Fuck: A Documentary

f***

f*** is a documentary about freedom of speech and freedom of expression. It seems silly to say, but even in 2009 it is still a very sensitive issue. For example, I have spent the last two hours trying to decide whether I should keep the f***s in or bleep them in some way. A review about a film without actually referring to it by its title because of the word sounds ludicrous. This would be like censoring D*ck Tracy because of the connotations that this might have. At one point in the film rapper Ice-T even suggests that maybe even Vice President D*ck Cheney's name should be bleeped.

The documentary features interviews with actors, comedians, singers, sociologists and linguistics who both argue for and against the censorship and freedom of speech to use the word and freedom of speech in general. Throughout the film we get little clips from films such as Punch Drunk Love, Pulp Fiction, Sideways, Bad Santa and it also includes my favourite use of the word ever from The Big Lebowski:

The Drifter: Do you have to use so many cuss words?
Dude: What the f*** are you talking about?

One of the major comments made throughout this film is that f*** is just a word. A very versatile word, that can be used as almost every single part of a sentence. Comedian Billy Connolly goes so far as to say 'f*** off is so international. It doesn't mean Go Away. It means f*** Off! There is no English equivalent. It is English?'

A number of key people and incidents are looked at including Lenny Bruce's infamous stand up act which saw him arrested nine times and jailed twice for Word Crimes, which sounds like something Orwell created in Nineteen Eighty-Four. It is commented that Bruce's 'story is a story of the failure of the first amendment.' Also looked at is George Carlin's 'Seven Dirty Words You Can Never Say On Television' and how a recording of the routine was played on the radio in 1973 to outrage.

Of course this leads to an analysis of the FCC (Federal Communications Committee) and their affect on TV and Radio especially with the creation of the PTC (Parent's Television Council) who made numerous complaints about television programs on TV. It is at this point that the documentary loses focus on the word f*** and its use and start looking more at censorship in general in particular sex. This includes the infamous Janet Jackson Super Bowl 'Nipple-gate' from 2004 with comments and footage from Porn Legend Ron Jeremy and Porn Star Tera Patrick in action, which is a perfect way of making the point that there is a huge difference between making love and f***ing.

One interesting point that is made is how both groups almost rate censorship and tolerate it depending on their mood. How they will fine radio shock jockey Howard Stern for every use of the word f*** on a show that has a specific audience that wants to hear this, but will not fine Bono for saying 'this is f***ing amazing' after winning at the Golden Globes, viewed by millions of people who were not watching to hear that kind of language and yet the FCC allowed it and ignored the complaints. It is noted during the film that if f*** was broadcast on TV uncensored, the FCC fines would reach over $200million!? (Incidentally if this review was read aloud on TV uncensored, the fine would total $4547.53) With the development of 'pay for channels' like HBO,the envelope is being pushed further and further with shows like The Sopranos and Deadwood which uses the word 861 times in its first season alone. As the FCC has no say over what they broadcast there is a freedom in these shows that is not seen in network shows where even the word 'God' if used as a curse, must be bleeped out.

f*** is an interesting look at just what freedom of speech actually is. It is the ability to express yourself as freely as you want and if other people don't like it... well they can go f*** themselves.