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BLUE VALENTINE Movie Review Analysis; What NC-17 Rating means

Updated on October 11, 2012

BLUE VALENTINE starring Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams, directed by Derek Cianfrance

Blue Valentine opened in Toronto theatres last week with an R rating. You might be wondering why I am telling you this but, Blue Valentine was originally slapped by the Motion Pictures Association of America (MPAA) with an NC-17 rating. This apparently shocked everyone including their neighbours and their neighbours' dogs as very few movies (none that I've heard of) were deemed by the MPAA worthy of the notorious rating. NC-17 rating was the old "X" rating, which at the time meant "No one under 17 admitted." However, the "X" rating was not an MPAA trademark. So when the porn industry started rating their movies in the "X" category, more X's attached to the movie the better the movie (porn-wise, of course) the "X" rating became synonymous to pornography.

This being the case, the NC-17 rating was born. On September 27, 1990, the MPAA introduced the rating NC-17 ("No Children Under 17 Admitted") as its official rating for adult-oriented films bearing the MPAA seal.

The ratings used from 1990 to the late 1990s were:

  • Rated G: General Audiences — All ages admitted
  • Rated PG: Parental Guidance Suggested — Some material may not be suitable for children
  • Rated PG-13: Parents Strongly Cautioned — Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13
  • Rated R: Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian
  • Rated NC-17: No children under 17 admitted

In the late 1990, MPAA decided that the NC-17 wording "No Children Under 17 Admitted" was not strong enough and changed it to "No One 17 And Under Admitted".

So what is the big deal?

So what if it's NC-17 and the kids under 17 can't see it. Well, that's not exactly true. What it really means is that the movie cannot play in major theatre chains. Theatre owners, scared to death of legions of sign-carrying anti-smut crusaders and not wanting to turn away teens and pre-teens at the boxoffice, have almost universally refused to show NC-17 films. In the movie business, teens and pre-teens are also known by their trade-name: "Ticket-buyers." Furthermore, media that refused to advertise X-rated films also refused to advertise NC-17 movies. It stigmatizes the movie in a big way. Needless to say, NC-17 rating is the kiss of death for a movie.


film by OCAL, source Photobucket
film by OCAL, source Photobucket
adult genre by OCAL, source Photobucket
adult genre by OCAL, source Photobucket
Syringe by OCAL, source Photobucket
Syringe by OCAL, source Photobucket
wedding by OCAL, source Photobucket
wedding by OCAL, source Photobucket
Swearing by OCAL, source Photobucket
Swearing by OCAL, source Photobucket
nude female silhuette by OCAL, source Photobucket
nude female silhuette by OCAL, source Photobucket
brutality by OCAL, source Photobucket
brutality by OCAL, source Photobucket
Husband wife love. by Mohamed Ibrahim, source Photobucket
Husband wife love. by Mohamed Ibrahim, source Photobucket

So how did Blue Valentine got slapped by MPAA with NC-17 rating?

Well, I went to see the movie on Friday and I honestly didn't see anything so outrageously over-the-board sex in the film to warrant said rating, despite all the hullabaloo surrounding it. But to tell you the truth, I wouldn't know what NC-17 is even if it hits me on the head. The MPAA does not release specific guidelines as to what content will receive which rating. However, they do state that many factors are considered including content such as sex, violence, nudity, language, adult topics and drug use.

Fair enough. So let's do an analysis of Blue Valentine, shall we?

  • Drug use - No drugs.
  • Adult Topic - It's about a marriage on the rocks. So I guess that's adult topic, which I'm sure the kids are just dying to see.
  • Language - No, no swearing that I could remember.
  • Nudity - Yes, I saw female breasts. But then again, I had seen female breasts in some PG-13 movies.
  • Violence - define violence. Has any movie ever been rated NC-17 due to violence? Right, never. Well, almost never.
  • Sex - Yes, between husband and wife. Oh yes, the couple had sex before they got married. OMG! That could be it! Seriously, no.. but it was definitely about sex.


So what happens if your movie get slapped by the MPAA with NC-17 rating?

You can appeal and re-edit, removing the scenes too offensive to the board and that usually solves the problem and your film rating will drop to R, which is the more acceptable rating.


In the case of Blue Valentine, however, the film's director, Derek Cianfrance, refused to re-edit his film on principle. He believes his film did not deserve NC-17 rating. After a short time, the MPAA had overturned the NC-17 they slapped on Blue Valentine, and now the film has the softer R rating.


What caused the MPAA to overturn their original rating?


No changes to the film itself were made, but to the description of the film. Turns out there's a difference between "graphic sexual content" and "explicit sexual content."


According to Joan Graves, head of the Classification and Rating Administration, this is how the different wording affects the decision: "'Explicit' is usually only used to describe NC-17 material. "'Graphic"' means the sexuality is strong, even graphic in some areas, but seems to give the correct information to parents."


Ah.

Broken heart by OCAL, source: Photobucket
Broken heart by OCAL, source: Photobucket
Michelle Williams and Ryan Gosling in "Blue Valentine" source: Sundance Film Festival
Michelle Williams and Ryan Gosling in "Blue Valentine" source: Sundance Film Festival
Michelle Williams at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival, source: Wikimedia Commons
Michelle Williams at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival, source: Wikimedia Commons
Ryan Gosling, source: Wikimedia Commons
Ryan Gosling, source: Wikimedia Commons

Movie rating:

10 - A masterpiece, go, see it now

9 - Excellent movie, a must see

8 - Great movie, go see it

7 - Good movie, worth seeing

6 - Not bad, could be much better

5 - So so, worth if you don't pay

4 - Not good, even if you don't pay

3 - Poor movie, not recommended

2 - Very bad, forget about it

1 - Worst ever, avoid at all costs

BLUE VALENTINE starring Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams, directed by Derek Cianfrance

Blue Valentine is a painful analysis of a marriage that begins on a cloud of pure romantic love, only to collapse miserably six years later. Dean (Ryan Gosling), the blue-collar husband incapable of changing or comprehending why everything has gone wrong. The wife Cindy (Michelle Williams), who once dreamt of becoming a doctor, finds herself barely able to be in the same room with her husband.

Blue Valentine is a love story about falling out of love, following the marriage of Dean and Cindy as they move through critical highs and lows: the first moment they fall in love, and the realization that comes when everything is over and there's no chance of recovery. This is an extremely painful film to watch. It's the joyful promising beginnings and the sad irrevocable ending.

The story begins in the present and through flashes, the audience get to see the way they were. We draw comparisons and analyze the differences, the same way people do when they remember a failed relationship. There were so many wonderful moments. Where did it go wrong?

Dean makes the best effort he knows how to save their marriage: he books them into a seedy fantasy motel which Cindy obviously doesn't want to go. The audience can feel her frustrations, crying behind closed doors. They both drink until they can't stand up anymore and they both fell on the floor. Dean tries to revive the passion in his wife by trying to make love. But the passion in Cindy has long been gone.

Blue Valentine is a great movie with defining raw performances from two brilliant young actors, who carried the weight of a heavy drama on their shoulders like the real pros they both are. Their relationship looks and feels so real. What is so impressive is the dual performances of the actors, who seem like entirely different people as the film flashes from the past to the present and back. They go through both physical and emotional transformations during the six year period of the film: Williams from shy and adorable to sad, sullen and 15 pounds heavier, and Gosling from charming young lad full of life to bland father beaten down by life with a receding hairline.

If you want to see a movie that is entertaining, do not see this movie - this movie is painful to watch. Also, do not see this movie if your relationship is going downhill, it might hasten the fall. If you want to see two outstanding actors deliver unforgettable performances and the sheer genius of a brilliant director, then go see Blue Valentine. You will love this movie.

I am giving this movie a 9. I love it.



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