Friday
Nov082013
M Battles the MPAA
Friday, November 8, 2013 at 11:33AM 
Look, we're all well aware of Harvey Weinstein's history with Oscar campaigning. It's known, it's out there, they've even written books about it. So let's not pretend we're all delicate petals who are shocked by the man's efforts at drumming up heat for his annual roster of year-end awards contenders. Every studio does, most just don't do it on quite the same scale. And let's face it, sometimes his schemes are for the greater good to allow films to be discovered by more audiences. Having said that, however, I think we can all agree that he has well and truly outdone himself this time.The story is still developing - we'll be sure to share the entire video when it surfaces on Funny or Die - but Harvey Weinstein appeared on CBS This Morning yesterday to launch a campaign against Philomena's R rating from the MPAA due its use of "two f words". He uses words like "gentle", "humour" and "joy" to describe Philomena whilst comparing it to The King's Speech, which also went through a very public ratings controversy. None of this is news. Who he recruited to do battle with the Motion Picture Association of America, on the other hand, is news. Oh boy, is it news. Strange news. Odd news. Just watch for yourself.
That's right, M! Back from the grave of Skyfall's manor, Judi Dench in character as James Bond's boss has come out swinging. To quote Harvey himself on the TV, there's a "Kafka-esque absurdity" to it, don't you think? The MPAA may be able to resist Harvey, but can they resist Dench? Goodness gracious. Oscar season just entered a whole new level. We're through the looking glass, people. This is almost as good as the time David Lynch took to the streets of LA with a cow to campaign for Laura Dern and Inland Empire! As mentioned before, there's more to come, but this is the teaser that Harvey premiered yesterday. I think we can all agree that we're looking forward to seeing how this story develops.
And because I know y'all love you some Julie Andrews...
Reader Comments (16)
I f^&%Xing love Judi Dench! The MPAA really needs to rethink its mission. PG13 movies out right now have scenes of rape (The Butler), heads getting blown off (Captain Phillips, Gravity). supernatural terrors (Insidious 2), aliens leveling whole cities and killing millions (Pacific Rim), and drunk and disorderly conduct (Blue Jasmine).
So...a few f-bombs is the least of a parent's worry on whether their teenager should see a movie. Never thought I would say this, but you go Harvey.
P.S. Thanks, Glenn, for the Julie Andrews clip. Never get tired of seeing her clasp her hands together!
On one hand, as a producer, you know the rules and you know that a couple f-bombs will get you put in the R-corner. (Don't some movies do it on purpose so they do better with the older market?) So if there's indignance about decisions made, I don't get. There are rules, they are ridiculous, but they exist, and you can work around them if you want to.
BUT if Harvey is actually trying to reshape the MPAA and its absurdity (instead of fighting this one, silly battle), I am so down. The rating system is a big ol' violence-loving mess, and the more people we have trying to rework the system, the better.
I just do not understand the Oscar buzz behind this performance. It's fine, and nothing more. She'll get nominated just because she's Judi Dench, and that's a shame.
Jordan: I think you're confusing Dame Judi with Meryl Streep who would get nominated for farting out of tune!
Good point. Pam.
At the same time, yes, Harvey knows the rules, so how likely is it that he drummed up this controversy for a little pre-release publicity? Good box office never hurt a film's Oscar chances.
Harvey had no part in actually producing PHILOMENA I believe, he just came on board as distributor. Not that that hasn't stopped him in the past - hell, 2013 alone has seen mulple Harvey cuts of acquisitions - but he's clearly using this as a means of getting the film out into the press more like he did with The King's Speech and Bully. It's silly he's bringing up the artistic vision given he routinely doesn't care about that, but if he keeps discussing the absurdity of the MPAA then maybe something will actually change?
Nat, the Judi Dench video is marked "The uploader has not made this video available in your country" when I try to view it from Canada.
@Bill - Blah. There's a shorter version that does work in Canada - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7bscyDT6tI . I don't know what's in the other 30 seconds though :(
Anyway, I <3 Judi Dench.
I thought the number of f-words is on the 'three strikes and you're out', though? Don't they allow three? It's ONE? Egads. Oh, MPAA. *shakes head*
I thought the number of f-words is on the 'three strikes and you're out', though? Don't they allow three? It's ONE? Egads. Oh, MPAA. *shakes head*
As I've always understood it, it's one f-bomb allowed in a PG-13 movie, but it can't be used in a sexual context. So, "[Bleep]! I dropped a hammer on my toe and it hurts!" would be acceptable, but "Did you [bleep] her?" would throw it into R territory, even if it were sole f-bomb in the movie. The FilmRatings.com Twitter account tweets those brief explanations of why a movie has been given the rating it has, and at times it can be downright amusing..."some rude gestures", "bloody sequences of ER trauma procedures", "partying", etc.
Big deal. The ad is hilarious. People lighten up! Is Cate's campaign any more comical? Come on, getting Woody involved is just as funny. When was the last time you saw Woody out there plugging an actor? Digging up Mary Poppins is next.
honestly i don't understand the ratings board OR filmmakers. If you want famiies to see your movie, why use the F word in the first place? I mean, there ARE other swear words
Since I think the "2 f bombs" rule is the stupidest thing in MPAA, I am all for this battle. I mean, let's be honest, if hearing two f words is not appropriate for those under 13, all high schools would need to be closed.
Why is Glenn the only writer here that does not identify himself at the beginning of the text? I tend to assume when that happens that Nathaniel is writing but Glenn throws me for a loop
I think people need to remember that Philomena is a British production that was initially written only with the UK system in mind… you can use multiple swear words in a film and receive a 15 certificate (no person under the age of 15 admitted at all). Many films are big successes here with that certificate (and Judi Dench is a huge box office draw for people of a certain age). In fact, many films with an 18 certificate are big successes here. Furthermore, UK censors are pretty 'European' when rating films - sexuality and profanity aren't necessarily viewed as a bad thing here - it's violence that tends to cause problems with the Film Board here.
In any case, the film has received a 12A rating here (under 12s only admitted when accompanied by an over 18)...
The MPAA system always seems weird to me - is it correct that an R film can be seen by anyone if accompanied by an adult (ie. a child can attend, as long as they're with their parents?) If so, I can think of some pretty inappropriate R films released in the last 5 years...
Julie and Judi, brava! It's that British speech that gives the message more heft and urgency.
Sexy, the authors' names are in the meta tags.
The MPAA system always seems weird to me - is it correct that an R film can be seen by anyone if accompanied by an adult (ie. a child can attend, as long as they're with their parents?) If so, I can think of some pretty inappropriate R films released in the last 5 years...
Yes, that's correct. The American ratings system is entirely voluntarily, which is how you have certain theaters showing Blue Is The Warmest Color saying they'll allow under 17s to see it, and parents' groups can complain, but legally, no laws are being broken, even though it's rated NC-17 (strictly no one under 17, unlike the R-rating). Or you get situations where The King's Speech is rated R because of the "two f-bombs and up" rule, even though there's no sex or violence and there's nothing that would be considered too much for 13-14 year olds to handle.
I don't know how it is in other countries but here in the US, you have a lot of people who bring their kids along to the movies rather than hire a baby-sitter, and if that means their toddler seeing a Taken or Paranormal Activity movie...*shrug*. Some theater chains don't allow kids under six or so at night under any circumstance, but during the day, they'll take the extra money from the children's tickets to the Jackass movie, thanks.
In the past, when when something like the Columbine shootings happened, politicians made a lot of noise about violent video games and theaters would tighten up on keeping teens out of R-rated movies, but the storm would pass. Generally people who look young enough are asked for ID when purchasing R tickets, but if a chain didn't want to do that, it would be their right. But Hollywood and the larger theater chains try to somewhat stay within the guidelines so that the government won't go as far as making actual laws about the ratings systems.