So much for all those conversations Playlist writer Drew Taylor just had with Derek Cianfrance, Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams about the dreaded NC-17 rating their indie drama, “Blue Valentine,” received earlier this year, which threatened to ruin the film’s very viable Oscar chances and perhaps more importantly the opportunity to be seen by wider audiences under 17 (we hear teenagers like both Gosling and Williams, but hey, we could be wrong).
Deadline reports that The Weinstein Company‘s due diligence paid off; the appeal has been overturned and “Blue Valentine” now has received that much more optimal R-Rating. Harvey Weinstein personally attended the appeal hearing today at the MPAA to make a case for the film, and the board’s decision to overturn their prior NC-17 ruling was unanimous.
“Blue Valentine” is due in theaters December 31 in limited release. This decision will surely keep both Williams’ and Gosling’s chances alive, but even Gosling himself in recent interviews says his co-star is the one who should get nom’d (how graceful). And The Weinstein Company will be thrilled as the extra attention the film has received will certainly pay off in box office receipts, and an R-rating now allows them more venues to screen than an NC-17 film would have barred them from.