Many have been wondering how the film version of Fifty Shades Of Grey would escape a dreadful – and commercially suicidal – NC-17 rating in the US. After all, if it fully showed what the novels are most famous for, it would be hardcore in the extreme.

However ever since Universal bought the film rights it’s been clear they’ve been aiming for an ‘R’ rating. Indeed, Jamie Dornan’s recent statement that his contract even included a clause that his penis wouldn’t be shown suggested it might be even tamer than some had expected (or at least hoped for).

Now it’s been through the MPAA rating system and has come out the other side with it ‘R’ certificate, along with the official warning that it got that classification for, ‘Strong sexual content including dialogue, some unusual behavior and graphic nudity, and for language.’

The ‘unusual behavior’ is presumably some of the film’s BDSM powerplay situations, as the MPAA is famed for issuing warning that are so scared of actually saying what the problem is that they become too vague for anyone to understand (the most famous of these being films that are given a rating due to mysterious ‘thematic elements’).

Before Fifty Shades went into production, there had been talk of the studio making an ‘R’ rated version and then later releasing a much stronger ‘NC-17′ edition, but those plans were abandoned fairly quickly. Indeed that fact the movie seemingly sailed through the MPAA system without too many issues, further suggests that this may not be as near-the-knuckle as the books would suggest it would have to be.

Here’s the synopsis: ‘FIFTY SHADES OF GREY is the hotly anticipated film adaptation of the bestselling book that has become a global phenomenon. Since its release, the “Fifty Shades” trilogy has been translated in 52 languages worldwide and sold more than 90 million copies in e-book and print—making it one of the biggest and fastest-selling book series ever.

‘Stepping into the roles of Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele, who have become iconic to millions of readers, are Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson. Joining them in the cast are Luke Grimes as Christian’s brother, Elliot; Victor Rasuk as Anastasia’s close friend, José; and Jennifer Ehle as Anastasia’s mother, Carla. FIFTY SHADES OF GREY is being directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson and produced by Michael De Luca and Dana Brunetti alongside E. L. James, the creator of the series. The screenplay is by Kelly Marcel, with revisions by Patrick Marber and Mark Bomback.’

It’ll be in cinemas on Valentine’s 2015.

The moment Universal bought the rights to Fifty Shades Of Grey, many wondered how they were going to turn the mommy porn book into a Hollywood studio movie. After all, the US ratings systems isn’t exactly known for having a reasonable attitude to sex on screen, especially with S&M thrown in.

Well, I think it’s fair to say that the sex will be toned down (Jamie Dornan even had a ‘no penis’ clause in his contract), and on the evidence of this trailer they’re going for style and sensuality – although I’m sure the sex won’t be completely absent, as the second half of the trailer suggests.

I was also a bit of a fan of this shot:

Here’s the synopsis: ‘FIFTY SHADES OF GREY is the hotly anticipated film adaptation of the bestselling book that has become a global phenomenon. Since its release, the “Fifty Shades” trilogy has been translated in 52 languages worldwide and sold more than 90 million copies in e-book and print—making it one of the biggest and fastest-selling book series ever.

‘Stepping into the roles of Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele, who have become iconic to millions of readers, are Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson. Joining them in the cast are Luke Grimes as Christian’s brother, Elliot; Victor Rasuk as Anastasia’s close friend, José; and Jennifer Ehle as Anastasia’s mother, Carla. FIFTY SHADES OF GREY is being directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson and produced by Michael De Luca and Dana Brunetti alongside E. L. James, the creator of the series. The screenplay is by Kelly Marcel, with revisions by Patrick Marber and Mark Bomback.’

It’ll be in cinemas on Valentine’s 2015. [Read more…]