This Film Is Not Yet Rated Reviewed

Never has a movie better proven that a system works than “This Film Has Not Been Rated” a documentary on the MPAA. Kirby Dick turns his lens to investigate the Motion Picture of America Association. He even hires a private investigation couple to find the illusive raters who stamp rating into the movies we see.

From a gated building in Sherman Oaks, the MPAA sets the standards for the entire Film industry. They can make or break a movie with a NC-17 label. Yet the MPAA, a kin to Skulls and bones, is shrouded in secrecy. Who are the members of this society held behind iron gates? Kerby takes his camera to find out.

With interviews from directors, writers, and folk heroes of the Indy film world, Kirby explores the reason for the ratings. “This Film Is Not Yet Rated”‘s over all prognosis of the movie appears to be the MPAA is a dash homophobic but, as Kurby’s camera unveils, America is a tad homophobic.

If the MPAA job is to inform Joe Six-pack, at a eye glance, of the offensiveness of a movie then “This Film Is Not Yet Rated” says the MPAA does it’s job. This is not to say Indy movies like “Boy’s Don’t Cry” should not been seen. However, The MPAA does not receive letters from urban liberal areas and the majority of this country is not a urban liberal area. Citizens of the American Wastland write in letters by the drove. Citizens who love Jesus and are deeply offended by any mention of homosexuality. Or Parents who don’t have the time or want to research a movie and who turn a little green at 9 year old’s innocent questions that have sordid answers.

The MPAA is slanted, Kerby does an excellent job in his comparison of Cinema history. The MPAA is shrouded in mystery, as the private investigation crew goes to great lengths to uncover their identity, and the MPAA does it’s job as one Rated Director relates “They told me they would get load for letters, if we left it in the movie. (Paraphrased) The real answers to “This Film is Not Yet Rated” lay beyond the mortar walls of Hollywood and in the American wasteland. The only pity is Kerby didn’t take his camera to places no decent urban liberal wants to go.