Weinstein Goes to the Guilds

 

Not giving up without a fight, The Weinstein Company continues to protest the MPAA's ridiculous NC-17 rating on their film "Blue Valentine." Today they announced that the film will be shown this weekend at the Harmony Gold Theatre in Hollywood all weekend for Guild Members (SAG, DGA, PGA, WGA) and HFPA to take a look. They're then asking viewers to email their thoughts to [email protected]. Their appeal with the MPAA is set for Dec. 8.  You can also sign their online petition here.

I've been very vocal here about my feelings on "Blue Valentine." It's a raw, gut-wrenching journey through a failing marriage brought to life by Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams, two of the best actors of their--or any other--generation. It's easily one of the best films of the year, featuring two performances that are not to be missed. I'll have an interview in next week's issue with the pair in which I talk more specifically about the film, but I want to address this ratings madness first.

When I saw "Blue Valentine," I had somehow blocked out the ratings flap and completely forgotten it was NC-17. When someone reminded me a few days later, I was stunned. I couldn't think of a single reason why it would garner such a severe rating. I tried to think back--had I missed an orgy somewhere? It's such a simple story, beautifully told, about two lost people struggling to keep their marriage from going off the rails. There are moments of intimacy, but barely any nudity to speak of.

A friend suggested it might be due to a very intense scene in which Williams' character, Cindy, almost gets an abortion. But a friend who worked on the film told me this wasn't the case. They noted, "I’ve heard a bunch of different reasons, all of which don’t add up." After talking to this person and several other pundits, it all seemed to come down to cunninlingus. In short, there's a scene in which Gosling's character, Dean, performs oral sex on Cindy. I'm reminded of "The Cooler," which also received an NC-17, reportedly because of a moment where the audience sees Maria Bello receiving oral pleasure.  Some felt this was the moment the MPAA objected to, either because of the content or, as some have suggested, perhaps because Cindy isn't into it and it feels a bit like she's being forced. Regardless, it's a pivotal moment in the movie. And an uncomfortable one, which is why my friend thinks there's such a ruckus. Or, as Gosling put it in an interview, "They gave it not because of something they saw, but because of the way something in the film made them feel."

My friend made another excellent point, stating: "There’s plenty of films that are filled with men receiving oral sex that are R rated. The MPAA is probably filled with selfish lovers and they don’t want their wives to get any ideas."

--Jenelle Riley