That France's film board gave a PG-12 rating to "Fifty Shades of Grey" hints at where this steamy flick stands in the limited line of erotic, mainstream, American films.
Opening this weekend for Valentine's Day, the cinematic adaptation of the book that popularized sado-masochistic sexuality was dismissed as "really a romance, we could even call it a bleuette — a sentimental tale,” said the French ratings president Jean-Francois Mary. (To be fair, Mary is being criticized heavily for the PG-12 decision.)
Despite the marketing truism that "sex sells," movies about sexual fetishes are rare and mostly forgettable - a lonely exception being "Secretary" starring Maggie Gyllenhaal and James Spader that was liked both critically and commercially.
In our pornographic, sexualized culture, why aren't there more kinky films? And why aren't they better made? Is film the wrong medium for restrained, suggestive erotica?
Guests:
, Chief Film Critic, Variety
Amy Nicholson, KPCC Film Critic and Chief Film Critic, LA Weekly