To the MPAA, two people having sex pose a clearer, more present danger than forty people getting machine-gunned. And, specifically, a woman having a long, blissful orgasm makes them feel all oogy. That’s not necessarily news; the bold triumph of This Film Is Not Yet Rated lies in outing the ratings board not just as a flourishing censorship organ but as a protective shill for a monopoly-hungry industry. Kirby Dick’s documentary is plagued by goofy graphics and a belabored stalking routine (to bag the identities of ratings board members, officially a secret), but these dips into amateur gonzo provide cover for Dick’s rebellion. Abused filmmakers speak, with the frisson of courting trouble from an organization that affects distribution. Double standards for independent versus Hollywood film are revealed. By the time a Catholic priest talks about his time on the MPAA appeals board, you’ll believe the hype.
Opens September 1
Opens September 1
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