THEATER
• King of Shadows
• A Midsummer Night's Dream
• Oh What War
• Three Changes
• 4 Adults Only
FILM
• The New York International Independent Film and Video Festival
• Virtual JFK: Vietnam if Kennedy Had Lived
Q&A
• 'Grey' Area
A health expert turned filmmaker makes his East Coast premiere
CULTURE VULTURE
• Culture Vulture

This Film is Not Yet Rated
Directed by Kirby Dick

Review by Ethan Alter

Less an objective documentary than a shot across the bow on behalf of mad-as-hell filmmakers everywhere, "This Film is Not Yet Rated" attempts to peel back the veil of secrecy surrounding the MPAA's controversial ratings process. Ever since the system was instituted in the late 1960s, countless horror stories have circulated through the industry grapevine detailing the organization's hypersensitive – and often contradictory – attitude towards onscreen language, violence and sex. In fact, it's difficult to find a director in Hollywood who hasn't had a run-in with the ratings board, and many of them have gone public with their experiences. Meanwhile, the MPAA continues to keep much of its operations, including the identities of its raters, a secret, claiming that it wants to shield them against unspecified "outside influences."

Rating the Raitings: In the documentary "This Film is Not Yet Rated," Kirby Dick sends a few P.I.'s to uncover the mysteries of the MPAA's rating system.

Enter Kirby Dick, an Oscar-nominated documentary filmmaker who decided to go one step beyond complaining about the MPAA in the press. With the help of two private investigators, Dick tracked down and captured on film the names and faces of the nine people who make up the current ratings board. His findings speak volumes about the MPAA's apparent disregard for its own rules. For example, although the board chairperson claims that raters are all "parents with children five to 17," it turns out that many of them have kids who are 18 and above. Even more damning is the information Dick uncovers about the MPAA appeals board. The identities of these individuals are also kept secret and we learn why when Dick – who had stationed a P.I. outside an appeals hearing to scribble down license plate numbers – flashes their names on the screen. More than half are revealed to be the heads of major theater chains, while the rest are studio executives, film buyers and, perhaps most shockingly, members of the clergy.

Dick has provided a valuable public service by bringing these facts to light. It's almost enough to make up for the fact that the rest of the documentary is disappointingly skimpy on new material. Much of the information imparted in the film has already been covered in greater detail elsewhere, and Dick refrains from pursuing some of the more interesting questions, like how America's ratings system compares to those adopted by other countries. To his credit, Dick has rounded up a strong cast of talking heads, including filmmakers like Kimberly Pierce and John Waters, as well as two ex-raters. "This Film is Not Yet Rated" may not be a great documentary, but as a piece of cinematic activism, it's galvanizing.