Sorry for the late post. Insomnia and cable lead to nothing but trouble for posting.
Also have to admit an oversight when it comes to Hal Ashby, I forgot to include one of his best's works, Coming Home, with Jon Voight, Bruce Dern and Jane
Fonda. Winner of 3 Oscars for Best Actress, Best Actor (Voight) and Best Writing. Coming Home came out in 1978, just 4 years after the fall of Saigon. It tells the story of Sally Hyde (Jane Fonda), her husband Bob (Bruce Dern) has gone to the Vietnam War. She goes to work as nurse in a veterans hospital where Violet, her friend, works too. In hospital she meets an old high school friend, Luke Martin (Jon Voight). Like Bob, Luke had gone to Nam but he came back paraplegic. Love between Luke and Sally grow and she has a sexual awakening. After the suicide of Violet's Brother (another veteran) Luke has only one obsession: do anything to stop the sending of young guys to war. Sally finds herself with with choices to make. Coming Home is a poignant story of the situations out of one's control and the choices that life gives. Defintely a movie that should not be forgotten on a list.
Now for the post:
Another movie to recommend is "This Film is Not Yet Rated" a documentary on the MPAA ratings board. Definitely one to watch. Why? Because it documents the history and talks to numerous directors and actors about the censorship of their movies before they could be released. Including directors, Kevin Smith, Matt Stone, John Waters, Darren Aronosfsky, Maria Bello, Atom Egoyan. Director, Kirby Dick hires a lesbian family of private investigators to find out the names of the MPAA ratings board and see if the raters are actually parents of children 5-17 like the MPAA tells American parents they are.
What is interesting is Dick shows how the ratings board gives mores R and NC-17's for sexual content over violence which is in directly opposite in Europe, and how more gay themed movies and movies with not more explicit acts but non "traditional" pairs or acts get more NC-17 ratings, while killing sprees and violence toward women get R ratings. The most interesting thing is that the ratings board in completely secret. What other secret organization in the US has such an influence over the culture with such decisions? Only the CIA. MPAA says it is to protect those members from being influenced. Even the Supreme Court is publicly known and their decisions should be even more important the state of the nation. Something to think about.
And what does this have to do with OMG? It makes you wonder what MPAA told Ang to do with scenes in Brokeback. And if that influenced him not make any cuts for Lust, Caution. 
And now with Informers. What you see of Austin in a threesome is what the MPAA approved for an R rating, but knowing the content of the novel and the setting in the 80's, you know that what was shot was even more explicit and it makes you wonder ended up on the cutting room floor to get an R.
The Informers opens at the Verzaubert Queer Film Festival (March 18-25 )in Berlin and then tours Frankfurt, Cologne and Munich through April. It opens in the U.S. on April 24th. I wonder what the difference in reception will be between Europe and the U.S. and wondering how much of an impact the rating system has shaped the audience.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Rate not so Great?
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Monsters vs. Aliens Gets a Bailout?
Nikki Fink WHAAAT? Bailed out Bank of American Paying Consumers To See Hollywood Film
Can't resist, from an earlier article...
a poorly received 3-D commercial for Monsters vs. Aliens that aired during the Super Bowl, there has been a slightly acrid stench surrounding the film
isn't that just Reese needing to take a shower?
The movie is a mess. Reese is not about quality that's for sure.
I'm really appalled by this story. I don't want my tax dollars used to help support a Disney flick.
Dreamworks is SKG
Pixar is Disney
I'm dismayed too.
Great post Spesh - don't ever worry about posting, I'm amazed that not only do you post something different everyday, but that each post is so interesting.
I have also always been dismayed that in our culture, violence is more tolerated than sexuality, and I think repeated exposure to violence desensitizes us and makes for a much more violent culture. I don't know why sexuality is such a taboo in our country. I much prefer the European rating system.
I have seen Coming Home, and Harold and Maude, by Hal Ashby, and I certainly do remember Bud Cort. Today's song reminds me of Get Together, by The Youngbloods, the key its in or something. Also Being There with Peter Sellars, I just couldn't believe how good that movie was. I couldn't make up my mind about what film to vote for, but am looking forward to Harold and Maude. :)
And wow about Austin in The Informers. :)
My bad Clearing it Up. Because Katzenberg came from Disney I think of it as having ties to that company. It is a separate company, although according to Wiki Disney will start distributing its films in 2010.
Check out the latest stuff on Spooky's site. Austin is doing a book reading!
Great post Special. I remember reading about the MPAA but forgot how subversive they are to film arts and culture changes. And to be so top secret, jeesh. Funny how HW has a reputation for being liberal but it really isn't. Underneath it's 1950's white male straight conservative.
I haven't seen any engagement story denials yet only more engagement stories. Guess PR wants to make sure they get their money's worth first. Or maybe Reeke is trying to decide to go with being engaged? Maybe Reese is drugging Jake oops I mean blackmailing Jake double oops I mean negotiating with Jake as I type.
MANY THANKS to whoever posted the 2 MvA BofA stories expose. Hope more people find out about BofA, a bank who recieved billions in bailout money from the US government, that they are handing out discounts so people can see the movie in 3D instead of 2D (whoopdedoo). I won't see that movie even if they paid me. Fuck that shit.
^Austin's Book Club Video
Reese's birthday is 3/22 Sunday. SXSW is this weekend too. Haven't seen pics of Jake since boarding that plane in a hurry (LOL "they're engaged/in love/she's pregnant", Jake acts like Reese has rabies. NO ONE acts like that when "engaged/in love/she's pregnant" NO ONE. PERIOD.) Wonder if we'll see Jake in Austin (one I would love to see, the other way I would fukeen die to see heh) or Reekeing or nothing.
This article goes over the male/female ratio in Oscar awards. I found it shocking. It's also clear to me that the majority are also white men.
Despite its own reputation for progressiveness, Hollywood continues to rank as one of the most male-dominated industries in the US. People tend not to notice who the power players are behind the scenes because we focus on the glamorous actors who are on stage. 2009 Oscar Tally
Okay, this may be an early April fool, but, Jake what are you doing!!! You appear to be forsaking the lovely Austin who is being all cute, hot, sexy and intellectual, to associate yourself with a woman who puts her name to this utter legally blond, the next chapter
Read the comments as well, they are pretty funny.
utter sh*t, was what I meant (and it really is)
Gah is there an MPAA rating for total shit?
NC-WOA: No one without Alzheimer's admitted
Okay, Special, have you checked out Austin's vlog, yet? This guy is really getting into this whole blogging thing, you can tell. I think it's great. It's always nice to be read to. And it's kind of cute when he can't find the passage that he wanted to read. They had to edit that part a little.
His hands are totally distracting to me, but in a good way.
;)
This is a really good post today, Special. I never really thought about the people who decide the ratings. Yeah, it's amazing the horrible graphic violence that is allowed. Course, I don't watch it anyhow. Not a fan at all of any of that stuff.
Yes I watched the SoGoprah Book Club.
It's been a bit since I read The Fountainhead, but my marked up copy is on the bookshelf out in the sun room....will have to go grab it and that section up.
Book club? Movie club? ....hmmmm : )
O2B-HK: For the deaf, dumb, and blind
RW
Just realised that the sheer existence of Reese's latest (straight to dvd) production masterpiece, Legally Blondes is irrefutable proof that Jake and Reese are most definately not a real couple.
Now, although Jake may not be the smartest guy on the planet I'm pretty sure he has fairly good taste in films, and whatever the power play in their possible relationship, if you did love and care for someone, wouldn't you whisper quietly in their ear that attaching your name to such obvious crap was not a good idea.
Here's hoping they go on another 'Love Trip' to promote this one.
Today's song reminds me of Get Together, by The Youngbloods, the key its in or something.
I hear that too. This record is great, it's called The Magic Lantern. Suzy Mangion, who we've had on the blog solo, is the singer.
Reese on Leno
She packs her stuff in little zip lock bags! Oh gosh! Oh shoot! I have jet lag, can't stay!
I've always wanted to see that movie about the ratings system. Boy, my Netflix que just keeps getting longer and longer, and yet I seem to watch so few movies lately. I bet they love me because I keep the movies forever, saving them postage and processing.
Off to catch up on Austin.
Reese on Leno
Oj!
After watching ...Not yet rated, I really did wonder what they were going to have to cut out of Informers.
One thing in the movie it show scenes of same sex themed movies vs. heterosexual themed movies side by side and over and over again the same sexed themed movies were labeled with NC-17 ratings for almost the same scene and in some cases less explicit.
Oh course Trey Parker and Matt Stone do everything to push the ratings board over the edge, and the puppet sex scene in Team America is such the example. And they said that they sent the MPAA the entire rough cut of every kind of position and act they could think to push them. Because the MPAA said the only thing the puppets could do was missionary position. Dude - there puppets, kids did worse with their Barbies and GI Joes to paraphrase Matt Stone.
It's really hard to get past the phoniness. Pre-Reeke, I honestly thought she was a genuine, down-to-earth, rather nice person. Now we know so much about her, very little of it positive, and you realize how much that image is constantly pushed.
Summary about for next week's episode of OTH, "Searching for a Former Clarity"
According to the official episode preview, " Lucas (Chad Michael Murray) and Julian (guest star Austin Nichols) hit a setback with the production of the film. Peyton (Hilarie Burton) and Haley (Bethany Joy Galeotti) help Mia (guest star Kate Voegele) with her new single. Brooke (Sophia Bush) must intervene when Sam (guest star Ashley Rickards) is arrested. Jamie (Jackson Brundage) discovers the truth about Dan (Paul Johansson) and Uncle Keith."
Here are two preview clips over on Buddytv.com (Sorry no Austin)
One is from Mark Schwahn and the other is Haley's storyline
Buddytv.com
Austin is getting classier; Reese is getting crassier.
Wicked, I just love Suzy Mangion and George. Will definitely check them out. Thanks! :)
What kind of breakdown is there sex-wise, on the film raters? Even if they're women, I can't help but feel a lot of this is because so many of entertainment institutions are dominated by men. I also think the fact that HW is so dominated by men contributes to the homophobia. If they can't even find a place for women, is it any wonder things haven't changed?
Sometimes it really sucks to live in the U.S. The acceptance of violence over sex is one such example. I have no problem with a violent film, if done for the right reasons, I don't see why films with sex can't get the same treatment.
The real problem with the ratings system too is that NC-17 has such a negative connotation, most papers, for example, won't advertise films with that rating, and a lot of theaters won't show them. And film makers are afraid they won't make money, it used to be that R ratings were considered bad for comedies, for example, because they limited the audience.
Let's hope that they put out an unrated version of the Informers, the way they so often do with the raunchier comedies anymore.
OT a bit, this whole discussion reminds me of a story in the NYT today about how about half of the young fangirls think RiRi was to blame for what happened to her and the other half think they are both to blame, and how most still think Chris Brown is a great guy and just made a forgivable mistake. Very disturbing.
Reese is trying to prove that she isn't proper and doesn't have a stick up her ass. There are a lot of comments about her being too uptight and she is on a tear trying to disprove that idea. She even addressed it in her Elle magazine article. The goal of the Leno appearance in addition to pushing the movie is to have viewers think: She's funny! She jokes about farts! She lets her kids eat with their hands! Gosh she is just like you and me. Don't you love her even more now? It's almost impossible not to!
The sad thing about BWR and Team Reese's full penetration model is that it works. BWR studies all the consumer data they have and adjusts the product to meet the needs of an ever changing marketplace. They are good at what they do. But if you're paying attention you'll notice how disingenuous Reese come across. I can't stand her more than ever.
Austin is getting classier; Reese is getting crassier.
With her mystery bump and ausfarht sign thought it's Reese gets gassier.
Me either, I agree with the above person who said, when I first heard of her, I felt she was a rather nice, down to earth person. With all of the recent things we've found out, it may definitely not be the case.
I meant to say also in my post above that I don't have a problem with violence if it seriously helps tell the story, but what I notice is that all kinds of gratuitous violence passes the ratings system, is in videogames, etc., but sexuality is very much restricted, and same sex sexuality more so than opposite sex. So I definitely have a problem with that, and agree with you Destiny.
They interviewed Kevin Smith who said that he feels that any movie that has scenes with violence toward women should be at the top of the list of things for an NC-17 rating, even over murder. He pointed out that violence toward women has become so commonplace that it's just a scene that moves the plotline along in most movies, there are no consequences in movies for that.
It takes the whole movie to for the PI team to figure out who's on the ratings board. It is pretty split between men and women on the board. But there are lot of other issues with the board members.
Honestly watching it just wound me up, as someone who a huge support of intellectual freedom. I was livid and wanted to yell at past president of the MPAA Jack Valenti. I don't know if I could deal with the ratings board if I was director. Sadly they are the only game in town in the U.S. and have a strangehold.
There are just too many people with strangleholds over our lives.
And sadly, one can never underestimate the stupidity of the masses TR. This whole marketing by committee, rather than who you are, is just another reason I despise with a passion what Jake is doing, along with what I was talking about earlier today. I just have no interest in people like that, and yet it is getting harder and harder to find people who are not under the sway of the almighty marketer.
It's one of the reasons I love Austin so much, and what they're doing at Southern Gothic. It seems to be coming from the heart, not a marketing study.
I haven't read The Fountainhead since my college days, but it's always wonderful to see more of Austin's personality. Did it look like he was growing a mustache to anyone? Maybe just bad lighting and a days worth of stubble. I wonder if the video was filmed in his apt or rental in NC. There is a PC in the background on the table. Looks like a residence.
Sorry that I have not posted sooner
than this but I had a little accident at work on Tuesday. I was
cutting cloth and nearly cut my
left fingertip off next to the thumb! It would not stop bleeding
so I was taken to the urgent care.
It was soaked in betadine, they put
a bandage on it, and called in some
prescriptions-ibuprofen and an antiobiotic for it. It is still sore but I am okay!! I have also had this nasty cold-sinus infection
for almost a week but am finally
getting better.
My deepest sympathy goes out to
Natasha Richardson's whole family.
She was a very talented actress and
a great person. It is such a tragedy.
For the ratings system, they do
some strange things. For myself, I
often wonder why they do what they
do. But it's Hollywood and they
do some strange things.
I cannot wait to see The Informers myself so keep me posted
as to when it starts in the USA.
Austin looks really handsome and
gorgeous as usual! Have a good
weekend, everybody!
About Jake and Reese, only they know what is happening. Have they
still officially denied it? For
myself, I am going to concentrate
more on Austin's career. Prairie
Girl, I forgot to add I hope your
father continues to do well. You
are right, there is nothing more
important than family! I just hope
that Jake does what makes him the
most happy and satisfied in his
life. The same should go for everybody I guess.
From an interview with Gregor Jordan director of The Informers:
Question: What’s interesting is that American film generally, when it comes to sex, is very puritanical, whereas violence is a given in American film, sexuality, especially at the level that is in this movie, is generally considered to be taboo. How hard was it for you to persuade these younger actors to do what they were required to do to create the reality that you were striving for? The sexuality reality that you were striving for?
Jordan: Well, look. These young actors were so gung-ho. You know, they were fans of Bret’s work. They got into the mindset of the piece. And apart from anything else, they’re professional actors. All the nudity and sex scenes and everything were all done very professionally. And there was no – you know, we’d yell, “Cut,” and they’d all stop, and sit there and talk. And then we’d yell, “Action.” So, I guess – look. For actors, these kinds of scenes are I guess difficult scenes to do, but it’s part of their job, kind of thing. But, look. In answer to your question about American cinema and its attitude towards nudity and sex and things like that – I guess it just made me think of something. Like, the producer Marco Weber sort of – when I was having my first discussions about coming on board, he pitched this movie to me as much more like a European film than an American film. I’d read the script, and I was intrigued, but I actually was quite incredulous that someone was going to make it. Because of what you said. Films like this don’t really get made that much. And he said, “Well, I see this like an Antonioni film, or a Fellini film, or something like that. You know, it’s not a film that’s necessarily about plot. It’s more about moods and character, and about a time and a place.” And I guess when I applied that, and I – and there was actually a really interesting film that he referenced called The Garden of the Finzi-Continis, which is about all these beautiful people, all just – you know, nothing much happens. They all just have games of tennis and have cocktails, and stuff like that. but the backdrop is -- the Fascists are taking over and getting rid of all the Jews. And half these people are Jewish. But they’re having such a good time that they’re oblivious to all the stuff that’s going on. And I guess – you know, look. I mean, I don’t want to sound pompous, or anything like that. But to me, this movie sort of sits more in that realm than it does in, say, other contemporary American films. And so in that sense, nudity and sex and things like that are just normal, you know?
Question: Will there be an uncut version that will come out on DVD, do you think?
Jordan: Possibly. I mean, it was very interesting trying to cut this movie, because the script was quite unwieldy. Well, you know, it was long and unwieldy. Because, you know, Bret put a lot in there. And what we decided to do was just shoot it all. Knowing that we were going to find the film in the cutting room, in a sense. So there was actually a lot of really fantastic scenes that aren’t in the movie, that really deserve to get seen, I think. Because there’s such – you know, as just sort of isolated scenes, I think they’re really interesting moments. So whether or not that comes out on the DVD, or whether – you know, maybe they’ll put it on the Internet, or something like that – you know, yes. know.
...
Question: Is it going to be NC-17, or is it going to be R?
Jordan: It’s going to be R. Yeah. It was given an R. A hard R.
link
One thing in the movie it show scenes of same sex themed movies vs. heterosexual themed movies side by side and over and over again the same sexed themed movies were labeled with NC-17 ratings for almost the same scene and in some cases less explicit.
Sad, but not surprising.
this whole discussion reminds me of a story in the NYT today about how about half of the young fangirls think RiRi was to blame for what happened to her and the other half think they are both to blame, and how most still think Chris Brown is a great guy and just made a forgivable mistake. Very disturbing.
This makes me so sad. If women are going to excuse men's violence toward them... I don't know. A good friend of mine was in a physically abusive relationship for a brief time. She made so many excuses for why her husband was abusing her. It was unbelievable. Thankfully she realized and got out.
Kacie, I hope your finger is okay. Fingers really bleed a lot when cut and it can be scary.
You
are right, there is nothing more
important than family!
For some people it is the created family, rather than the biological one, that saves us. And god knows gay people have cornered the market on the created family! :)
Have to share this with you all. It's part of an e-mail message about the dog, Ratchet, who was in Baghdad with servicemember Gwen Beberg. There was a petition to try and get him to the States.
Thank you for helping Sgt. Gwen Beberg and her dog Ratchet!
M.A.R.S. Safe Haven, SPCA International and Operation Baghdad Pups would like to thank everyone for your support to bring Ratchet home safely to the United States. He is now in Minnesota with the Beberg family awaiting Sgt. Beberg's homecoming from Iraq.
You can continue to support efforts to change military policy regarding pets our service men and women adopt by signing the petition at:
www.thepetitionsite.com/1/change-military-policy-about-animals
YES!!!
Human beings - innocent children, women, men are killed every day in Iraq without a chance for being "adopted" and living a humane life but Ratchet, the dog is safe now! Hooray!!!
There are women being abused right here in the US, Jodi, women and children, people living on the streets. There are millions without jobs or homes, millions without basic health care, millions forced into second class citizenry by puritanical zealots. Our education system is failing, our inferstructure is crumbling, our borders are a seive allowing the free flow of illegal immigrants. Drug traffiking, ganga wars, guns in the hands of felonys.
All those crises happening right here on the shores of this nation and you take the time to bring your smug over to a blog for entertainment purposes only.
Yeah, might want to not wear that moral superiority today, Jodi, it clashes with your hypocrisy.
^^I think that is wonderful about Ratchet - what is to be gained by letting an innocent animal suffer? War is manmade; humanity causes war - we only have ourselves to blame for innocent men, women and children dying. We don't have to do it, and there's no sense in letting creatures that have absolutely nothing to do with it suffer as well.
The more people I meet the more I like animals.
Plus, if you can make a difference in your sphere of influence in the life of a man, woman, child, animal or the environment where it is needed, it's all good if you ask me. There is more to life on earth than humanity, and more that we owe a responsibility to.
And there are lots of good people in great organizations, working together all over the world, to help make better the horrible things we humans do to each other and other living things, and lots of children from war-torn and third world countries who are being adopted and given a second chance at a happy life. So that's something to be happy about, and not deny Ratchet a chance at happiness too. It's nice when we can also help those who cannot speak for themselves. Happy for Ratchett, and for Sgt. Beberg. It's what it's all about.
All power to those who saved Ratchet and any other defenceless,innocent animal caught up in Man's hideousness!
Talking of hideousness,it makes me wanna hurl that Jake signs up for another publicity tour/engagement rumour/pregnancy b*££ocks whenever RW has a film/s to promote or rescue from going down the tubes! I can't believe he has sold his soul and bought into this "relationship as Hollywood business deal" crap! Heath must be looking down on him and thinking "Mate,what are you doing?!" Not that I should presume to know what our beloved Heath is thinking in the hereafter but Jake is now playing the putrid fame-game he fought so hard against :-( When is he going to wake up and extricate himself??!! Why am I wasting my time getting angry about this?!
Mind you, before I turn off the PC (don't turn it on half as much any more) I can't resist going over Babble to prod them and give the smug deluded plonkers something to delete ;-)
lots of new pics of Austin on ANJ
Sorry to hear that u got hurt Kacie. I'm glad your ok.
"Talking of hideousness,it makes me wanna hurl that Jake signs up for another publicity tour/engagement rumour/pregnancy b*££ocks whenever RW has a film/s to promote or rescue from going down the tubes! I can't believe he has sold his soul and bought into this "relationship as Hollywood business deal" crap!"
ITA. Those photos actually made me feel sick to my stomach. I'm not going to do that to myself EVER again.
I love animals so any animal being rescued is music to my ears.
I liked Austins little reading too. Thanks for the link. Great music today BTW.
ITA Wicked. In addition, when things are bad people find hope and happiness where they can, and if bonding with a dog makes it that much easier for someone in the military to make it through their tour of duty in a place like Iraq, then I think helping them bring home a dog is the least we can do for that person, who has risked all for their country. I'm against war and what happens to people in countries at war, but I still think it is important to support our soldiers.
Oops, forgot to say hi Kacie, and I'm glad you still have your finger.
Oh and PG to answer your question, I have just 1 brother. My aunt and uncle only have 2 children also so we are a small family.
Dear Ted:
I'm originally from Georgia but live in Dallas, Texas, now. Recently I told my fiancé who Toothy Tile is "rumored" to be. And he wasn't shocked at all. Do you think Toothy would finally come out if he found out the general public already knew his "secret"?
—Skyler
Dear Do Tell:
What rumors?
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