MPAA snuffs poster for Taxi to the Dark Side

Posted by Chris

December 19, 2007

Anne Thompson has a story at Variety about the decision by the MPAA to reject the poster for Taxi to the Dark Side, a documentary about the torture tactics currently being employed by the U.S. military in bases around the world.

The trade group rejected the poster because it shows two American soldiers leading a man wearing a hood away from the camera. It’s the hood that has the MPAA concerned, saying that it pushes the image into actually depicting torture and therefore is unsuitable for all audiences, which is the guideline it follows.

(Side note: Apparently the MPAA has a stricter policy about hoods than it does, say actual torture devices. This is now the second hood poster it’s spiked – both for films with political themes – whereas posters for Saw, Hostel and other such movies get show show scythes, guillotines and so much more. I’m not saying they hold different movies to different stand…actually that’s exactly what I’m saying.)

The image is actually drawn from a composite of a couple different real news photos, which makes sense considering the movie is a documentary. It’s also giving the studio and its supporters ammunition to appeal the decision since this photo has already been widely disseminated.

Karina points out that political bloggers on both sides of the political spectrum have picked up this story. Those on the left say the movie deserves to be seen and that the MPAA is wrong to be censoring (I hate it when people use that word incorrectly) the poster. Those on the right say the MPAA is the one politicizing this by using the word “torture” to begin with.

The MPAA does have a point here, even if it is a tenuous one. They do have a responsibility – self-appointed as it might be – to police movie marketing materials and make sure that no one on their way down the lobby hallway to see Mr. Magorium is presented with severed limbs or exposed breasts. But I wish they’d be a little more consistent in their application of these guidelines. That way everyone could have a better idea of what is and is not permissible.

In this instance I think what they’re doing is over the line. If this image, or at least its main source image, has already been used and seen on newsstands, they’re hardly bringing something to market that’s not already been deemed appropriate by other gate keepers. It’s not as if someone is right up to the camera having jumper cables applied to their testicles. It’s three guys walking away, one of which is obviously a prisoner. To take away the hood from the image would be to take away much of the poster’s emotional impact.

It’s also worth noting just how impotent the MPAA currently is in this field. Yes, they may have final say over what makes it on the airwaves and in print, but they’re almost powerless online. That poster could be all over the place and they couldn’t do a thing about it. Hell, I’m considering making it my Twitter icon for a week just to prove a point.

Let the poster stand.