Unlike the MPAA we do not assign
one
inscrutable rating based on age, but 3 objective ratings for SEX/NUDITY, VIOLENCE/GORE
and PROFANITY on a scale of 0 to 10, from lowest to highest,
depending on quantity and context.
A political satire that also takes on "American Idol": A popular talent show is hosted by a sleazy presenter (Hugh Grant) who chooses contestants for particular oddities -- such as a southern girl (Mandy Moore) whose boyfriend (Chris Klein) is a wounded Iraq war veteran, an Iraqi terrorist (Sam Golzari) whose only wish is to sing show tunes, and a Jewish rapper (Adam Busch). Into this mix steps the U.S. President (Dennis Quaid) as a guest judge -- depicted as a totally uninformed and disinterested figurehead, he is only interested in improving his ratings. Also with Willem Dafoe, Marcia Gay Harden and Sam Golzari. Directed by Paul Weitz. [1:47]
SEX/NUDITY 4 - Two people look through the keyhole of a door and it is suggested that they see a man and a young woman having sex. A husband and wife sit in a bed together, she rubs his shoulders, he purrs and growls at her and it is implied that they have sex. ► A woman wears a very low-cut dress that reveals cleavage, bare back and part of her breast is visible from the side. A young woman wears low-cut tops that reveal cleavage. Four men sit in a Jacuzzi and their bare shoulders are visible. ► A young man and a young woman kiss in a few scenes. ► A man talks to a woman about sex being great. A man and a young woman talk about having sex together. A young woman says to a man, "I'll do anything to win." A young woman says that her daddy "lives with another man." A song's lyrics include, "let's get raunchy..."
the review continues below...
VIOLENCE/GORE 4 - A young man wears a bomb strapped to his chest, people in a studio run and scream, he pushes the button on the bomb, there is an explosion and we are told (we do not see) that two people died. ► A young man is shot in the arm (blood spurts and oozes through his shirt sleeve). ► We see young men in a terrorist training camp running obstacle courses and firing guns at a standee that resembles the U.S. President. A man plans to blow up a bomb in order to kill another man. ► A man talks about being called "the torturer." A young woman tells a young man, "I'm sorry I'm going to have to destroy you." A man talks about people, "kicking you and kicking you and kicking you and kicking you and kicking you until you shut up." A young woman talks about, "jabbing her eyes out with toothpicks and eating them." A woman tells a man that she is leaving him. ► A young woman throws a mirror and it shatters. A young woman stumbles down a flight of stairs but is OK.
SUBSTANCE USE - A man and a woman drink alcohol, and people drink alcohol in a few bar scenes and a few celebration scenes. A man (the President) takes prescription medication referred to as "happy pills." A man talks about having been "pretty toasted" at a party.
DISCUSSION TOPICS - Celebrity, fame, greed, reality, lack of concern for others, cold heartedness, competition, destiny, satisfaction, winning and losing, presidential politics, martyrdom, hate, hate of political actions vs. hating the people of a country, culpability, suicide bombing, love, using people to help you get ahead, weight issues, unhappiness, weight control (binging and starvation), dreams, goals.
MESSAGE - Anyone can be made into a celebrity -- with the right spin.
A CAVEAT: We've gone through several editorial changes since we
started covering films in 1992 and some of our early standards were
not as stringent as they are now. We therefore need to revisit many
older reviews, especially those written prior to 1998 or so; please
keep this in mind if you're consulting a review from that period.
While we plan to revisit and correct older reviews our resources are
limited and it is a slow, time-consuming process.
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