Blonde (2022)

Musical Master said: "I haven't seen a thread for this film yet, but I'll make one. So far from reviews after it premiered at the Venice Film Festival on the 8th, it's certainly a polarizing movie but it's more on the positive side than the negative, which singles out Ana de Armas for praise that she gave a career defining performance. Which is interesting considering that this looks and feels like Andrew Dominik has given people a brutal, stunning and artsy love letter to Joyce Carole Oates' fictional book. So far on Metacritic it's at 64 out of 100 and on Rotten Tomatoes it's at 77%.

The fact that it's on Netflix and has the rare NC-17 rating does make it sound that it will be a talked about film for years to come.

Updated On: 9/21/22 at 02:05 PM

Musical Master said: "I have heard of the 2001 TV version, but this film adaptation is going for its own thing while seemingly to be faithful to the book (from what I've heard). I knew that this was going to be polarizing to some people, and now it's split critics down the middle on both Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic.

Honestly, the fact that it's getting such polarizing reviews from those who adore the film and those who hate it, is making me even more excited to watch it."

I've had the chance to read several reviews for this, and oh my, are they all over the place...extremely polarizing. I think what is jarring to many are the liberties taken with Monroe's legacy. People need to bear in mind that this is not a biographical drama in the traditional sense. Joyce Carol Oates book on which this film is based is a fictionalized version of Monroe's life. It's a novel. I believe that there is some confusion with the general public who will view a lot of what is portrayed in the film as fact. I hope the film carries a disclaimer at the beginning. I believe the 2001 mini-series had one.

It is interesting regarding the controversy over the film's NC-17 rating because it was originally implemented to replace what was originally the 'X' rating to remove the stigma that eventually became associated with it

A little background for context: When the MPAA developed the ratings system in 1968 the 'X' rating was given to films that had extremely strong content not suitable for children. Films that received this rating back in the early days of the system include "Midnight Cowboy" and "Beyond the Valley of the Dolls". These films were not considered pornographic. Controversial for sure, but they didn't face problems in distribution, exhibition or promotion.

Here's where the problem came in: The MPAA trademarked all their ratings classifications except for the 'X' because of this the 'X' rating was appropriated by many distributors - most significantly the porn industry - and the rating became synonymous with pornographic films.

So, the effort made by the MPAA to de-stigmatize films with extreme adult content by replacing the 'X' with 'NC-17' was all for naught, filmmakers do their best not to get an NC-17 because it still carries a stigma, many theaters will not carry a film and many publications will not advertise a film with one.

Musical Master said: "The whole history of the X/NC-17 rating is an interesting one. One other interesting fact about this is that when Paul Verhoeven wrapped filming on his 1995 film Showgirls, MGM had a lot of faith in that movie to the point where they and the MPA allowed the movie's NC-17 rating to go through and have a wide release in theaters. If it was a critical and commercial hit, then in Hollywood's eyes, the rating should be sought after and allow filmmakers to have the freedom to do more adult/riskier art films for big studio releases.

Of course, that obviously did not happen; and then movie theater chains outright banned NC-17 rated films for ever having wide releases again, pushing them to limited releases only in theaters that can allow them to be screened. But now with streaming being an extremely dominate market, it is interesting that Netflix seems to be the ones to take a big swing with the rating again after all these years. Blonde makes this the first time since Showgirls that an NC-17 rated film is getting a big wide release, thanks to the fact that streaming services release their tv shows and movies to a worldwide audience.

From someone who has read the book and is a fan of Andrew Dominik and his films, this is making me excited like crazy. I do get this will be a very divisive movie, but I always had a soft spot for ambitious, risk taking, artistically driven, brutal, and stylish cinema swings that no one has the same opinion of. Heck I really loved the 2018 version of Suspiria and Darren Aronofsky's mother! for example."

I do so as well. I am also a fan of Dominick and Aronofsky. Dominik's remake of Suspiria was very well done - and as a fan of Argento's original classic I did have my doubts.

It's going to be interesting to see how Blonde fares once it hits Netflix on the 28th.

Musical Master said: "Luca Guadagnino is the one who directed the 2018 version of Suspiria, but I agree with you that it was a very well-made movie."

Oh yes of course - in my haste to answer I typed Domink’s name.

Glad you enjoyed it! I am saving it for the weekend. Joyce Carol Oates' novel is a favorite. It haunted me for days after reading it, so I am looking forward to diving into this version of the story.

Back to the NC-17 controversy: Mel Gibsons “ Passion of the Christ” was to get that in 2003 because of the violence and gore. He fought it because he felt church groups would stay away, and so would families. He ended up winning his fight, and the film got an R rating ( later changed to PG -13 I believe).