'Blue Valentine' NC-17 Rating Overturned

MPAA changes film's rating to an R after Weinstein Company appeal.
By Eric Ditzian


Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams in "Blue Valentine"
Photo: Weinstein Co.

"Blue Valentine," the Ryan Gosling- and Michelle Williams-starring indie with a shot at a slew of Oscar nominations, was dealt a surprising blow in October when the Motion Picture Association of America slapped the drama with an NC-17 rating.

Now, after a personal appeal from Weinstein Company co-founder Harvey Weinstein, the MPAA has reversed course and changed the film's rating to an R, according to Variety.

The film had originally received the restrictive NC-17 rating due to what the MPAA termed a "shocking, gory depiction of a dying marriage." The most sexually explicit scene showed Gosling performing oral sex on Williams. But as observers pointed out in recent weeks, many films that feature oral sex — such as this year's "Black Swan," also an awards-season darling — nonetheless receive an R rating.

The Weinstein Company, which bought "Blue Valentine" after a buzzy debut at the Sundance Film Festival, lodged an official complaint with the MPAA in October. "We respect the work of the MPAA and we hope, after having a chance to sit down with them, they will see that our appeal is reasonable, and the film, which is an honest and personal portrait of a relationship, would be significantly harmed by such a rating," the company said in a statement at the time.

While the film, which is set to hit theaters December 31, would have seen its advertising opportunities and box-office potential adversely affected by the NC-17 rating, the publicity surrounding the rating also served as something of a PR tool. According to Deadline Hollywood, the MPAA's reversal came in a unanimous decision.

In a recent interview, Gosling spoke out about what he saw as a ratings double standard when it came to sex scenes on the big screen. "There's plenty of oral sex scenes in a lot of movies, where it's a man receiving it from a woman — and they're R-rated," he said. " 'Black Swan' has an oral scene between two women and that's an R rating, but ours is between a husband and his wife and that's NC-17? ... It stigmatizes the movie in a big way."

Check out everything we've got on "Blue Valentine."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1653859/20101208/story.jhtml

Izabella Scorupco Jessica White Cindy Taylor Maggie Grace Kate Walsh

Blowing Leaves

So, how cool is being a kid?

_MG_6673a

My brother-in-law was blowing leaves this weekend and Jack and Nora thought it was the greatest thing ever. I love this photo because they don't have a care in the world. Very lucky kids.

(For the record, Jack doesn't run around in leggings; he had them on underneath his Halloween costume.)

One more favorite:

_MG_6679

Source: http://www.prettyinthecity.com/blog/2010/10/31/blowing-leaves.html

Eva Longoria Sienna Miller Jules Asner Rachel Weisz Laura Prepon

WTCC ?still strong? despite BMW exit

World Touring Car Championship boss Marcello Lotti is confident that the series will not be too badly affected by BMW's decision not to field a works team in 2011, as the German firm will still be supporting customer teams. BMW announced this weekend that it would end its factory participation in the WTCC with immediate effect.

Source: http://www.inracingnews.com/other-news/touring-cars/wtcc/wtcc-still-strong-despite-bmw-exit/

Ricardo Rosset Huub Rothengatter Basil van Rooyen Lloyd Ruby JeanClaude Rudaz

Rookie Webb scores shock maiden win

Rookie Jonathon Webb scored an amazing maiden win in a bizarre race one of the Sydney Telstra 500 on the streets of Homebush which saw all three championship contenders aquaplane into the wall on lap 60. The race turned upside down when the three championship contenders Mark Winterbottom, James Courtney and Jamie Whincup, running 1-2-3, decided, along with the rest of the field, to remain on slicks as the race restarted on lap 60

Source: http://www.inracingnews.com/3rdparty/rookie-webb-scores-shock-maiden-win/

Alex Ribeiro Ken Richardson Fritz Riess Jim Rigsby Jochen Rindt

Many gaps to be filled on 2011 F1 entry list

The FIA has published the 2011 F1 entry list, which is notable more for what is missing than what is actually on it. No drivers are listed for Force India, Toro Rosso (although the team has named Buemi and Alguersuari), … Continue reading

Source: http://adamcooperf1.com/2010/11/30/many-gaps-to-be-filled-on-2011-f1-entry-list/

Bruce Halford Jim Hall Duncan Hamilton Lewis Hamilton David Hampshire