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Success! NC-17 Rating for 'Blue Valentine' Has Been Overturned

by Ethan Anderton
December 8, 2010
Source: Deadline

In case you weren't aware, there's been quite the controversy surrounding the NC-17 rating that the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) doled out for Derek Cianfrance's raw drama Blue Valentine starring Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams. From the trailer and the seductive poster, we've seen that the film will be quite the powerful and passionate drama, but apparently one particular scene of sexuality was just too much for the MPAA. Thankfully, the MPAA announced today that they have overturned their initial, seemingly unfair, rating and have decided an R-rating is enough for the "strong graphic sexual content". Whew!

Throughout this whole process, Cianfrance and The Weinstein Company have been baffled by the NC-17 rating. Even star Ryan Gosling said the MPAA's was being "misogynistic in nature to try and control a woman's sexual presentation of self. I consider this an issue that is bigger than this film." Cianfrance himself opposed the rating, but before the appeal process had even started, the director said they wouldn't be changing one frame of the film to try and appease the MPAA to get their deserved R-rating. Here's what he had to say on the matter when he spoke with The Wrap:

“To me, that’s censorship. And I respect what the actors are doing in this movie too much to change that. It’s as if to say, ‘Ryan, Michelle, you’re good in this movie, but you’re a little too good. It was never our intention to make a movie that would offend people. It was a movie that would try to respect people. What you’re left with at end of this movie is emotions. Ultimately, I take it as a compliment that the feeling gave this movie an NC-17.”

Thankfully, the now overturned NC-17 rating won't keep any viewers away who still seem to think the adult rating is synonymous with pornography. And if the glowing reviews from Alex and Brandon, after seeing the film at Sundance earlier this year, are any indicator, then this is one drama that should be seen by anyone who's ever been in love. Kudos to The Weinstein Company, Derek Cianfrance and everyone who showed their support through public outcry for a fair rating from an organization who has been consistently inconsistent with their ratings standards. If you'd live more information and evidence as to how strange and secretive the rating process is for the MPAA, feel free to check out This Film Is Not Yet Rated right now on Netflix Instant. Good news?

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