According to the bulletin released Wednesday, the R-rating will be appealed by Team EPL. Sony today declined Movieline's request for comment as to who exactly that would be (writer-director Ryan Murphy? Studio execs? Co-producers Roberts and Brad Pitt? All of the above and a ritualistic puppy sacrifice as required by the MPAA's Classification and Ratings Administrations?) or when that would occur. A studio rep also declined comment as to what constitutes the "brief strong language" to which the ratings board objects, or whether or not Murphy would be required to cut the offending language rather than release EPL with an R.
Ultimately, it's hard to imagine a scenario where an R-rating dramatically impacts this one. It's a single-quadrant film based on a single-quadrant bestseller. The only teens or kids who'd likely attend are the young girls who'd be going along with their mothers anyway. That said, anyone have any ideas what saltiness they'll be exposed to if Team EPL loses its appeal? Should we perhaps inquire if the C-word has any comment?
ยท MPAA ratings: May 19, 2010 [THR]