The British Film Institute Refuses to Screen 'The Love Guru'
Filed under: Comedy, Paramount, Celebrities and Controversy, Distribution, Politics
Well, for a tempest in a teapot the controversy over Mike Myers' comedy The Love Guru seems to be heating up by the day. CJ Report confirmed that the British Film Institute has responded to Hindu protests, and has issued a statement that the prestigious institution will "not be screening this title nor will be involved with a possible release of it." Now this doesn't mean the film will not be shown in the UK, but the BFI's refusal to support the film must come as a blow to Myers, a committed anglophile.Guru is the story of an American-born guru who returns home to help coach a lovelorn hockey player with a struggling marriage. Sure, it looks silly, and a little stereotypical, but so did The Party and a lot of people seem to like that movie. According to CJ Report, "Hindu groups have recently been approaching film distributors associations, exhibitors groups, regulatory bodies, government ministries, theater owners, etc., in various parts of the world urging them not to distribute/screen The Love Guru till Paramount Pictures makes necessary changes to it." Paramount still maintains that they will screen the film for Hindu audiences, but they have not agreed to make any significant changes to the film.
OK, so maybe The Love Guru is not the best poster child for creative freedoms, but allowing religious groups to determine what is acceptable for audiences is a little frightening for this secular gal. Imagine a world where every film had to pass the standards of a group of 'spiritual censors' -- a world without Life of Brian? No thank you. Regardless of what you think of the film, to allow religious groups to affect the release could have some pretty serious ramifications for other films in the future.
Do you think Myers has crossed a line? Or should he be allowed to make his film as offensive (and apparently unfunny) as he wants?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
5-13-2008 @ 9:26PM
KnifeyJames said...
I'm not familiar with the British ratings system, but if it's like ours here in the US, it ain't censorship; it's just a forced boycott.
The real problem that ought to be on everyone's minds is that we, as the American (and global, I suppose) public, we are forced to endure washed up sad-sacks like Myers and M Night [last name] in their latest sure-fire flops. Some people need to STOP MAKING MOVIES.
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5-13-2008 @ 9:45PM
Cincinnati Mike said...
I think the British snub will be the least of this turkey's problems. But kudos to Mike for trying something new and not doing another Austin Powers..what? Oh, never mind.
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5-13-2008 @ 9:53PM
Cincinnati Mike said...
Snark aside, Jessica is looking for some commentary on censorship. I have to say "tempest in a teapot" is about right. So far the British Hindus haven't started killing people in the streets like the Muslims did to Theo Van Gogh. When they do, then "this secular gal" should start being frightened. Protests, picket lines and boycotts don't scare me.
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5-13-2008 @ 11:06PM
Assume a Virtue said...
I don't quite see how anyone imagines that people will form an opinion of the hindu faith based on this movie alone.
Something doesn't seem right about this. This is probably the first time I've heard of hindu reaction to a movie in any capacity, and it's over a movie that looks like it'll be easily forgotten.
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5-14-2008 @ 1:29AM
Christopher said...
I "Refuse" to see the 'The Love Guru'!!! & it's not based on the characters etc...it just looks stupid!! A waste of Hollywood's money!
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5-14-2008 @ 2:40AM
Mr R said...
By minding this Meyers garbage, the Hindus or what ever group that is pissed, will only make the movie more successful. One look at the poster and you might as well sit down, relax and watch it sink like the Titanic...
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5-14-2008 @ 9:37AM
dopiestghost said...
Man, you'd think the British would be the first to tell the Hindus to lighten up, as Mike Myers' biggest success came from playing a stereotypical Brit, down to the bad teeth.
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5-14-2008 @ 10:12AM
mike said...
This is absurd. People need to relax. i hope the same thing doesnt happen for Tropic Thunder for Robert doing a "blackface" type thing (though his character went the next step).
Its just a movie, and a comedy at that. Should Italian groups cause a boycott of the Sopranos on HBO since it portrays Italians in a bad light. Its a joke if you don't want to see it, don't watch it. As said before people aren't going to basis their opinion on a religion just on this movie (if they do, they are idiots). He is playing a westerner who is raised by gurus, so I think one would assume he would be over the top.
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