What is it about the movies that most of us find so compelling? Which films make your top 10 list, and what do those films say about you?
Movies transcend boundaries of place, time, culture and even gender. They can build bridges of understanding or tear them down. They can shock, scare and titillate; they can educate, broaden and inspire. Their ultimate purpose is to entertain, with the potential to reach more people than any other medium. Millions have read the Harry Potter books, but the movies have reached hundreds of millions.
Movies largely reflect the values of those who make them. When well-produced, they can shape the opinions and values of audiences worldwide. As a moviegoer with years of entertainment experience as a management consultant and independent producer, I am frequently frustrated by the dearth of films fit for my family and friends. There are quality films, and there are family-friendly films. But quality family-friendly films are rare indeed. Why so? And what can moviegoers do about it?
I believe we have a responsibility to vote with our viewership (and hence with our wallets), thereby encouraging producers to make more of the films we value most. For those of us who want more high quality, family-friendly fare, we cannot encourage such films simply by rejecting R-rated offerings. The ratings board is arbitrarily selected with no required expertise, term limits, or credentials. Their ratings standards are inexorably sliding towards increased permissiveness and promiscuity. On November 1, 1968 the voluntary MPAA film rating system was first established. The R rating, as defined today, was first used in 1970. Jack Valenti added the PG-13 rating in 1984 at Steven Spielberg's request to accommodate his films "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom" and "Gremlins." Since then, the ratings standards have shifted dramatically.
It used to be that an "F" word constituted an automatic R rating. Today, many PG-13 films have repeated uses of that word and others of similar vulgarity. Motion picture studios lobby successfully for the ratings they want, while independent filmmakers are often powerless in the ratings process.
As an example, the James Bond film "Casino Royale" was rated at about the same time as "Take," an independent film written and directed by Charles Oliver and starring Minnie Driver and Jeremy Renner. "Casino Royale" is considered "iffy for ages 13-15" by Common Sense Media, in part because of CSM's sexuality score (3 out of 5) and violence score (5 out of 5), yet it was rated PG-13 by the MPAA — just as have all James Bond films since 1984. "Take," on the other hand, contains little violence and zero sexuality, yet was rated R for emotional trauma from one scene when a child is forcibly taken from his mother. The message of "Take" is powerful and inspiring: that even victims of extreme trauma such as kidnapping, rape or the loss of a loved one to murder, can find peace through forgiveness and move on with their lives (witness Elizabeth Smart).
How can we encourage more of the films we want to see? Here are three simple suggestions:
Don't let the MPAA ratings board decide for you. Instead, carefully monitor recommended releases through services such as Common Sense Media and Kids in Mind.
When a film comes along that appears to meet your criteria for quality, content and messaging, see it in the theaters if you possibly can. If it meets your standards, encourage others to see it. See it again. Maybe even buy the DVD.
Resist the pressure of flocking to the theaters for films that fail to fulfill your criteria. Remember that quality is not enough. It is the message — the truth quotient — that often matters most.
So, what are my favorite films? I have many, but "The Sound of Music" (G), "Raiders of the Lost Ark" (PG), "Inception" (PG-13) and "The Shawshank Redemption" (R) are towards the top. What are yours, and what are you going to do to increase the odds that upcoming releases will make your list without lowering your standards?
Greg Robinson resides in Park City. He was one of the producers of "Take."