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Tag: Weinstein Company

  • Grace Kelly Biopic “Grace of Monaco” Stirs Controversy With Distribution Company, Royal Family

    The upcoming Grace Kelly biopic, Grace of Monaco, has stirred controversy before its release. An internal battle is ragging between the French director and producer, Olivier Dahan and Pierre-Ange Le Pogam, and the distributor, the Weinstein company.

    According to the L.A. Times, the dispute began in January. Two versions of the film were then cut. The one for the American audience is described as “Capra-esque fairy tale” full of romance”, whereas the French version is a dark, tragic story. However, the Press Association reported Weinstein may still drop the movie. Dahan was quoted regarding the possibility:

    “It’s right to struggle, but when you confront an American distributor like Weinstein, not to name names, there is not much you can do. Either you say ‘Go figure it out with your pile of s**t’ or you brace yourself so the blackmail isn’t as violent… If I don’t sign, that’s where the out-and-out blackmail starts, but I could go that far. There are two versions of the film for now: mine and his … which I find catastrophic.”

    Refusing to comment on the dispute, Arash Amel, producer and writer of the movie, told the L.A. Times that “Grace Kelly was a complicated figure, and some will see her as a princess story and others will see her as a more tragic tale. It’s a matter of how you interpret the history,” although he did add, “It is strange to have two fundamentally different movies based on one set of pages. It almost feels like I’ve written a play and I’m seeing two different stagings of the work.”

    Grace of Monaco will premiere at the Cannes Film Festival this month. The film comes at an opportune time. Just a few weeks ago, on April 19th, passed the anniversary of Prince Rainier III and Grace’s Kelly’s wedding.

    The movie has proven to be less than popular with those who it personally involves. Reuters quoted a statement from the Monaco royal family in which they said “The trailer appears to be a farce and confirms the totally fictional nature of this film. The Princely Family does not in any way wish to be associated with this film which reflects no reality and regrets that its history has been misappropriated for purely commercial purposes.”

    It will remain to be seen if the controversy will continue after the film is released.

    Image via Warner Bros. UK Trailers, YouTube

  • ‘Bully’ to be Released Using an Alternative Ratings System

    Entertainment Weekly is reporting the The Weinstein Company will be using an alternative ratings system in the ads for its new documentary, ‘Bully‘. The movie will be displayed as having a ‘pause 13’ rating that the movie received from Common Sense Media.

    That rating, according to the Common Sense Media website, means the film is appropriate for 13-year-olds, though some content may not be right for kids. A parent must know their own child in regards to whether the movie would be inappropriate, and to that end the controversial content of the movie is combed over in detail in the Common Sense Media review.

    Despite intense pressure the Motion Picture Association of America would not budge on its stance that the move should be rated ‘R’ for strong language. The movie highlights the plight of many children across the country who are bullied at school and online. According to the Common Sense Media Review, the harsh language in the movie is used by children to bully other children:

    “The most brutal language appears in a threatening scene on a school bus, in which an older student tells a younger one that he’ll ‘f—ing end you and shove a broomstick up your a– … I’ll cut your face off and s–t.’ Also several other uses of ‘f–k’ (and its derivatives), especially in the early part of the movie, as well as ‘s–t,’ ‘ass,’ ‘p—y,’ ‘bitch,’ and many derogatory terms for homosexuals (‘f-g,’ etc.).”

    It was reported earlier this week that the movie would be released without an MPAA rating, a move that would normally result in a movie not being screened at major theaters. The grassroots support for ‘Bully’ may change this, though, as the movie will be screened in major theatres. AMC Theatres has put a link to a permission slip on its website, stating:

    AMC Theatres believes people of all ages can benefit from the message of this film. That’s why we are allowing all guests to experience the version of this film that is not rated.

    Has the MPAA finally doomed itself by remaining inflexible? Let me know in the comments section below.

    (via ew.com)

  • MPAA Won’t Change “Bully” Rating

    MPAA Won’t Change “Bully” Rating

    Shortly after Katy Butler hand delivered a petition with more than 200,000 signatures to the MPAA, asking them to give “Bully” a PG-13 rating, chairman of the Classification and Rating Administration said the MPAA “shares Katy’s goals of shining a light on the problem of bullying.”

    Sure, that sounds good… but does the MPAA plan on changing the rating of the film? Nope.

    “Katy Butler’s efforts in bringing the issue of bullying to the forefront of a national discussion in the context of this film are commendable and we welcome the feedback about this movie’s rating. We hope that her efforts will fuel more discussion among educators, parents and children“, Joan Graves said in the statement.

    “The R rating is not a judgment on the value of any movie,” Graves wrote. “The rating simply conveys to parents that a film has elements strong enough to require careful consideration before allowing their children to view it.”

    Currently there is nothing in place to change the rating once the Classification and Rating Appeals Board makes a decision, which they did on February 23. It should be noted that numerous members of the board wanted the movie rated PG-13, so it could be shown in schools, but it takes two-thirds vote, rather than majority to change the rating.

    As it stands, the filmmaker can submit a new version of his film with some modified elements and the MPAA will rule if a rating change is in order. It’s unclear at this time if the Weinstein Company will have this done, but we highly doubt that, as they’ve considered leaving the MPAA over the rating of Bully.

    Butler started her petition on change.org, and quickly saw the number of signatures shoot up to more than 200,000. The site paid for her, and her mother, to hand deliver the signatures to the MPAA headquarters in Los Angeles.

    Just today the Weinstein Company released the official trailer for the movie, you can check it out below:

  • “Bully” Trailer Released By The Weinstein Company

    The Weinstein Company has released the official trailer for their much talked about documentary Bully. The trailers release comes on the heels of the MPAA slapping an R rating on the movie, which angered many individuals.

    UPDATE: It now appears as though the MPAA has no plans on changing the rating of the film, which is truly a travesty.

    In an effort to battle against the MPAA rating of Bully, so the film can be shown in schools, there is a petition with over 200,000 signatures that will be hand delivered to the MPAA by 17-year old Katy Butler of Michigan, who initially started gathering the signatures.

    If you’re unfamiliar with the film Bully, it debuted last April at the Tribeca film festival. You an read the official synopsis below:

    Directed by Sundance and Emmy-award winning filmmaker, Lee Hirsch, The Bully Project is a beautifully cinematic, character-driven documentary. At its heart are those with huge stakes in this issue whose stories each represent a different facet of Americas bullying crisis. The Bully Project follows five kids and families over the course of a school year. Stories include two families who have lost children to suicide and a mother awaiting the fate of her 14-year-old daughter who has been incarcerated after bringing a gun on her school bus. With an intimate glimpse into homes, classrooms, cafeterias and principals offices, the film offers insight into the often cruel world of the lives of bullied children. As teachers, administrators, kids and parents struggle to find answers, The Bully Project examines the dire consequences of bullying through the testimony of strong and courageous youth. Through the power of their stories, the film aims to be a catalyst for change in the way we deal with bullying as parents, teachers, children and society as a whole.

    What did you think of the trailer? Is this something you feel should be shown in schools? Let us know your thoughts in the comment area below.