 On the heels of the news that ‘Killer Joe’ will officially be coming out in theaters this summer with an NC-17 rating, we now have a Trailer to share with you all. It looks like William Friedkin hasn’t lost a step with age (and is wearing that rating rather proudly overall), and you can see for yourself by watching the trailer after the jump. I know festival reviews of the flick were somewhat mixed, but I like what I saw here, especially from Matthew McConaughey, Emile Hirsch, and Juno Temple. Decide for yourself below, but I know I’ll be seeing it in July…
Read more on ‘Killer Joe’ gets a Trailer!…
 When William Friedkin’s new film ‘Killer Joe’ was slapped with the NC-17 rating, two immediate reactions followed. As is often the case, one was confusion over why it got such a restrictive rating (most people seem to believe that it’s undeserved, more in the vein of ‘Blue Valentine’ bizarrely getting it than ‘Shame’ getting it), while the other was to wonder if the film would be cut or not to secure an R rating. Well, Deadline is reporting here that the movie is going to indeed be rated NC-17 when it hits theaters in July. After the jump, I’ll share my thoughts on the current state of the NC-17 rating, but for now…I’m glad Friedkin and the studio are sticking to their guns with this noir starring Matthew McConaughey and Emile Hirsch. It’s rather rare these days.
Read more on ‘Killer Joe’ will be releases as an NC-17 film!…
 Another day, another MPAA related issue it seems. This time, it’s the upcoming flick ‘Killer Joe’ running into an issue with the ratings board. Here’s what Deadline has to say on the matter:
Another movie has gotten an NC-17. Killer Joe, the Billy Friedkin-directed adaptation of the Tracy Letts play just got an NC-17 rating. That is one of the first releases by LD Entertainment, the new distribution company started by Mickey Liddell and run by David Dinerstein. They will appeal the rating and it’s unusual; Letts is the Pulitzer Prize and Tony-winning playwright of August: Osage County.This one is a garish, sexy black comedy that stars Matthew McConaughey, Emile Hirsch, Juno Temple, Gina Gerson and Thomas Haden Church and it’s slated for a summer release.
Read more on ‘Killer Joe’ is the latest film to be slapped with an NC-17 rating!…
 ‘Shame’ is not just a portrait of sex addiction. It’s also a movie about damaged siblings, the struggle against one’s own nature, and also the absolute loneliness that living in New York can entail. In fact, this is one of the best movies in years about New York, with the city functioning as its own character. Filmmaker Steve McQueen brings his artistic sensibilities to a tough story and makes something beautiful and haunting out of it. It certainly doesn’t hurt that he has Oscar worthy performances from Michael Fassbender and Carey Mulligan in the film. In fact, Fassbender’s work is the best I’ve seen by an actor all year, and Mulligan is easily in the top 10. I was blown away by this flick…it’s never easy to watch, but you can’t look away. From the impeccably precise direction to the magnificent acting to piercing score and wonderful cinematography, everything about this film is just about perfect. It’s easily one of the top 3 films of 2011 for me (it’s fighting for that number 1 spot with ‘The Descendants’ and ‘Drive’, so stay tuned to see which work emerges victorious at the end of the year, or if something swoops in at the last minute for the top honor) and has stayed with me in the time after seeing it in a way few movies can. It may be a masterpiece by McQueen, who directs and co-writes this film pretty much flawlessly. A quick note about the NC-17 rating…Fox Searchlight made the absolute right decision putting it out with the rating. There’s no satisfying version of this story that could have been done with cuts to make it an R. They’re right in saying the rating is a badge of honor. If any NC-17 film can change the stigma of the rating, this is the one to do it…
Read more on Shame (****)…
 It’s interesting how a lot of people are coming around to the NC-17 rating this year. Last year it was going to be the kiss of death for ‘Blue Valentine’ and this year it was going to spoil any of the hopes and dreams that ‘Shame’ had. In the last month or two though, things have changed. You’re hearing a lot about bucking the NC-17 trend of failure at the box office and Oscars. You’re hearing about legitimizing the rating, and how this could maybe be a good thing for film in general. I’ve been saying it for a long time, but I’m glad it’s finally getting some mainstream traction. Here’s what The Hollywood Reporter recently had to say:
Read more on Will “Shame” Change the Outlook on the NC-17 Rating?…
Steve McQueen’s “Shame”, quickly becoming one of the most eagerly anticipated films of the fall, received its expected NC-17 rating from the Ratings Board this week. This was expected, championed even by Fox Searchlight, and the marketing team has its marching orders – get this film seen and make this the second NC-17 film ever to be nominated by the Academy. To do this, would be noteworthy, as the Academy has only nominated one NC-17 film one time; “Henry & June”, which landed a Costume Design nomination in 1991. And it will certainly be a mountainous challenge. “Shame”, which features a widely praised lead acting performance by Michael Fassbender and a reportedly impressive supporting turn by Carey Mulligan, has now been given the industry’s Scarlet Letter(s). Theatrical chains nationwide, including AMC and Regal, widely refuse to show NC-17 films in their theaters and even some independent chains duck away from exhibiting NC-17 films. The NC-17 rating, with no thanks from the Ratings Board, has been tailored and packaged to make attendees feel as if they are performing some illicit deed in seeking out and attending these films. Clearly, there is a stigma associated with any and all films branded with this NC-17 tag and ironically, it shames people from attending.
Read more on Thoughts on “Shame” And That NC-17……
 Not that anyone is surprised, but the MPAA officially handed down their rating for Steve McQueen’s controversial new film Shame, and ladies and gents…it’s not an R rating. I don’t think this is as big a hurt to the flick as it might be to others, but we shall see. Here’s the story from The Hollywood Reporter on the announcement:
Read more on Shame gets its expected NC-17 rating……
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On the heels of the news that ‘Killer Joe’ will officially be coming out in theaters this summer with an NC-17 rating, we now have a Trailer to share with you all. It looks like William Friedkin hasn’t lost a step with age (and is wearing that rating rather proudly overall), and you can see for yourself by watching the trailer after the jump. I know festival reviews of the flick were somewhat mixed, but I like what I saw here, especially from Matthew McConaughey, Emile Hirsch, and Juno Temple. Decide for yourself below, but I know I’ll be seeing it in July…
