The A.V. Club let me go long on Bully, a not enormously interesting documentary that touches on a lot of important issues. Harvey Weinstein has, as is his habit, done a magnificent job of turning the film into a cause celèbre by focusing attention on the MPAA's decision to slap it with an R rating due to the use of profanity, a comical (if characteristic) act given that the 16-year-olds who aren't allowed to see it without a guardian's say-so indubitably hear more foul language at school every day. Much as I dlslike the MPAA and its apparent inability to differentiate "I will fucking end you" from "Let's go fuck," whipping up controversy to sell a mediocre movie leaves a bad taste in my mouth, as do the journalists who've paraphrased Weinstein's press releases in their news stories, which is why I didn't address that angle in my review. I did, however, talk about why the film's attempt to paint its subjects as uncomplicated victims ultimately does them, and the complex and nettlesome subject of bullying, a disservice. More, including comments from a (purported) former MPAA employee, in the comments.
UPDATE: I instinctively felt that Hirsch's decision to omit the information that two of the movie's subject, including a 17-year-old who committed suicide, had been diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome. Slate's Emily Bazelon backs up that feeling with some damning reporting, including words from a suicide-prevention specialist, here.
