Marilyn Monroe biopic “Blonde” will be the first Netflix NC-17 film since the Motion Picture Association of America downgraded its ratings due to sex scenes in what the director calls “a bunch of horses” in motion.
- The Motion Picture Association has announced that Andrew Dominik’s upcoming biopic, Blonde on Marilyn Monroe, will be rated NC-17 for “some sexual content.”
- The film stars Cuban actress Ana de Armas as Monroe and is based on the novel of the same name by Joyce Carol Oates.
- Australian filmmaker Andrew Dominic has been open about the NC-17 rating, stating that it is “a bunch of horses ***… Just a political rating board”.
- “This is an NC-17 movie about Marilyn Monroe. This is kind of what you want, right? I want to go and watch the NC-17 version of the Marilyn Monroe story,” Dominik said.
The upcoming Marilyn Monroe biopic is set to be the first Netflix original to be rated NC-17, a move the film’s director has criticized as “political” and “a bunch of horses.”
On Wednesday, the Motion Picture Association of America announced that Andrew Dominick’s upcoming Marilyn Monroe biopic, Blonde, will receive a restrictive rating due to “some sexual content.”
An NC-17 stamp means that those under 17 are not allowed to watch the film in theaters – unlike an R-rated film, which requires anyone under 17 to be accompanied by an adult.
While this is NC-17’s first original production for the streaming service, it has aired other films of the same rating in the past.
The upcoming film, starring Cuban actress Ana de Armas as Monroe, is based on the novel of the same name by Joyce Carol Oates.
Monroe was best known for Some Like It Hot (1959) and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953). She lived from 1926 to 1962 and is still considered one of the most popular actresses in Hollywood history.
Australian filmmaker Andrew Dominic (pictured) made no bones about the NC-17 rating, stating that it was “a bunch of *** horses… Just a political rating board.”
The film stars Cuban actress Ana de Armas (pictured) as Monroe and is based on the novel of the same name by Joyce Carol Oates.
Monroe is still considered one of the most popular actresses in Hollywood history.
The film also stars Adrien Brody and Bobby Cannavale as Arthur Miller and Joe DiMaggio, respectively, and is due out on Netflix sometime this year.
Explaining the MPAA Content Rating System
gram
Contains nothing that might offend parents for their children to view
PG
Parents are strongly encouraged to use the Parent Guide as they may not want their children to view some of the content.
PG-13
Parents urged to be careful
R
Contains material for adults. Parents are urged to learn more before taking their younger children
NK-17
Obviously an adult. Children are not allowed
The film also stars Adrien Brody and Bobby Cannavale respectively as Arthur Miller and Joe DiMaggio and is due out on Netflix sometime this year.
When reports surfaced that the film had received an NC-17 rating in the US, Australian director Andrew Dominik didn’t hold back, telling Screen Daily that it was “a bunch of horses***… Just the rating board is political.”
“It’s a demanding film,” he added. “If the public doesn’t like it, that’s the fucking public’s problem. He is not running for public office.
Dominic, who directed 2007’s The Killing of Jesse James and 2012’s Kill ‘Em Softly, said the rating system was hypocritical.
“If I watch one of the episodes of Euphoria, I see that it is much more graphic than anything that happens in Blonde,” he remarked.
“This is an NC-17 movie about Marilyn Monroe. This is kind of what you want, right?
“I want to go and see the NC-17 version of the Marilyn Monroe story,” Dominic added.
Lead actress de Armas admitted that she had difficulty mastering Marilyn Monroe’s accent for the film and took nine months to master the correct tone of dialogue.
When asked if she mastered Marilyn’s American accent, she replied: “I tried! It only took me nine months of dialect coaching and practice, plus a few ADR sessions. [rerecording dialogue after filming].’
Ben Affleck’s ex-girlfriend then said: “It was a lot of torture, so exhausting.” My brain is fried.