This Film is Not Yet Rated
Uncover Hollywood's Secret!
This breakthrough film from Oscar-nominated director Kirby Dick (Twist of Faith) is an unprecedented investigation into the MPAA film ratings system and its profound impact on American culture. Including interviews with top filmmakers such as Kevin Smith (Clerks 2), Atom Egoyan (Where the Truth Lies), Matt Stone (South Park) and John Waters (A Dirty Shame), this film examines the most controversial ratings decisions in recent history, as well as the MPAA’s efforts to protect copyright and control culture in the name of piracy and profit.
Ultimately, Dick tries to uncover Hollywood's best-kept secret: the identities of the ratings board members themselves. The result is a movie about movies unlike any other movie ever made.
Member Reviews
So what? - SkyHook
I had to pipe in because I don't understand why this film's average rating is so high. I gave it one star because it was boring and because what it told me was so meaningless in the end.
Maybe, in 1970, this film could have been a tad interesting, but in 2006 I can't imagine anybody being to naive that they actually find TFNYR informative or fascinating. Just like TFNYR itself, we're being fed something that is meant to drive home a point or a goal of swaying our perception of the world. The goal of the entire film, as not seen by somebody who didn't imagine it all beforehand, seems to have been to reveal the real names of the rating review appeal board, but it took 90 minutes of run-up to that to justify making a disc for sale.
There's a lot of money involved in movie making and of course so many vested interests are involved, both in the tug of war with the content creation and with the distribution side. What did telling me the names of individuals representing film execs prove? At best, the film seemed to give film makers and directors a chance to vent a bit about how totalitarian the system is. Well, go somewhere else if you want to fight back not on home ice. Stop voting republican, or whatever works for you, but buying a movie that's not entertaining is ultimately bad for everybody.Eye opener for those who think making movies is an eazy buisness. - RottenRon
I could never make a movie for the big studios, not only am I totally incompetent and don't know the first thing about film making, but the amount of hoops that I would be required to jump through so that my film would be considered to have mass appeal would drive me mad. In Hollywood not only do you have to have great ideas (sometimes not the truth) but you have to have the drive to see them through all sorts of bullshit, the ratings board being just one of them, out to alter artistic vision for the sake of public decency.Oh, but wait, did I say decency, I meant money. It was great to hear directors vent on the subject.Good Documentary Sometimes Falls a Little Off the Mark - TheShamus
"This Film Is Not Yet Rated" looks at the American Rating system ... and how a film can be financially ruined by receiving the dreaded NC-17 rating.
The film is successful is exposing inconsistancy in the rating system. It also demonstrates that independant film makers are the ones most hurt by these kinds of rating systems. Kirby Dick, the director, goes so far as to hire private investigators to find out who the rating board is comprised of.
Sometimes I felt the doc was falling a little off the mark. The MPAA is the villain -- however, the real culprit here is why an NC-17 (age 18 and over only) spells financial doom for a movie. For example, many theatres will not even screen NC-17 movies. Secondly, many US Blockbuster stores will not rent an NC-17 movie ... and Walmart will not sell an NC-17 movie. Sounds like there is plenty of blame to go around -- and more puzzle pieces to go around. The film, partially funded by Netflix, may have had some "conflict of interest".
Still ... it is an interesting topic ... with lots of examples of crazy cuts which needed to be made in order to shed the NC-17 rating. Although this is an American story, I sure there are many themes which hold true for Canada as well.
Overall, a fine doc.
/\/\/\/\ the Shamus /\/\/\/\
PS - If there is one "surprising" revelation in this doc, it is the fact that the MPAA "appeals" board is comprised of movie industry reps (from large theatre chain owners) to content companies (like Sony Pictures). It offers the best proof that something in the rating system is a little suspicious.
Member Reviews
Read All...
So what? - SkyHook
I had to pipe in because I don't understand why this film's average rating is so high. I gave it one star because it was boring and because what it told me was so meaningless in the end.
Maybe, in 1970, this film could have been a tad interesting, ...Eye opener for those who think making movies is an eazy buisness. - RottenRon
I could never make a movie for the big studios, not only am I totally incompetent and don't know the first thing about film making, but the amount of hoops that I would be required to jump through so that my film would be considered to have mass appeal would ...Good Documentary Sometimes Falls a Little Off the Mark - TheShamus
"This Film Is Not Yet Rated" looks at the American Rating system ... and how a film can be financially ruined by receiving the dreaded NC-17 rating.
The film is successful is exposing inconsistancy in the rating system. It also demonstrates that ...