Director's Cuts

The "director's cut" has become film-industry shorthand for a version of a film that's generally longer -- and equally likely to be more violent and/or sexual. Not so for the version of the psychological drama Take, opening locally next Friday, Sept. 12. In fact, local theater audiences will be getting director Charles Oliver's own equivalent to a CleanFlicks version.

Because Take was rated R by the MPAA for "some violence with intense emotional impact," Oliver -- a BYU graduate -- was concerned that his reconciliation-themed story starring Minnie Driver might fall outside the acceptable viewing parameters of some Utah residents. So, according to a press release sent by a local publicist, Oliver made a few strategic edits to the version released elsewhere, resulting in a PG-13-ish version. Younger viewers and those who shun the R may now consider it safe to partake of the film's message. (Scott Renshaw)

Requiem For Clean Flicks

[Smut Watch] So sad ... Hollywood has finally had it with the Utah obsession with scrubbing "clean" the content of rated R movies. Apparently movie outlets like Clean Flicks and Cougar Video will no longer be able to run their bar of soap over the industry's smutty tongue any longer.

A moment of silence if you will.

Good. Now let me just say this, I will say good riddance just because on principle the thought of the editing profanity out of movies like The Big Lebowski makes my blood boil. Really I mean that movie would be pared down to 19 minutes if they edited out all the profanity. And yet, I will say this, I'm saddened that my good orthomomo friends will never get a chance to see some truly great films, even if in a totally watered down fashion.

I can even sympathize to the fact that there are many great movies that probably didn't need the occasional F-bomb or brief flash-o-tit, but then again you know a lot of movies are really defined by this controversial content. And even if not, it shouldn't be blasphemy that this is the world film reflects nowadays, where these things are all just part of society's vernacular outside of The UC of course, (unless you get skunked at Bunco that is ).

Nothing explains this film reality better than a little choice banter in the uber profane Big Lebowski When a narrating cowboy stranger played by Sam Elliot actually meets the main character, "The Dude" and says

The Stanger: There's just one thing Dude...

The Dude: And what's that?

The Stranger: Do you have to use so many cuss words?

The Dude: ...What the fuck are you talking about?

The Stranger: Alright, have it your way dude.

(Eric S. Peterson)