There’s not a ton to say here except that the MPAA has overturned their completely illogical NC-17 rating for Blue Valentine, and “awarded” (not much of a prize) the film the R-rating that will actually allow it to thrive. The rating has been in contention for some time, and the Weinsteins were very serious about overruling the rating- I made my thoughts clear when we covered the petition they set up on the films behalf.
I must admit that I was a bit suspicious that the shadowy organization might dig in and grow stubborn in the face of so much pressure and criticism. Thankfully that’s not the case, and the film can actually enjoy a chance to be seen by wider audiences.
The days of these kinds of controversies are drawing to a close, but there are still a few more years the lame-duck board of censorship can lash out. Considering a smartphone Google search quickly offers parents much more information than whatever letter the board arbitrarily assigns to a film, I’m not sure who the board could even claim to be advocating for anymore. I hope they slide into full irrelevance in peace, and don’t try to drag too many unsuspecting films down with them in a sad attempt to stomp around and look useful.
Source | Variety