why is Frost/Nixon R rated?

[Northern Piper]

Saw the trailer on tv this evening and was surprised to see it's R-rated. why? no one got killed in the Watergate matter, so no violence; sex was never an issue; is it just the language?

[ASAKMOTSD]

Most likely language. Nixon was not known to use the most polished language when cameras were not on him.

[bonzer]

According to the MPAA's own site, it's "Rated R for some language".

[ftg]

Never heard the phrase "expletive deleted"? Nixon was not exactly a couth person.

[Just Some Guy]

Originally Posted by bonzer

According to the MPAA's own site, it's "Rated R for some language".

Leaving off the implied "and so that people will identify it as a serious film."

I'd bet on it being a situation where they threw in one gratuitous "fuck" to insure the R rating. It's relatively common with dramas.

[PapSett]

Gawd... just imagining Nixon having sex... there is not enouth mind bleach in the world to scrub that from my brain. [insert]puking smilie[/insert]

[Northern Piper]

interesting - didn't know a film could be R just for its language.

[Exapno Mapcase]

Originally Posted by Just Some Guy

Leaving off the implied "and so that people will identify it as a serious film."

I'd bet on it being a situation where they threw in one gratuitous "fuck" to insure the R rating. It's relatively common with dramas.

Someone who can possibly be this young as to not remember Nixon and his language makes me feel even older and creakier than usual.

[MsRobyn]

Originally Posted by Just Some Guy

Leaving off the implied "and so that people will identify it as a serious film."

I'd bet on it being a situation where they threw in one gratuitous "fuck" to insure the R rating. It's relatively common with dramas.

You'd lose that bet. I can smell the gravitas from here, and if it hadn't snowed last night, I would have seen it.

I've read some of the Watergate transcripts and heard the tapes. If there was gratuitous swearing, and Lord knows there was, it came right from Richard Nixon's mouth. He had been a naval officer and confirmed the simile "to swear like a sailor." If anything, the makers of the film probably toned it down a bit to avoid an NC-17 rating.

Robin

[billfish678]

The guys nickname was "tricky dick" and you can't see that getting an R rating ?

bow chicka chicka chicka bow bow

[Biffy the Elephant Shrew]

Originally Posted by PapSett

Gawd... just imagining Nixon having sex... there is not enouth mind bleach in the world to scrub that from my brain. [insert]puking smilie[/insert]

Well, you know the Watergate informant's use of the name Deep Throat was a sardonic reference to Nixon's fascination with the movie. In fact, the story goes that Nixon had held a private screening of Deep Throat in the White House and wanted to try the technique himself, but he couldn't get it down Pat.

[Simplicio]

Kissinger/Nixon shower scene.

[postcards]

Originally Posted by Northern Piper

interesting - didn't know a film could be R just for its language.

IIRC as far back as The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 (1974) was rated R for the language.

[greatshakes]

Because, even if you hated Nixon's guts big time, and can make even the most amazing stretches in suspending disbelief, the concept that the actor in the movie even looks like Nixon is obscene.

[Moirai]

Originally Posted by Biffy the Elephant Shrew

Well, you know the Watergate informant's use of the name Deep Throat was a sardonic reference to Nixon's fascination with the movie. In fact, the story goes that Nixon had held a private screening of Deep Throat in the White House and wanted to try the technique himself, but he couldn't get it down Pat.

Okay that was so fucking wrong...



Or should I say ?

[Moirai]

Originally Posted by greatshakes

Because, even if you hated Nixon's guts big time, and can make even the most amazing stretches in suspending disbelief, the concept that the actor in the movie even looks like Nixon is obscene.

Of course he doesn't- so what? It's about an actor finding the essence of a man, not building a muppet head and making it talk.

Frank Langella received rave reviews of his Nixon while doing it on Broadway 8 times a week- he's probably great in the film too.

[Tuckerfan]

Originally Posted by Just Some Guy

Leaving off the implied "and so that people will identify it as a serious film."

I'd bet on it being a situation where they threw in one gratuitous "fuck" to insure the R rating. It's relatively common with dramas.

The MPAA allows one use of the word "fuck" in a non-sexual context in PG-13 movies, thus enabling Christian Slater to be able to say, "Fuck me! He cleared it!" in the otherwise horrible Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.

[Steve MB]

Originally Posted by MsRobyn

I've read some of the Watergate transcripts and heard the tapes. If there was gratuitous swearing, and Lord knows there was, it came right from Richard Nixon's mouth. He had been a naval officer and confirmed the simile "to swear like a sailor." If anything, the makers of the film probably toned it down a bit to avoid an NC-17 rating.

Has a film ever been rated X/NC-17 solely for foul language?

[ftg]

Originally Posted by Steve MB

Has a film ever been rated X/NC-17 solely for foul language?

Clerks was originally rated NC-17 for language, but was lowered to NC-17 on appeal. (A rarity that Smith has now done twice! But "Zack and Miri.." has other stuff. Like Jason Mewes raw.)

[Darth Sensitive]

Originally Posted by ftg

Clerks was originally rated NC-17 for language, but was lowered to NC-17 on appeal. (A rarity that Smith has now done twice! But "Zack and Miri.." has other stuff. Like Jason Mewes raw.)

That's an impressively successful appeal. Did it go from 'NC-17 and we're checking IDs' to 'NC-17 and as long as you look like you might maybe be 17 we're letting you in' ?

[well he's back]

If you, like me, are old enough to remember Nixon, and remember HATING Nixon, then the movie could get an "R" for the fright, disturbing images, factors alone.

But it's really the language.

[cochrane]

Originally Posted by PapSett

Gawd... just imagining Nixon having sex... there is not enouth mind bleach in the world to scrub that from my brain. [insert]puking smilie[/insert]

You never heard the joke about Nixon after viewing the film "Deep Throat?"

SPOILER:

He just couldn't get it down Pat.

[Rodgers01]

I saw it last night and couldn't believe it was rated R. There was some strong language, but it wasn't at Tarantino levels or anything. And that was it -- no sex, no violence, no inappropriate adult themes. It's the most in appropriate rating for a movie I've come across in a long time.

[Diogenes the Cynic]

If they said "fuck" more than once, that's all it takes. Yes, the rules are stupid. You could show a decapitation and probably still get a PG-13.

[Indistinguishable]

Originally Posted by cochrane

You never heard the joke about Nixon after viewing the film "Deep Throat?"

Why yes, actually, not too long ago.

[Lucky 13]

Originally Posted by Simplicio

Kissinger/Nixon shower scene.

OK, now you're really scaring me.

[Sampiro]

Did anybody see (the real) David Frost on The Daily Show recently? He was on to promote the DVDs of the actual interviews, and is incidentally a big fan of Stewart's. He said that Nixon's handlers had warned Frost before "he doesn't do small talk" and Frost agreed, saying he was one of the least personable people on Earth when the cameras weren't on him. While I didn't like Stone's NIXON, I thought Anthony Hopkins did a good job in his portrayal- especially when he's playing piano and mirthlessly singing happy songs.

I'm hoping the DVD of the movie will include the Eric Idle/Dan Akroyd FROST NIXON (transcript) as one of the extras.

NIXON "Of course, I -- I do have some childhood memories that come back to me now and again. I remember, uh, one particular morning in April of 1921. I -- I remember coming down to the kitchen, where my mother was preparing the meal that we called "breakfast". Now, she -- she'd pour dry cereal into a bowl... and then we'd pour milk on top of the cereal, and -- and sometimes sugar, depending upon whether we... wanted it sweet or not. And, uh -- then we'd stir the whole thing around in the bowl with our spoo-oo-oons. "

[FROST is dumbfounded by this revelation]

Idle and several other Pythons had worked for David Frost and didn't have warm fuzzies for him.

[Sampiro]

Hopkins as Nixon- speaks to the language issue.

[Tuckerfan]

Originally Posted by Lucky 13

OK, now you're really scaring me.

What? You don't think members of the Log Cabin Republicans write slash fanfic?

[Jragon]

Originally Posted by Simplicio

Kissinger/Nixon shower scene.

$250, you owe me $250. $1 per brain cell. You break them, you buy them.

[Just Some Guy]

Originally Posted by Exapno Mapcase

Someone who can possibly be this young as to not remember Nixon and his language makes me feel even older and creakier than usual.

I remember Nixon's language. I'm just familiar with the fact that in Hollywood "serious dramas" are intentionally given one or two bits of profanity because of the belief that the rating changes the public reception of the film. This may be true or it may be studio executives holding down strange superstitions, but it's part of how the movie industry works.

[lissener]

So . . . does this mean there are reenactments? Because there are no swear word in the actual interviews.

Just when I thought Ron Howard might actually have made a movie that I'd want to see, too. But reenactments directed by Ron Howard? Sorry, not gonna bother. Dang.

[Indistinguishable]

I'm not sure what you mean. Did you expect a movie containing nothing but the dialogue contained in the actual interviews themselves? They made one of those before, and at that time, there was no question about the physical verisimilitude of the leads...

[Ponderoid]

Kids-In-Mind gives an exhaustive listing of all the potentially objectionable elements in it.

*** Ponder

[Guinastasia]

Originally Posted by Sampiro

Hopkins as Nixon- speaks to the language issue.

Meh, my Gramma was worse.

[NAF1138]

Just watched this flick today. It is fantastic by the way, way better than I could have expected and I think may even be better than the play (and for me that is HIGH praise). The R is probably because the phrase cocksucker is in the film several times. It would seem that it was a favorite expletive of Nixon's, and cocksucker even once get's you an R IIRC.

[drm]

I was about to post that I couldn't remember any specific use of foul language - I completely blanked on cocksucker. I guess if that's the rules, that's the rules. I think it's a worthwhile movie for kids to see (by kids I mean teenagers) so that's unfortunate.

I liked it a lot by the way, definitely one of my favorites of the year. Others who know more about Nixon than myself can comment, but I even thought it was fair to Richard Nixon. I didn't hate him at the end. Langella is amazing in the last 2/3 of the movie, as well (and is simply very good in the first 1/3).

[Biffy the Elephant Shrew]

From Ponderoid's link:

when the woman gets out of the bed we see her bare breasts and back.

At the same time? Who's the director, Picasso?

[lissener]

Originally Posted by Indistinguishable

I'm not sure what you mean. Did you expect a movie containing nothing but the dialogue contained in the actual interviews themselves? They made one of those before, and at that time, there was no question about the physical verisimilitude of the leads...

Sorry, I was unclear.

To clarify: I don't think there is currently a gun big enough to make me watch another Ron Howard movie. Ron Howard is near the top of my list of very most unfavorite directors. Ever. But, when I was under the impression that the movie would be a reenactment of the actual interviews, then there wouldn't be much opportunity for Howard to fuck it up. Since now it sounds it will be just another Ron Howard movie, I'm gonna wait till it comes out on DVD, and watch it on an empty stomach.

[Yorikke]

Originally Posted by Steve MB

Has a film ever been rated X/NC-17 solely for foul language?

I remember when Patti Rocks was released, it was, IIRC, originally rated NC-17 solely for language, but either appealed or edited down to R. I can't imagine that it's particularly shocking these days, but I haven't seen it...

Joe

[Beware of Doug]

Originally Posted by EJsGirl

Of course he doesn't- so what? It's about an actor finding the essence of a man, not building a muppet head and making it talk.

Frank Langella received rave reviews of his Nixon while doing it on Broadway 8 times a week- he's probably great in the film too.

He's a scenery-chomping, saliva-rattling, comedy-club Sean Connery imitator, an American actor doing an American president and somehow managing not to sound the least bit American, or, indeed, even human.

I have a theory that no self-respecting American actor dares approach Nixon at face value. He is too much The Other; any presentation of him as simply a paranoid ordinary guy from Southern California would be a slap in the face of decency, tantamount to showing Hitler enjoying a joke or petting a dog.

[Indistinguishable]

Ah, but the Brits have no problem showing Hitler enjoying jokes about pet dogs.

[Frostillicus]

I recently watched Before Sunset on DVD and was shocked to see that it received an R rating as well. I guess it was because there was the one scene in the cafe where Julie Delpy said the term "suck cock". Had she actually demonstrated said term, then I could probably justify the rating...

[Moirai]

Originally Posted by drm

I was about to post that I couldn't remember any specific use of foul language - I completely blanked on cocksucker. I guess if that's the rules, that's the rules. I think it's a worthwhile movie for kids to see (by kids I mean teenagers) so that's unfortunate.

Go ahead and take your teenagers- I think they've probably heard the term by now...

[Baldwin]

Originally Posted by greatshakes

Because, even if you hated Nixon's guts big time, and can make even the most amazing stretches in suspending disbelief, the concept that the actor in the movie even looks like Nixon is obscene.

"Obscene"? Really?

There's a lot more to capturing a character than "looking like him". The clips I've seen look great. Would you rather have a physical double or a great actor? (Nice if you could have both, but that doesn't happen too often. They managed it for Hitler and Goebbels in the movie Downfall.)

ETA: My favorite screen Nixon so far is Philip Baker Hall.

[drm]

Originally Posted by EJsGirl

Go ahead and take your teenagers- I think they've probably heard the term by now...

I forgot people under 18 can go to a rated R movie. I keep forgetting that R in the united states is the same as Adult Accompaniment (18A) in Canada.

[cochrane]

Originally Posted by lissener

Sorry, I was unclear.

To clarify: I don't think there is currently a gun big enough to make me watch another Ron Howard movie. Ron Howard is near the top of my list of very most unfavorite directors. Ever. But, when I was under the impression that the movie would be a reenactment of the actual interviews, then there wouldn't be much opportunity for Howard to fuck it up. Since now it sounds it will be just another Ron Howard movie, I'm gonna wait till it comes out on DVD, and watch it on an empty stomach.

Eh, this is off the topic, but the fact that Ron Howard directed it just gives me even more reason to see it. He is one of my favorite directors. I'm not going to challenge your opinion, I'll just allow my mileage to vary from yours, but in my opinion, all of the films he's directed that I have seen, I have considered to be very good.

[Diogenes the Cynic]

Originally Posted by lissener

Sorry, I was unclear.

To clarify: I don't think there is currently a gun big enough to make me watch another Ron Howard movie. Ron Howard is near the top of my list of very most unfavorite directors. Ever. But, when I was under the impression that the movie would be a reenactment of the actual interviews, then there wouldn't be much opportunity for Howard to fuck it up. Since now it sounds it will be just another Ron Howard movie, I'm gonna wait till it comes out on DVD, and watch it on an empty stomach.

Apollo 13 wasn't any good? Splash wasn't any good? Parenthood, Backdraft, A Beautiful Mind?

Ok, A Beautiful Mind was kind of overrated, and he's done a few sucky movies too (I won't even mention the one with the word "code" in it), but he's done some passable movies too. He's not Bergman, but he's not Uwe Boll either.

[Lucky 13]

Originally Posted by Tuckerfan

What? You don't think members of the Log Cabin Republicans write slash fanfic?

They probably do. See rule 34.

[lissener]

Originally Posted by Diogenes the Cynic

Apollo 13 wasn't any good? Splash wasn't any good? Parenthood, Backdraft, A Beautiful Mind?

Ok, A Beautiful Mind was kind of overrated, and he's done a few sucky movies too (I won't even mention the one with the word "code" in it), but he's done some passable movies too. He's not Bergman, but he's not Uwe Boll either.

Um . . . You're gonna try to argue, like, a logical argument about the objective quality of Ron Howard's work? Sorry, but it don't work like that. I think he's a vomitous hack; you feel differently. Not sure where there's any room for argument.