Throughout the early history of films, there was not a rating system in existence that could determine the appropriateness of film content to different ages. The maturity of what was present in the film generally just spread through news and word of mouth. Following decades of this, the MPAA decided action was needed.
The MPAA was first founded in 1922 and is an association that represents the five major film studios in the United States. In the association’s own words, they are “the voice of the film and television industry.” In 1968, the MPAA first established their rating system that would serve as a guide for moviegoers in knowing the appropriateness of a film’s content.
The possible rating films can be given in descending order from most to least family-friendly are G, PG, PG-13, R, and NC-17. Today, I will be examining what led to the seminal Coen brother film No Country for Old Men is rated R.
No Country for Old Men is a brutal and thought-provoking film that follows a man named Llewelyn Moss who goes on the run after taking a massive amount of cash he came across in a drug deal gone wrong. Tracking him down through the movie is both the merciless killer for hire Anton Chigurh and a sheriff who hopes to protect Moss.
The primary reason for the film’s rating is the incredibly realistic violence present in the film. While our society has become desensitized to violence in pop culture, the grounded and gritty violence found in this movie still caught many off guard. This is not an idealistic fantasy world full of bloodless deaths; everything found in this is down to earth and the audience feels the weight of every punch.
From the beginning of the movie, the brutal violence is shown in detail in the introduction to Chigurh as he strangles a cop with his handcuffs to escaping from their custody. Chigurh’s signature brutal but efficient form of violence is shown throughout the rest of the film as he kills many characters in a variety of ways.
Two other ways the film earned its rating of R are the use of language and the presence of drugs. Drugs are inherently tied into the story of the film, as the events of the film spawn from Moss discovering the drug deal gone wrong. In this scene, there are packaged drugs as he investigates the scene.
Many characters in the film are depicted smoking and drinking frequently. Overall, the language in the film is not too severe but there is still some gratuitous language present. Perhaps the most preeminent example of this is the F word is used around 2 times.
According to MPAA rating guidelines, the use of harsher expletives such as that is only allowed once maximum in a film if it hopes to retain a PG-13 rating. The existence of drugs and harsh language in this film help to create the gritty, realistic atmosphere that raises the film to another level. However, these elements are also a reason for the film receiving an R rating.
The existence of brutal violence, drug use, and harsh language in the world of No Country for Old Men all led to it being rated R according to MPAA guidelines. The harsh reality and themes explored in this film are decidedly not for anyone too young. As someone who personally watched the film, I can attest to the impact it had on me.
The mature film the Coen brothers crafted can be depressing at times to watch, but still, a phenomenal story that explores themes of morality, the balance of fate and free will, and justice in an unjust world.
Works Cited
Barsam, R. M., & Monahan, D. (2010). Looking at movies: An introduction to film. New York: W.W. Norton & Co.
Home. Motion Picture Association. (2021, September 30). Retrieved October 3, 2021, from https://www.motionpictures.org/.
Coen, E. (Director). (2007) No Country for Old Men [Film] Miramax Films
