Edwards Theatres are known for many things: Blockbuster sequels, comfy stadium chairs, 3-D effects, deafening sound, buckets of calorie-jammed popcorn.
But filthy films? Not exactly.
When Edwards 22 at the Boise Spectrum opened the R-rated comedy “Zack and Miri Make a Porno” in 2008, hand-wringing staff even shortened the title to “Zack and Miri” at the box office. (Majestic 18 Cinemas did the same thing.)
So there’s no explaining what alternate universe Edwards 9 in Downtown Boise is operating in this weekend. The theater is opening “Shame.” It’s rated — gulp! — NC-17.
An NC-17 rating means the movie may have artistic merit, but the MPAA has decided it is much too naughty for anyone under 18.
The only thing beyond NC-17 is good ol’ X, which feels so 1970s and “Behind the Green Door.” (The MPAA doesn’t even use X anymore. NC-17 is the top level.)
What about XXX, you ask? That rating is reserved for bottles of extreme hot sauce nowadays. Oh, and a worldwide movie known as “Roughly 75 Percent of the Internet.”
“Shame,” a British film, is about addiction — sexual addiction. (Review, page 7.) That makes its home exclusively at Edwards 9 feel even more Bizarro World.
“I’m surprised,” admitted Carole Skinner, owner of nearby art-house theater The Flicks. “I think maybe because of the acting awards that Michael Fassbender got that they decided that it was worth it.”
Recently, Fassbender has been on a nice little awards tear for films such as “A Dangerous Method.” But mostly for “Shame.” It has an 80 percent rating at movie review aggregate website Rotten Tomatoes.
Still, Edwards being provocative? Taking chances? Being edgy?
We never knew.
And we probably never will. Edwards employees are not allowed to speak to the press. I cold-called Edwards 9 just to confirm that “Shame” was opening. I got a friendly “yes,” but not much more: “We have a lot to say, we just can’t say it!” the employee laughed.
The national media contact for Regal Entertainment Group, which operates Edwards, didn’t return my call. Par for the course.
Art-house theaters are where most NC-17 movies play, and Skinner said she thought about booking “Shame” at The Flicks. But she thought it might offend certain unsuspecting patrons.
“I briefly considered it, but I didn’t feel comfortable,” she said before chuckling: “Guess I’m gettin’ old.”
Skinner couldn’t remember the last NC-17 film that played Boise. Using the Statesman archive, I dug up one at The Flicks in 2004: “The Cooler,” starring William H. Macy.
No, not exactly a skin flick. Fact is, many NC-17 movies are tough to distinguish from R-rated films. Still, directors often make cuts to avoid the dreaded NC-17 rating.
“It’s the kiss of death, commercially, for films,” Skinner said.
Fox Searchlight, the distributor bringing “Shame” to the United States, apparently wants to change that — one sex-addiction flick at a time.
“I think NC-17 is a badge of honor, not a scarlet letter,” Searchlight president Steve Gilula told The Hollywood Reporter. “We believe it is time for the rating to become usable in a serious manner.”
OK. But first: Anyone remember any good Pee-Wee Herman jokes?
ENTERTAINMENT NOTES
• Treefort Music Fest finalized its 120-or-so-band lineup this week, adding a few notable names such as Denver indie-pop duo Tennis.
The festival — March 22-25 at several Boise venues — continues to build steam. Tickets aren’t just selling locally, but to buyers in Portland, Seattle, even on the East Coast, says festival publicist Matt Dalley.
Unlike a somewhat similar endeavor called the Promenade Music Festival in 2010 — which lasted one year — Treefort feels like it has a shot at becoming an annual event with significant impact in Boise.
“I think there’s better bands involved this time,” agrees Allen Ireland, who owns festival venue Neurolux. “I’m excited about it.”
One big help, Ireland says, is 89.9 FM Radio Boise, which is playing the bands and familiarizing potential festivalgoers with their music.
• Last call: On Feb. 10, I’m giving away eight tickets to Rise Against and Children of Bodom concerts. Hit my blog and Twitter to snag ’em.
Michael Deeds appears Thursdays on Channel 6 News, at 12:40 p.m. Fridays on NewsRadio 99.1 FM and from 9-10 p.m. Sundays on 94.9 FM The River’s “The Other Studio.”
