Very Rare Quality

'12 Years a Slave' seems uninterested in treating the audience in a normal fashion. That is, the movie doesn't pander, doesn't strive to entertain, doesn't chase box office, and (seemingly) is prepared to faithfully recreate a very ugly chapter in U.S. history. '12 Years a Slave' looks completely removed from the overly polite, too glossy, and overtly commercial portrayals we're used to.

This movie should be as rewarding to the average viewer as it will be to the cinephile or, for that matter, the historian. I don't think a movie about slavery has done that. This is new. If the movie is as compelling as this footage director Steve McQueen is to be applauded.

New Poster for NC-17 Rated 'Killer Joe'

Just a bit different than the last poster.

Producers have elected to release with an NC-17 rating (for scenes involving drug use, nudity, savage violence, and graphic sexual content, among other objectionable content) after losing an appeal with the MPAA.

Steve McQueen's 'Shame' was the last flick to carry the burden of this rating and it did pretty badly in theatrical release. I'm thinking 'Killer Joe' stands better, though. A movie like this wouldn't really do great business even with an R-rating. The NC-17 tag may be a draw, especially since 'Killer Joe' is more mainstream than 'Shame' and fits more snugly into genre conventions than that film.

Will be interesting to watch how this one does. I'm thinking people will turn out. This NC-17 thing will probably fade into being a non-issue soon.

Rolls out July 27.

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