Killer Joe SLAPPED with NC-17 Rating (William Friedkin) [PENDING APPEAL]

[DirkDiggler]

NC-17 graphic abberant content involving violence and sexuality, and a scene of brutality. (PENDING APPEAL)

Killer Joe is acquired by LD Distribution. (Liddell Entertainment, the innovative production and distribution financier is launching a new theatrical distribution entity, LD Distribution). This film and few others are part of its launch in 2012.
http://boxofficemojo.com/schedule/?view=mpaa&p=.htm
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The film stars Matthew McConaughey as the contract killer title character as well as Emile Hirsch, Thomas Haden Church, Gina Gershon and Juno Temple.

Directed by: William Friedkin (Director of the Exorcist & the French Connection)
It premiered at the Venice Film Festival and TIFF Festival to strong reception from both the public and critics. There were groups of walkouts during the showing though due it's over-the-top nature.
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I had the pleasure of seeing this @ TIFF, and I have to say Matthew McConaughey gives an Oscar worthy performance that the Academy would NEVER would nominate.

He is nothing like the McConaughey you've seen before. He was born to play the role.

The film is kinda brilliant, and I'm looking forward to seeing it again.
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The very UNIQUE situation is this film is that it doesn't have a single sex scene in it.

If I had to guess what gave it the NC-17 rating, I know what it is. It had to have gotten it b/c of a scene that deals with a KFC honey-BBQ drumstick.

It probably isn't the EXTREME violence towards the end of the film...

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJlhEGrQM60"]Festival 2011: KILLER JOE teaser - YouTube[/ame]
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EXCLUSIVE: Another movie has gotten an NC-17. Killer Joe, the Billy Friedkin-directed adaptation of the Tracy Letts play just got an NC-17 rating. That is one of the first releases by LD Entertainment, the new distribution company started by Mickey Liddell and run by David Dinerstein. They will appeal the rating and it’s unusual; Letts is the Pulitzer Prize and Tony-winning playwright of August: Osage County.This one is a garish, sexy black comedy that stars Matthew McConaughey, Emile Hirsch, Juno Temple, Gina Gerson and Thomas Haden Church and it’s slated for a summer release.

The pic premiered at Venice and it has been called Tennessee Williams meets Quentin Tarantino. It played Toronto, where it was acquired by LD, and will makes its US premiere at SXSW. It’s racy and violent, but LD thinks it’s an R film. “We will use our best efforts to overturn this decision,” Dinerstein said. “We stand by our filmmakers and remain faithful to their visions.” Stay tuned.

http://www.deadline.com/2012/02/killer-joe-gets-nc-17/

[Souler]

I think you could have just written 'William Friedkin'.

ETA: Okay, now this post makes no sense anymore.

[OscarsFan 2.3]

Well, at least a movie's FINALLY gotten an NC-17 for violence rather than cock.

So I'm guessing this is McConaughey's Killer Inside Me?

[DirkDiggler]

Well, at least a movie's FINALLY gotten an NC-17 for violence rather than cock.

There is a "boner" in it though. Just not what you think.

[Meegadeth]

I really doubt something like this can be more graphic than say, Hostel.

[Hatshepsutely]

Does someone self-insert a chicken bone?

(I can't believe I just typed that. LMAO.)

[DirkDiggler]

Does someone self-insert a chicken bone?

(I can't believe I just typed that. LMAO.)

[spoiler]Killer Joe violently beats the shit out of Gina Gershon (for a reason I won't spoil). Then Joe takes from the KFC, Gershon brought home with her husband (Haden-Church---who's fantastic in the role), a honey-BBQ Drumstick.... and puts it where his dick would be and tells her to perform fellatio on it (or die?).

She does for a good three minutes while her face looks beat up and is basically in tears (and in fear) as Thomas Haden Church watches; and I swear to god, Matthew McConaughey plays it like it's real and acts as if she is actually blowing him (multiplied by 10 with him going completely bananas throughout her doing it) and goes all the way to hear his ecstasy until his implied (fake?) full orgasm.[/spoiler]

[Hatshepsutely]

O.M.G.

That sounds like something out of a Tarantino film. But kinkier.

[Largo]

Insert obligatory Blue Valentine reference!

[RRA]

I love Friedkin. Usually.

This should be decent.

[Madealah]

I'd love to see Matthew McConaughey and Emile Hirsch in an NC-17 movie.

[Blasty]

William Freidkin still makes movies? I thought he was dead? Or at least his career died after:

[OscarsFan 2.3]

William Freidkin still makes movies? I thought he was dead? Or at least his career died after:

[clearwatergirl]

Wow this is amazing news! (Matthew's performance, not the rating) Between this, The Paperboy and Mud, I think it's very possible that he will receive his first nomination. He is making great choices and proving that he's very talented.

[OscarsFan 2.3]

Wow this is amazing news! (Matthew's performance, not the rating) Between this, The Paperboy and Mud, I think it's very possible that he will receive his first nomination. He is making great choices and proving that he's very talented.

That's cute. It's nice to have dreams.

[clearwatergirl]

That's cute. It's nice to have dreams.

People way less talented than Matthew have been nominated, some even won the Oscars. So what makes you so sure he won't ever be nominated?

[Largo]

People way less talented than Matthew have been nominated, some even won the Oscars.

Yeah, Oscars. Sandra Bullock won an Oscar, who's to say Matthew MacConaughey can't win one?!

[jb]

People way less talented than Matthew have been nominated, some even won the Oscars.

[RRA]

Yeah BUG was a very good movie. In fact at the time, I argued quite thoroughly within my cinemaphile clique that Judd should've gotten an Oscar nod for that terrific performance.

I respect and like Friedkin. I think THE HUNTED was a pretty underrated picture that initially I misread as a lame FUGITIVE retread, when it was absolutely not that and just mis-marketed as such.

Hell I even dig SORCERER, his big box-office flop that infamously opened around the same time as STAR WARS.

(But DEAL OF THE CENTURY and JADE and the greatest baby-eating-tree movie ever THE GUARDIAN, they all sucked.)

[clearwatergirl]

Yeah, Oscars. Sandra Bullock won an Oscar, who's to say Matthew MacConaughey can't win one?!

FYI Sandra has already proved her talent for comedy and drama and deserved to win. Get over it and grow up.