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The curious history of the movie rating NC-17

There’s a distinct possibility that Steve McQueen’s “Shame’’ will be one of the ten best picture nominees when the Motion Picture Academy of Arts and Sciences reels off its list on Jan. 24. And that means there’s a chance it could be the first NC-17-rated film to win the big prize. Since the acclaimed, high-profile “Shame’’ may change the game - in many ways it already has - it’s worth a look back at NC-17’s curious history.

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