THR: Where’s no polite way to say it: When it comes to sex, the American movie industry is — and long has been — a big old prude.
Studios, audiences and of course the MPAA, with its draconian rating system, barely blink at bloody murder, but get convulsively squeamish at the sight of an exposed nipple. Films from Brokeback Mountain to Blue Valentine, Eyes Wide Shut to Monster’s Ball stirred controversy because of their sexual content — though if one compares those works to the raw sensuality of Y Tu Mama Tambien, Blue is the Warmest Color or any number of foreign imports that raise temperatures and eyebrows in arthouse theaters across the country, it’s clear where we stand. Gone are the days of Last Tango in Paris or American Gigolo, when a major American star might show some skin in an erotically charged movie with broad appeal. Even the upcoming Fifty Shades of Grey, an adaptation of the bestseller about bondage in the bedroom, was somehow tamed into an R-rated film.
"Polite Society" has all the workings of a sleeper hit thanks to its blend of action, comedy, and injection of culture to make it stand out.
With the festival regaining full strength, an assortment of cinematic experiences await to captivate audiences. From Cat Person to Cassandro, here our are the ones we can't wait to take in.
'The Night House' evolves from a simple haunted house story to a chilling examination of grief, with plenty of spooky noises along the way.
