I wonder if it will be ruled inelligible for an Oscar. Mel has been screening it around the country (albeit in a rough cut workprint form).
This was shown to a paying audience (call it a charity screening if you wish, I don't know if it was a "non-profit").
The Academy doesn't permit the film to be altered after it's week long LA public screening "qualifying run". If Mel wants this film to be elligible for an Oscar in 2004 he'll need to lock the print and screen it in LA for a week in 2003 (the weeks are dwindling).
If he hopes to release it in 2004 for a 2005 Oscar, he may have blown his chance.
Some are saying that it will get an R rating but Mr. Gibson could always opt to release it unrated (does this film really need the MPAA?).
After all Kill Bill Vol. 1 got an R rating (with the only alteration being the screening of the final bloodbath battle in black and white rather than color as it was shown in Japan).