"This Film is Not Rated" is Provocative and Insightful if Not a Little Brash

There's no denying that director Kirby Dick's documentary This Film is Not Yet Rated is exploring and exposing some interesting and important issues about the Motion Picture Association of America (especially for anyone interested in film or freedom of speech). But he often does it in ostentatious and showy ways that hurt how his message comes across. Hiring private eyes to discover the true identity of MPAA raters is invasive and unflattering. And it speaks to a larger tone of pretentiousness that does a disservice to the film. The film is at it best when it simply interviews directors and film insiders about their experiences dealing with the board, which provides more careful, revealing insights than Dick's tactics for getting his message across elsewhere.

Grade: B