Hannah Gadsby has decided to slam Louis C.K. in a new Los Angeles Times interview [via Source] C.K. — whose career got derailed last year after it was revealed that he was a chronic public serial masturbator -- has been trying to mount a comeback by performing stand-up at NYC's legendary Comedy Cellar club.
Read moreSex Disappearing From Big Screen?
Ann Hornaday's insightful piece on the lack of sex in today's movies felt like an oasis to me. I've been seeing the decline of eroticism and sexuality for a few years now at the movies. The mid-budget movie has all but transferred on to television, where sex is very much present. It’s not just that, the #MeToo movement has brought about a ton of pressure on directors, in terms of how to depict sex in a non-offensive ways.
Read moreChina's Removal of All Gay Dialogue and Scenes From ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ Confuses Audiences, Creates Plot Holes
Ah yes, the never ending, but successful, saga of “Bohemian Rhapsody.” The film finally opened in select Chinese theaters on March 22, of course the version that is being shown has removed any dialogue or scenes referring, explicitly or unexplicitly, to Freddie Mercury’s homosexuality. China has strict policies on exhibiting LGBTQ content. Ridley Scott’s “Alien: Covenant” was released in China without the kiss between Michael Fassbender and himself. Also, recent LGBTQ classics such as Ang Lee’s “Brokeback Mountain” and. Luca Guadagnino’s “Call Me By Your Name,” were, of course, banned completely from ever being show in the country.
Read more‘Rocketman' Will Finally Get An R-Rating for Sex, Drug Scenes
After much controversy, Rocketman, Paramount’s Elton John biopic, will be keeping a gay sex scene between Taron Egerton’s Elton, and Richard Madden, who plays the singer’s former manager, John Reid. [via THR]
Read more"The Sessions" The best and sweetest sex scenes of the year
(R) ★★★★
It doesn't take much to give in and enjoy Ben Lewin's fascinating "The Sessions". Based on the true story of California based poet and writer Mark O'Brien, the film deals with O'Brien's struggle with Polio and being forced to use an iron lung the rest of his life. It's not as grim a subject matter as you may think. O'Brien is played by John Hawkes, a man we will certainly see at next year's Oscar ceremony, in a performance that may recall Daniel Day Lewis' in My Left Foot but with more humor and playfulness. Having learned to twist his body, learn to breathe carefully and use a mouth stick to dial a phone and type, Hawkes gets all the mannerisms right and makes us believe that he truly is in this sort of state. It's no easy feat to act in a lying down position with an iron lung for an entire movie but if done well, this sort of showy performance usually spells awards for you.
O'Brien has been a virgin his entire life and decides to hire a sex surrogate to "de-virginize" him. That surrogate is Cheryl as played by Helen Hunt, in a supporting performance that will also be rewarded with a nomination. Hunt is spectacular bringing a sexy, fierce vibe that has been lacking ever since her "As Good As It Gets" triumph in 1997. The aforementioned sessions involving Hunt's Cheryl and Hawkes' Mark are the heart and soul of the picture. Cheryl has a 6 session limit with every disabled client she visits. The sex scenes are incredibly well handled and -dare I say it- the best and sweetest sex scenes I've seen all year in any picture. This is in fact the first movie I've seen where premature ejaculation is actually dealt with in a sweet, non joking way. Hunt and Hawkes have chemistry to burn in those scenes. Which reveal secrets about both characters that we might not see coming. The screenplay is at its peak in these scenes, where every word counts and every gesture by these characters brings new depth to the story.
Mark is a believer. Visiting church every Sunday and getting the blessing of his priest -playfully played by William H Macy- to go on this journey to lose his virginity. One cannot understand why Mark would still believe in God given his physical state but he jokingly says there must be a god given the fact that someone must have had a sense of humor the day they created him. The playfulness that comes with this movie is a real treat. It's a small indie gem that gets all the details right. It's a testament to the way the movie is handled that the vibe is never menacing and that Mark's situation is never really handled in a way to manipulate your emotions or force you into tears. The film threatens to collapse in "TV movie cliches" and is shot like one too but the performances are just so strong and the story just so good that they elevate the movie into a true contender. "The Sessions" is an undeniably fascinating true story, one that makes you reevaluate your own life in ways you never thought you would. That's the sign of a great movie.
http://www.awardsdaily.com/
Romance & Breillat
Catherine Breillat's Romance is not pornography. No matter what you hear people say about it, it is instead a film with a lot going for it. The main character that goes into a kind of transformative sexual odyssey is someone that is unhappy and unsatisfied with her dead-beat boyfriend, who's libido is practically non existent. Of course, she feels trapped and does not know what keeps her from escaping her relationship with him. It is however not surprising that we see this woman madly in love with a man that doesn't give her any attention because, well, he doesn't give her attention. It's all psychological and has gotten to her head. She's always been the one that's been chased but this time she's chasing the guy. Well, we of course as the viewer pull her for her to dump this schlub, yet she doesn't. However, because she can't let go, she does end up cheating on him through numerous sexual encounters which include her boss, a man she meets at a bar and a random street howler. I'm not encouraging this kind of behaviour nor am I encouraging what she does at the film's howlingly hilarious and interesting climax but hell, i had a blast which might give you an idea of my frame of mind or telling some of the folks condemning this film to not take it so damn seriously. It's another feminist, theoretical cinematic endeavour for Breillat and it reminds you of a time when she was making focused, real films instead of the fairy tales she's making now.
An Image 08/22/10
