| | | "Censorship, Uncensored"
Features: DVD, Widescreen
Kirby Dick's provocative documentary investigates the secretive and inconsistent process by which the Motion Picture Association of America rates films. Dick questions whether certain studios get preferential treatment, exposes the discrepancies in how the MPAA views sex and violence, and reveals the association's efforts to control culture. Interviewees include John Waters, Darren Aronofsky, Mario Bello, Atom Egoyan, Kevin Smith and more.
"It's vital that everyone who cares about film see this documentary." Eric Campos, Film Threat
"...gives Hollywood a swift, smart and hilarious kick in its institutional, hypocritical ass." Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
"Funny, muckraking documentary." William Arnold, Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Editor's Note
Passionate cinephiles can be found casting quizzical glances at the erratic and often conflicting decisions made by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) as they slap ratings onto movies. So in an attempt to make sense of their working methods--which, until now, have remained shrouded in mystery--one of those cinephiles, Kirby Dick (TWIST OF FAITH), has made this full-length motion picture about the inner workings of the MPAA. Dick begins by examining the MPAA's set-up as an anonymous group that is exclusively funded by the major Hollywood studios. Fundamentally established to prevent children's eyes from seeing anything society would consider unsuitable, the MPAA has blossomed into a powerful force, with the difference between an R and an NC-17 rating possibly leading to millions of dollars forfeited at the box office. Actors and directors such as John Waters, Maria Bello, Mary Harron, and Kevin Smith offer their forthright opinions on these decisions, and Dick highlights many of the clips that have fallen foul of the censors. The director also compares and contrasts similar scenes from indie pictures and films produced by major studios, with the latter seemingly allowed far more leniency when it comes to avoiding the dreaded NC-17. In a wonderful twist that adds a strong narrative structure to the film, Dick hires a private detective to hunt down the MPAA's members, thereby lifting the curtain on who these shadowy figures actually are. But the real cherry on the top of Dick's movie is his submission of THIS FILM HAS NOT YET BEEN RATED to the MPAA, which helps highlight the appeals process, and reveals the involvement of the Catholic Church and major cinema chains across the country. Entertaining and informative, Dick's movie is everything a documentary should be. Revelations come thick and fast throughout, and the director skillfully creates a palpable feeling of injustice that will leave many viewers feeling the MPAA is in urgent need of a drastic overhaul.
| Features | Audio: English Dolby Digital Stereo | | Interactive Menus | | Scene Selection |
| Entertainment Reviews
 | This Film Is Not Yet Rated - DVD By: Chris Barsanti - filmcritic.com DVD Reviews Published on: 1/12/2007 5:00 PM | |
When South Park creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker made Orgazmo, a romp about a Mormon porn star, and submitted it to the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) for a rating, it came back NC-17. Years later they made Team America: World Police, which included a four-minute puppet-sex scene that pushed them into forbidden territory. This time, however, they were provided scene-specific notes on how to make the film into an R. The difference? Orgazmo was an indie release, while Team America came from Paramount Studios....read the full review |
| Technical Info
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Release Information
| | Studio: IFC |
| Release Date: 5/8/2007 |
| Running Time: 97 minutes |
| Original Release Date: 2006 | | Catalog ID: 79867 | | UPC: 00796019798679 | | Number of Discs: 1 |
Audio & Video
| | Video: Color |
Aspect Ratio | | Widescreen 2.35:1 |
| Cast & Crew | Alison Palmer Bourke - Executive Producer | | Atom Egoyan - Featuring | | Darren Aronofsky - Featuring | | Eddie Schmidt - Producer | | Jack Valenti - Featuring | | John Waters - Featuring | | Kevin Smith - Featuring | | Kimberly Peirce - Featuring | | Kirby Dick - Director | | Kirby Dick, et. al. - Writer | | Maria Bello - Featuring | | Matt Clarke - Editor | | Matt Stone - Featuring | | Michael S. Patterson - Original Music By | | Shana Hagan, et. al. - Cinematographer |
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| | Professional Reviews | Rolling Stone
3.5 stars out of 5 -- "Kirby Dick's indispensable guerilla attack on the film-ratings system gives Hollywood a swift, smart and hilarious kick..." 08/24/2006 p.108Sight and Sound
"While the film sticks to the subject of censorship, it discerns some intriguing patterns....The film does raise some provocative points." 09/01/2006 p.78 Total Film
4 stars out of 5 -- "Anyone with even a fleeting interest in US cinema should see this entertaining and illuminating doc..." 10/01/2006 p.43 Entertainment Weekly
"[C]unningly outraged....A movie that might just shake up the world of movies....[The film] has a bright, dishy spirit, and eagerness to provoke..." -- Grade: B 09/08/2006 p.137-138 Box Office
3.5 stars out of 5 -- "In his merciless new documentary...director Kirby Dick digs up enough hypocrisy and inconsistencies to justify scrapping the MPAA ratings system for something entirely new." 10/01/2006 p.35 Ultimate DVD
5 stars out of 5 -- "[A]n absolutely fascinating subject....It proves to be a funny, shocking and eye-opening experience." 03/01/2007 p.95 FilmCritic.com 7 of 10
Given the strangely conservative ways of the secretive MPAA raters, Dick turns half his film into a gimmicky mystery story by hiring a pair of private investigators to stake out the organization's bunker-like complex in Encino (15503 Ventura Blvd., for anyone who cares to do the same) and tail the raters when they leave. The idea is that since the MPAA is in essence a censorship board with massive influence on art and commerce, it's nonsensical that the identities of the ratings board be kept secret. The approach is light gonzo filmmaking and an entertaining diversion, as they go through rater's trash, eavesdrop on their conversations in restaurants, and take down license numbers like cops on stakeout. - Chris Barsanti
ReelViews 8 of 10
It's long past time that a filmmaker has shown the courage to expose the MPAA Ratings Board for what they are: censors working under the guise of servants to the public good. For those who have followed the ins-and-outs of the MPAA over the years, Kirby Dick's expose, This Film Is Not Yet Rated, won't offer many shocking revelations. However, for those who naively believe the MPAA is offering a helping hand to filmmakers and parents alike, prepare to be aghast. In a little more than 90 minutes, Dick explores the hypocrisy of the way the MPAA treats sex, nudity, violence, and profanity; provides insight into the arbitrary and secretive ratings process; and names names - those men and women who comprise the ratings and appeals committees. - James Berardinelli
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