Posts Tagged: The Weinstein Co

‘Bully’ Documentary to Be Released Unrated

27, 2012 8:11am

Bully movie poster

Following the controversy over the Motion Picture Association of America’s decision to give the “Bully” documentary an R rating, The Weinstein Co. has decided to keep it unrated for release. Such a decision means that technically anyone can see the film, but historically, many theater chains avoid screening films that aren’t rated by the MPAA.

“We believe theater owners everywhere will step up and do what’s right for the benefit of all of the children out there who have been bullied or may have otherwise become bullies themselves,” said Stephen Bruno, marketing president at Weinstein Co. “We’re working to do everything we can to make this film available to as many parents, teachers and students across the country.”

The MPAA cited the documentary’s occasional use of foul language for the restrictive rating. Lee Hirsch, the director of “Bully,” refused to edit out the language, arguing that doing so would detract from the film’s intensity. “The small amount of language in the film that’s responsible for the R rating is there because it’s real. It’s what the children who are victims of bullying face on most days,” he said.

Parents, do you plan to encourage your kids to see “Bully”?

Lady Gaga, Johnny Depp and Michelle Obama Join Harvey Weinstein’s ‘Bully’ Age-Rating Campaign

27, 2012 8:14am

Bully movie poster

Harvey Weinstein’s latest documentary “Bully” has been given an R rating due to its language, and the movie studio chairman has launched an active campaign — supported by the likes of Lady Gaga, Johnny Depp and First Lady Michelle Obama — to lower that age rating.

“I want every 13- and 14-year-old to be able to go to this movie by themselves, watch the effects of these kids who bully other kids and make their own minds up that that’s just uncool,” Weinstein told Piers Morgan. “This is important to me because I’ve heard too many stories about cyber-bullies from my [four] daughters.”

Weinstein is so upset with the film’s R classification that he threatened to pull his company, The Weinstein Co., from the Motion Picture Association of America, the organization behind our film-rating system. A statement released last week read, “As of today, The Weinstein Co. is considering a leave of absence for the foreseeable future. We respect the MPAA and their process, but feel this time it has just been a bridge too far.”

Joan Graves, the chairman of the Classification and Rating Administration, spoke in defense of the decision to give “Bully” an R rating. “Some parents may choose to take their kids to this movie and others may not, but it is their choice and not ours to make for them,” she said. “The R rating is not a judgment on the value of any movie. The rating simply conveys to parents that a film has elements strong enough to require careful consideration before allowing their children to view it… School districts, similarly, handle the determination of showing movies on a case-by-case basis and have their own guidelines for parental approval.”

Whose side are you on? Check out the “Bully” trailer below.

The Complete “My Week With Marilyn” Interviews: Michelle Williams, Emma Watson, Judi Dench, Kenneth Branagh, Dominic Cooper and Eddie Redmayne

18, 2011 9:30am

Director Simon Curtis has assembled an enviable list of talent, including likely Oscar nominee Michelle Williams, and the best of the British isles: Sir Kenneth Branagh, Harry Potter’s Hermione Granger Emma Watson, Dame Judie Dench, Dominic Cooper and Burberry model/actor Eddie Redmayne.

Taken from Colin Clark’s diaries, there is no doubt that much of the world has at one time or another been obsessed with, or at least captivated by, the stories that surround the most explosive of blonde bombshells, Marilyn Monroe.

Here are the official interviews: