Prior to viewing this I had no idea that the members of the MPAA board were anonymous. I completely side with everything the film had to say. Why a movie can't show a little bit of pubic hair but a pg-13 movie can have a near endless death count if no blood is spilled is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. This may not be the most exciting documentary but it is extremely informative. Their ratings could have and most likely did change generations of people, and they don't even realize it. I highly recommend this to anyone who wants to learn more about the fascist organization that is the MPAA.
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This documentary might not be the best one you'll see, or even anywhere near that, but it surely is extremely entertaining and engaging. First of, who would have thought that the MPAA was such a secretive and, more worryingly, generation-defining organisation? Well, the film is rather informative about that, and it gives a lot of interesting thoughts by film directors, producers, critics and even actors, and other "showbiz insiders" who have been somehow affected (read: burnt) by the ratings system. Obviously, the documentary is extremely one sided, but that is just the reality of documentary film-making: very few films aren't. Nonetheless, It is rather interesting to see how the film develops, especially with the addition of the detective and her investigation. Definitely gives a lot of freshness to an otherwise potentially boring film about an interesting topic. Still, as many reviews here have noted, the film beyond the initial revelation of the importance of the MPAA and it's "wicked ways" does not provide us with much to work with. The film-maker himself, seems to be quite lost and does not know what to focus his attention to, so we end up with an anti-climactic ending about rating appeals, that really doesn't give us very much to think about, except of asking ourselves why does religion always have to play a huge role in the U.S. in pretty much everything? Once again, as all the directors, actors and critics have noted, the U.S. should learn from Europe about films, censorship, sexuality and violence. Makes one wonder who chooses the European film ratings people, and why aren't they anonymous.
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Production Company
Independent Film Channel (IFC),
Netflix,
British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC),
Chain Camera Pictures,
Red Envelope Entertainment
Release Date Sep 1, 2006
Duration 1 h 38 m
Rating Unrated
Genres
Tagline censorship, uncensored.
Awards
Austin Film Critics Association
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
Golden Trailer Awards
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
Chlotrudis Awards
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
