PTC blasts MPAA (PTC)

By Nancy Tartaglione

The Parents Television Council, which says it has not seen "Blue Valentine," has called out the MPAA for changing the film's rating from an NC-17 to an R. On Thursday, PTC president Tim Winter issued a statement that read in part: "The entire integrity and legitimacy of the MPAA ratings system has been compromised."

He continued: "There is no transparency; there is no consistency; and there is no accountability -- unless you are a wealthy producer who can afford to hire the biggest legal guns in the nation and wage a massive PR campaign."

Earlier this week, the ratings watchdog heard an appeal brought by the Weinstein Company after the Classification and Rating Administration had assigned the movie an NC-17 rating for "a scene of explicit sexual content." Following statements made on behalf of the Derek Cianfrance-directed film by Harvey Weinstein and TWC counsel Alan Friedman, "Blue Valentine" was given an R for "strong graphic sexual content, language, and a beating."

The PTC claims the MPAA's ruling points up the "inherent flaws of the MAAA ratings system."

"Ostensibly because the producers of the film would not earn as much money at the box office with an accurate rating, the MPAA buckled under intense pressure and lowered the age rating of the film," Winter said.

Winter's statement also notes that the PTC has not seen the film. "The new rating may be correct or it may be incorrect. We don't know because we haven't screened the film."

"Blue Valentine" hits theaters on December 31.