newsmakers

newsmakers

Re-cut ‘Bully’ version will get PG-13 rating

LOS ANGELES

In a move that allows both sides to claim victory, the Weinstein Co. announced Thursday it had reached an agreement with the Motion Picture Association of America to re-cut its unrated documentary “Bully” to land a PG-13 rating.

The movie now will go out with that rating when it opens in about 115 new theaters next weekend.

The Los Angeles Times had reported on its website March 30 that the distributor was planning a new version of the movie — which focuses on the issue of teen bullying through the lens of five families — so it could nab the lower rating and open the film to a wider audience.

The new cut of the Lee Hirsch film makes some concessions to the MPAA: It removes an F-word obscenity in an early scene in the film, along with two other quickly uttered F-words.

Audio will be dropped out in all three instances.

But the new cut leaves intact a controversial scene on a school bus in which three F-words are used against a bullied child.

The case now represents an exception to the MPAA’s rules; the group typically imposes an R rating on any film with more than two F-words.

Amanda Bynes hits cop car, faces charge

LOS ANGELES

Authorities say actress Amanda Bynes has been arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence after she grazed a sheriff’s patrol car.

The 26-year-old actress was arrested about 3 a.m. Friday in West Hollywood.

The Los Angeles County sheriff’s department says that Bynes attempted to pass a patrol car making a right turn when she hit it.

Deputies who arrested her suspect she was drunk at the time.

Bynes is being held on $5,000 bail. Her publicist, Melissa Raubvogel, did not immediately return a call and an email from The Associated Press.

The actress appeared in the 2010 film “Easy A” and the Nickelodeon series “What I Like About You.”

Deputies say there was paint damage to both cars, but no one was injured.

Vindicator wire services