Fahrenheit 9/11 Keeps Its R Rating

I’ll avoid blaming a Republican conspiracy, but Michael Moore’s controversial film Fahrenheit 9/11 failed to shirk it’s R rating in an appeal with the MPAA:

The movie was rated R for “violent and disturbing images and for language.” The images include an Iraqi man tossing a dead baby into a truckload of bodies, Iraqis burned by napalm and a public beheading in Saudi Arabia.

The movie rating system is pretty farcical, so this isn’t a particularly surprising decision. Ultimately, this is a good thing for Michael Moore and Lion’s Gate Films. Not only do they get another press hit off this story, but they foster interest with an audience who is unlikely to flock to Fahrenheit 9/11 during the summer blockbuster season. Regardless of what you think of Michael Moore’s cinematic skills or politics, you must admire his Madonna-esque (or, lately, Gibson-esque) ability to generate press attention.