Harvey Weinstein, co-founder of Miramax Films, left, and Michael Moore (news) pose for photographers during a special screening of Moore's new film 'Fahrenheit 9/11' Monday June 14, 2004 in New York. (AP Photo/Tina Fineberg)
Posted on 06/15/2004 3:04:12 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
LOS ANGELES -
Distributors of Michael Moore (news)'s documentary "Fahrenheit 9/11" are appealing to get a PG-13 rating, instead of R.
A screening by the Motion Picture Association of America's appeals board has been set for June 22, just three days before "Fahrenheit 9/11" hits theaters. But the film's distributors are trying to move that screening up to this week to expedite a decision, said Tom Ortenberg, president of Lions Gate Films, one of the companies releasing the film.
An R rating means those younger than 17 cant' see the movie unless accompanied by an adult. The MPAA ratings board gave "Fahrenheit 9/11" an R rating for "violent and disturbing images and for language."
"I think the message of the movie is so important that it should be available to be seen by as wide an audience as possible," Ortenberg said Monday. "Frankly, I don't consider any of the images in the film any more disturbing than what we have all seen on the cable news networks and the gratuitous violence that fills the screen of so many PG-13-rated action pictures."
In "Fahrenheit 9/11," Moore depicts President Bush (news - web sites) as asleep at the wheel in the months before the Sept. 11 attacks. The movie also accuses the White House of breeding fear of more terrorism to gain public support for the Iraq (news - web sites) war.
The film's images include a public beheading in Saudi Arabia, Iraqis burned by napalm and a grisly scene of an Iraqi man dumping a dead baby into a truckbed loaded with bodies.
"It is sadly very possible that many 15- and 16-year-olds will be asked and recruited to serve in Iraq in the next couple of years," Moore said. "If they are old enough to be recruited and capable of being in combat and risking their lives, they certainly deserve the right to see what is going on in Iraq."
"Fahrenheit 9/11" won the top honor at last month's Cannes Film Festival (news - web sites) for Moore, who received the 2002 Academy Award for best documentary with "Bowling for Columbine."
Moore had to seek new distributors for "Fahrenheit 9/11" after Disney refused to let its Miramax subsidiary release it, saying it was too politically charged.
Miramax bosses Harvey and Bob Weinstein bought the movie back from Disney and lined up Lions Gate and IFC Films to help distribute it.
The film opens June 25 in 500 to 1,000 theaters in "every major city in America," Ortenberg said.
That constitutes an exceptionally wide release among documentaries, which typically play in only a handful of theaters.
Harvey Weinstein, co-founder of Miramax Films, left, and Michael Moore (news) pose for photographers during a special screening of Moore's new film 'Fahrenheit 9/11' Monday June 14, 2004 in New York. (AP Photo/Tina Fineberg)
Michael Moore is burning up over this 'R' rating. He knows that no one over 17 goes to watch his movies.
So Moore wants special treatment. How unlike a liberal.
They should give it an "NC-17" and kill it.
There should be an "R" rating on that pic.
 |
June 01, 2004 08:58 PM US Eastern Timezone ``Fahrenheit 9/11'' to Open Nationally on June 25th SANTA MONICA, Calif. & VANCOUVER, British Columbia & NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 1, 2004--
Harvey and Bob Weinstein, through the Fellowship Adventure Group, the newly created special-purpose company, have made arrangements for Michael Moore's Palme D'Or-winning "Fahrenheit 9/11" to be released. Under this arrangement, the Fellowship Adventure Group will join with Lions Gate Films, the motion picture production and distribution arm of Lions Gate Entertainment (AMEX:LGF)(TSX:LGF), and IFC Films to distribute the film in theaters in the United States. Pay TV rights will be handled by Showtime, Lions Gate's Pay TV partner. The film will reach theaters nationwide on June 25th. The Weinsteins, through the Fellowship Adventure Group, have appointed creative advertising and marketing consultant Matthew Cohen as marketing director for this company to create and oversee all marketing materials. Ken Sunshine Consultants has been hired to handle PR for the company and will work closely with the Weinsteins and the coalition on the film's release. "With Frodo (Harvey) and Sam (Bob) now in charge of the Fellowship, I welcome the addition of Lions Gate and IFC to our quest in bringing good family entertainment to the viewing public," said Michael Moore. "Jon Feltheimer (now head of Lions Gate) produced my series `TV Nation' and IFC produced my series `The Awful Truth.' Not only am I in good hands, I am grateful to them now that everyone who wants to see it will now have the chance to do so -- thanks to the record number of screens on which they plan to open it. On behalf of my stellar cast -- GW, Dick, Rummy, Condi and Wolfie -- we thank this incredible coalition of the willing for bringing `Fahrenheit 9/11' to the people." "This is a true coalition," said Harvey and Bob Weinstein. "The passion that Lions Gate, IFC Films and Showtime have demonstrated reflects our desire to enable Michael Moore's extraordinary work to be viewed by as many filmgoers as possible as soon as possible." The Weinsteins have initiated an alliance with several key industry players. It is anticipated that other names will shortly be added to the coalition as partnerships on other distribution avenues are announced. "Michael Moore is a brilliant creative talent, and we are honored to handle his latest film," said Lions Gate Chief Executive Officer Jon Feltheimer. "Lions Gate is a natural home for `Fahrenheit 9/11'. Michael, along with Harvey and Bob Weinstein, have invested tremendous passion in this powerful and riveting film, and we are confident that we can match their passion and ingenuity in distributing it to a national audience. We are delighted to join with IFC to maximize the theatrical potential of `Fahrenheit 9/11', which promises to be one of this year's seminal cinematic events." "Everyone at IFC Films is thrilled to be working again with Michael Moore. Michael's is one of the most important voices speaking today, and IFC Films is an ideal home for Michael and `Fahrenheit 911'," stated IFC Entertainment President Jonathan Sehring. "Ten years ago, IFC established its reputation by providing independent film makers with a strong voice for their most personal projects. It is IFC's belief that such passion projects have always taken an important historic role in encouraging debate and being a catalyst for differences of opinion. The united team of IFC Films, Lions Gate, Harvey and Bob creates a solid and balanced partnership that ensures the creation of a strong grassroots distribution strategy and respects the original timetable of Michael Moore and his team. We are delighted to be teaming up with Lions Gate Films to distribute what will be considered one of the most exciting and important films in recent memory." The Weinsteins will continue to use the Wild Bunch, the Paris-based sales agent, for negotiating international distribution arrangements. Wild Bunch has already put several international distribution deals in place. Lions Gate Entertainment is the premier independent producer and distributor of motion pictures, television programming, home entertainment, family entertainment and video-on-demand content. Its prestigious and prolific library of approximately 8000 titles is one of the largest in the entertainment industry. The Lions Gate brand name is synonymous with original, daring, quality entertainment in markets around the globe. IFC Entertainment consists of IFC Productions, a production company that provides financing for select independent feature films, and offers filmmakers unusual creative freedom to realize their personal cinematic visions; IFC Films, a leading theatrical film distribution company bringing the best of independent and specialized films to theaters; and InDigEnt, an initiative for established filmmakers to explore the medium of digital video. |
Maybe it should be PG for Pure Garbage.
From what I hear, his film should be rated XXX.
All that's missing is Algore's endorsement to follow the pattern of worthless movies released by people overcome with hatred of President Bush and Conservatives.
Of course his endorsement would kill the box office take.
Google bomb time (see my tagline).
Holy crap!!!
What is the ghost of Harry Potter doing and lurking over MM's shoulder and hang'in with these thugs!?
HA!!
Well everyone knows "the younger the better" is the bedrock of the Liberal-Socialist's shtick.
But beyond the brainwashing benefit reaped from youngsters who don't know their ass from a hole in the ground, no one w/could argue there're precious few who can understand this guys baloney.
...who're any older than 13.
DARN You beat me to it.
This is more junk information peddled to the masses. Toxic stuff. Has Postmodernism overtaken us. The Left has no "god" and therefore answers only to themselves. They see no limits. Materialism has over run them and they are loosing their sense of humanity.
If moore don't want to play by the rules.Ban all of his movies.
Yup & as "news," too.
Dangerous, literally playing with fire & too arrogant and/or stupid to percieve it.
Geez Helms, on that note are ya ready for Viacom's carpetbombing of everything Clintigula for the next couple months?
Bet the frenzy will *spawn* all kinds of nutsy crap, maybe even a new dance for all the rappers, too.
Ya never know.
I can see it now, "The Bent One-Boogie" or something real close.
"Toxic stuff."
You'd better believe it.
Every bit as damaging as drinking a teasoon of Drano, maybe moreso since the damage is cerebral and frequently lingers over an entire lifetime.
"Has Postmodernism overtaken us."
Uh-huh, methinks if it hasn't?
It's so damned close ya can see the whites of its eyes.
"The Left has no "god" and therefore answers only to themselves."
Sure they do.
Same one the right worships.
The "God Almighty Buck."
The Left just won''t admit it, though; therein, lies -- what's to be -- the biggest difference between the two ideologies, in the final analysis.
"They see no limits."
Not if they didn't author 'em they don't, otherwise look out.
We've all witnessed the Liberal-Socialists at their defining best & the power of what their quisling mediots can accomplish once they recieve their marching orders.
Just as The truth is what they say the truth is, so it shall be with "limits." (~of any kind)
"Materialism has over run them and they are loosing their sense of humanity."
HA!!
That's good, losing their humanity due to excess materialism.
Maybe.
I think they sold out a long time ago; but, that'd depend on ones age and how long they've been watching the raskels.
Let's just agree.
...the left's "roots are showing." :o)
He will more than likely have his wish granted.
Right, like 16 year old kids will be climbing over each other to see a "documentary". Just more publicity from he who changes the tides whenever he walks on the beach.
Do you realize that these two cannot ride an elevator together?
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