Ready, Set, Strip.

Instead of exploring another sex scene, I thought it would be fun to explore how actors and actresses feel about being in a sex scene. I’m sure a lot of people think that celebrities are incredibly lucky to be making out and simulating sex with other hot famous celebs, but I have actually found out that the majority of actors find these scenes incredibly awkward and usually pretty boring, and they are just happy the scenes look good once the editing room is done with them.

Scarlett Johansson talks about how her sex scenes are less than romantic, and insists they are more like “organized boxing matches”. Wenn from Hollywood.com reported that Johansson found filming scenes for The Black Dahlia deeply unsexy, as the pair was “trying to get in the mood while members of the crew stood around eating sandwiches.” She also described how awkward it is to have a director shouting orders at you to ‘move here’ or ‘put your hand there’. I can see how that would be awkward.

Jennifer Lopez reported to Indiainfo that now that she is pregnant, sex scenes are off the agenda. “I'm not comfortable with it, I'll be honest with you -- not at this point in my career. I love the idea of being a bold actress and I am quite fearless when I work but there is just something about it that just feels not quite right to me -- a bit exploiting”. When she was asked to comment on sex scenes in Hollywood movies, she said: “You can't get rid of those….they are always a little bit uncomfortable because you have to be intimate with somebody you're not intimate with.”


Jessica Alba discussed her new movie Good Luck Chuck (Murray, Hollywood Movies) which led to emergency dental work. Alba said: “I did chip my front tooth doing a kiss with Dane. I chipped my top tooth and he chipped his bottom tooth. We were doing a comedic Mr. and Mrs. Smith love scene and we were slamming into walls and breaking things, tumbling over couches and stuff. He slammed my head into a picture and, while my head was smacking into the wall and breaking the picture, his teeth slammed into my teeth.” I wonder if Brad or Angelina got hurt doing the actual scene..

Regarding James Bond, Guylaine Cadorette reports that director Lee Tamahori says Die Another Day will include a steamy love scene. Whether audiences will ever get to see it, however, is another story. Tamahori said it will be up to the censors to decide what ends up on the cutting room floor. “In lovemaking, Bond's PG requirements have traditionally meant you can only show post-coital sex…you know, clothes strewn around the room, the camera slowly pans over to the bed....But we thought, why couldn’t Bond have the best lay of his life? So we shot a very hot love scene. Whether it survives the censor’s cut, or the producer’s, we’ll see.” Alot of scenes, it seems, don't "make the cut".

For Monsters Ball, the film reportedly has a sex scene so graphic that a minute had to be cut from it to avoid an NC-17 rating. Halle Berry said that “I would only [get naked] if Billy Bob [Thorton] agreed to be as naked as I was,” telling The Times, noting that in Swordfish, her breasts made their wide-screen debut. For Monsters Ball, they shot the sex scene on Day 19 of a 21-day shoot. She says, “I always say Billy Bob and I dated for three weeks, and then we had sex.” Admitting that the scene “scared me completely,” Berry went on to say, “I look at it now and think, ‘Who is that girl up there?” (Stephen M. Silverman, People.com)

Now Magazine reports that Demi Moore will no longer get intimate on the big screen with another man for fear of upsetting hubbie Ashton Kutcher. She says that she wouldn’t dream of getting naked with anyone else: “I just feel discomfort [kissing on screen] and I don’t know if it’s just from being so madly in love.” Alright, Demi, we get it, you love him. That's no reason to not get naked..All the other celebs are doing it..

Orlando Bloom tells People.com that he hated kissing Zoe [Saldana] and felt like telling her to “Take your tongue out of my mouth, please. Your boyfriend is standing right there. Most people think kissing beautiful costars must be great. But it’s always awkward, man.” Ok, man, quit whining. I'm sure Zoe was thinking, "Gee, thanks a lot, Orlando"...

Justin Timberlake apparently hates filming sex scenes, and thinks they are the worst part of acting (he reports). In Black Snake Moan, him and Christina Ricci had a sex scene to which Justin though was “pretty hot. I’m not going to say it doesn’t feel weird pretending to fuck someone in front of a man with a sound boom, though.” He also said that “When you're doing [a sex scene] you’re constantly thinking it isn’t going to look hot at all. I’ll crack a joke or something so it is not as uncomfortable.” Aww, so considerate.

So, all in all, there are a lot of actors and actresses that feel the same way (I could have easily posted 20 more). As unrealistic and awkward as they are to watch, they are just as unrealistic and awkward to act (probably more so).

So, I ask you, does it ruin your enjoyment of a sex scene knowing the actor wasn't into it and it's basically all smoke, mirrors and editing?

Knocked Up a Knock-Out

For all of you, (of course) in the name of research, I spent last Friday night with 8 of my best friends watching Knocked Up. I can’t imagine this movie being that funny watching it alone.
I probably need to put a spoiler warning up, although it is called Knocked Up, so you know there is bound to be a sex scene (or two). I was pretty excited when, only a few minutes into the movie, the group of guy nerds were talking about their website to show people where the sex scenes are in movies! I was thinking, man THAT would be helpful! Until I went to Mr.Skin.com and discovered that you have to pay to get in (bummer) and it is basically just celebrity soft-core porn. Anyways, back to the movie... (Here's the trailer)

The scene: Hot girl goes to bar. Nerdy guys go to bar. Hot girl gets drunk and has one night stand with one of the nerdy guys. This sex scene is probably one of the most awkward scenes to watch because, the sex is, well…clumsy and awkward (making it a stereotypically realistic drunken sex scene) Red background lights, fast music, the long drawn out condom search and … “problems”, and then the massive misunderstanding. Hot girls line: “Just do it already!” makes nerd think he can forget the condom and continue in the sweaty, sloppy grind-fest where he was so drunk he could “last forever” …yea, right.
My favorite line? “Stop talking, now”. Classic.
The next morning, being pretty impressed with himself that he slept with such a hot girl (and after the incredibly awkward morning-after-breakfast), they assume they will never see each other. But then the title “Knocked Up” would not have made any sense.

So she’s pregnant and when she calls to tell him, he thinks he is getting a booty call, but how oh-so wrong he is. So, she tells him, he is semi-supportive and they want to try to “work things out” and see how dating goes. This makes for another hilarious sex scene (watch it here) in which she is very pregnant, making him nervous and distracted that he is basically smacking the baby in the face. The “sex music”( think: bow-chicka-bow-wow) and self conscious questioning (Good? Slower? Faster? Lower? Harder? Shut up already!) is nothing compared to when the baby kicks, making him freak out (“It was a warning kick!”), and making her “lose it” completely. She then remarks “Don’t worry, I wont make you do this again” to his response, “…SHIT!”

Many incredibly awkward sex scenes in comedies usually get their hilarity by how believable they are. This could actually happen, or did happen to someone, and probably will happen to other people in the future. Being self-conscious or nervous or awkward about something like sex is funny because it actually is realistic. Funny things happen in the heat of the moment, and if you can’t laugh at yourself (or your partner) and move on, then the moment can be totally ruined (like here). This element of realism is also what makes teen-sex comedies so popular (remember kids, always lock the door when your parents are around).

I loved how abortion (literally) could not even be mentioned in this movie, (alluded to by “it rhymes with smashmortion” or “dealing with it”). Her decision process to keep the baby was relatively quick, even though it wasn’t with the right guy, at the right time, she wasn’t ready and she was obviously quite scared. Yes, the movie wouldn’t be the movie if she didn’t have the baby, but it was nice to watch her not spend too much time debating the issue since abortion is a popular choice (taking 1.6 million lives per year in America). But how many people were really rooting for her to keep the baby? How many women would have stepped up, and how many guys would have supported that decision? Sad truth: not many. Dana Stevens of Slate Movie Review agrees: "It's just not believable that, in Alison and Ben's upper-middle-class, secular L.A. milieu, abortion would not be matter-of-factly discussed as a possibility in the case of a pregnancy this accidental." And although this movie got an R rating for the out of place baby-crowning shots, an actual abortion debate probably would have been even more controversial (which is why this scene was deleted)...Interesting.

All in all, my advice would be either rent it (or download it) and watch this movie with friends if you want some cheap laughs (alcohol optional--and recommended).

I wonder how many times this movie actually mentioned Canada...

This scene is the Pitts.

Married couple Mr. & Mrs. Smith (Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie (-Pitt)) were getting bored with their quiet domestic life, even though they are secretly both assassins, hopping the world and killing for hire. Their separate lives collided when each found out their next target is their own spouse.
*SPOILER ALERT* As it turns out, neither are very good assassins, because they just can’t seem to kill each other, but do an excellent job of tearing their house apart. For anyone who hasn’t seen this movie, know that before this sex scene, they spend a good amount of time trying to kill each other with automatic weapons, knifes, and other household items.

Mrs. to Mr:
“You still alive, Baby?”

Okay, so this sex scene starts off with the end of violent foreplay, and them dropping (err, throwing down) their weapons and aggressively ripping off each others clothes. They violently throw each other around, smashing into walls, counters, and …glass, apparently. The sound of things crashing in the background adds to the idea of mixing sex and violence, which makes parts of this scene only available in the “Unrated” version of the film. The already hurt and bloody pair gasp, grunt, groan and moan their way onto the glass covered kitchen island to simulate penetration (making this part “unrated”) and Mr. proceeds to choke Mrs. (to which, it appears, she likes) to finish (themselves and the scene) by shedding new light on “rough sex”.

They collapse on the floor in exhaustion, and she SLAPS him in the face, and then laughs at him. What a Bitch! A hot bitch...but still a bitch...
They then share a “tender” moment of him ogling her body, and then, a knock at the end of the scene means they have to haul ass to escape people who are trying to kill them. So much for spooning…

This scene (like so many others) is dark in lighting, incredibly unrealistic, and includes the ever-popular cheesy music (this time I think its bongos and a violin...) This scene also falls into the we-can-put-it-in-the-commercials category, and probably makes Jennifer Aniston cringe every time she thinks about it. The ploy to add sexuality into this movie wherever humanly possible is borderline ridiculous (left), but what else would you expect when you put the two hottest celebrities on-screen together…an actual plotline and amazing acting?

Yes, the scene is a major selling point of this film, especially since the movie came out during the Pitt-Aniston break-up (along with The Break-Up), but the reality of it, lets just say the ending to this movie was almost as believable as the sex scene.

Cheating? pphfff.. Who Cares? It's "True Love".

Alright girls, this one’s for you (and all the boyfriends who have ever been “Notebooked”). Now, I am really NOT one for sappy movies, but this love story sucked me in when I was on a Nicholas Sparks fascination in like, eighth grade and read everything he ever wrote (because the book is always better). This movie made girls all over America swoon for Ryan Gosling’s character Noah (and Ryan himself) who has got to be the most romantic man on the planet (if only he were real). The ever popular sexy-kiss-in-the-rain scene comes after a seven-year pining (it’s fourteen in the book) for his high school sweetheart Allie (Rachel McAdams) who’s now engaged. When she comes back to their hometown (right before her wedding) to see the house Noah basically built for her, they fall passionately back-in-love and now Allie has a “tough” choice to make (yea, right). Watch the whole scene.

It is interesting that even though she is cheating on the man who has only ever treated her right, the audience’s investment in the characters make them root for her to cheat on him, because with Noah, its “true love” (*sigh*).


So after the romantic kiss, they turn into primal sexual beings who rip off each others clothes and take their signature leap-on-top-of-him pose as their wet, naked bodies bash against walls and stairs to get to the bedroom (which was much better than the first time they attempted to have sex in high school and got interrupted, yelled at, and forbid to see each other). They finally make it to the bedroom, and apparently taking off pantyhose is hot. Who knew.

The one thing keeping this scene classy is that the only thing Allie is wearing is a string of pearls. The lighting is dark, the music is cheesy (what…do I hear flutes?) and her line is pretty laughable; “You’ve gotta be kiddin’ me. All this time that’s what I’ve been missin’? Let’s do it again”. Then, this sex scene ends with …another sex scene! And he’s actually getting so much sex that he needs food to “regain his strength”. That is, until his girlfriend knocks on the door, and, as realistic as this is, Allie invites her in for tea!

The whole thing is pretty funny, but girls everywhere love this scene, and so, I guess I should too, right? The long involved back-story of these characters make this scene (and all the pent up passion of star-crossed lovers) seem romantic (even though, hey it broke up a marriage, sorry, engagement in the process). But it's not really cheating if it's your one true love, right?

P.S. Notice the picture of the movie vs. the picture on the sidebar – Ryan’s beard was edited out because nobody liked the look. Poor, Ryan.

Sexy Spartan Lust

Sex scenes in dramatic, action-filled movies are usually much different than other genre's, and two interesting "anti-chick-flick" films come to mind: 300 and Troy . This video contains both movies sex scenes, but please ignore the cheesy pop music in the background..and warning--there is nudity. (This link is a longer version of just the 300 scene)

In 300, this passion-filled scene between King Leonidas and Queen Gorgo of Sparta is interesting because it contains elements that make this hardcore grope-fest what society deems "tasteful". For starters, the scene is done in black and white, and mixes in dark pulsing voids (basically between sex positions). The subtle background music is in tune with their heavy breathing, while the Queen's perfectly windblown hair stays flawless, even though the sex is so passionate that she has to claw her nails into his back. I find it interesting that this scene contains nudity (only female, however), and the positions are that of rough sex (as opposed to sweet sex), but the scene still comes off incredibly classy. The dynamic of their relationship is so rich and involved within this movie, its no wonder there is insane heat between the sheets.

In Troy, the sex scene with Orlando Bloom is intercut with other scenes, taking away an element of passion and privacy, and is done in color (however, lit by candlelight...how realistic). The woman is the aggressor in this scene, as opposed to Queen Gorgo's submissive nature. This is definatley a scene of "sweet" sex, cementing this notion with Orlando's line "Till the day they burn my body, I will love you" (How, umm, romantic...)
In Brad Pitt's scene, the woman appears to be the aggressor (by, well, attempting to kill him), but Brad turns the option of a violent death into a sexual invitation and makes the act more about him. We will see that this theme of violence mixed with sex comes up alot in Drama and Action films (as well as all great tragedies).

So, which sex scene is the most "tasteful"? What are the key elements in dividing scenes from sexy acceptable to slutty inept? Is it the element of passion and love what seperates a great sex scene from basic porn? Directors have many different techniques to make a sex scene just right. This is how most actors feel when they are given bad (or not enough) direction. Directors must work hard to have the right tone, show just enough (but what's too much?) and attempt their best shot at sexy yet tasteful. Are these movies successful?

Sex Scenes...without SEX?

Have you ever watched a sex scene where the couple doesn’t touch? Although I do not recommend this movie, I find the main “sex scene” in 40 Days and 40 Nights very interesting. This movie is entirely about sex (or the act of trying NOT to have it), yet the three main sex scenes are so varied and unusual, it makes this movie very intriguing. The main character, Matt Sullivan (Josh Hartnett) vowed to give up sex for Lent (giving off Christian values, yet in a very un-Christian setting and without the normal “rules” of Lent) and ends of meeting Erica (Shannyn Sossamon) at a laundry mat, and of course, falls in love.

This first sex scene is of Matt getting it on with a girl while he envisions the ceiling collapsing around him because of his unresolved issues of an ex-girlfriend (and the reason for his sex-strike). We are apparently supposed to feel bad for the poor stud that can have sex with whoever he wants, whenever he wants, because it’s simply tearing him up inside.

The second sex scene I find interesting (SPOILER ALERT) is at the end of the movie when his ex-girlfriend tries to rig the office-pool going on and ties Matt to the bed to rape him. It is interesting that in this rape scene Matt is forced into nonconsensual sex, but the depiction involves no negative consequences for the rapist, and makes the victim appear to be at fault. She wins the money and leaves him there for Erica to find. Nice girl, eh?

The last scene I want to explore is the most interesting (watch scene here), and possibly the only one in the movie with actual human emotion (and somewhat decent acting). Since Matt has sworn off any sexual contact (including kissing), him and Erica use a flower to express the way they feel about each other. Clothes come off, which you think would make it harder for Matt NOT to sleep with her, but instead of focusing on his needs, he focuses on hers (a nice change from most movies). Petals fall, and the sensation of Matt blowing the petals across her, apparently makes her orgasm (yea, not very believable, but makes for a highly sexual scene without sex).

This is a very interesting notion in mainstream media, because this is one of the very few sex scenes that contains no kissing, no touching, (and no awkward/fake grinding) yet appears very sensual. Can we even call this a “sex” scene if there is no actual sex taking place? What then, are the elements needed to create a sex scene, and where did those notions come from? …Any thoughts?

Searching for that "deeper" connection...

Okay, this post may seem a little random, but stay with me. I want to discuss something that I find interesting within sex scenes; the importance of kissing, and the significance of saying “I love you”. Three sex scenes come to mind:

The one we already know is Kevin and Vicky in that famous teen-sex comedy, American Pie, where Vicky doesn’t want to have sex with her high school boyfriend until he tells her he loves her. Holy Cliché, Batman! This one is straightforward and makes for that crazy-awkward sex scene.

Moving on to a classic, prostitute Julia Roberts can’t kiss "client" Richard Gere in Pretty Woman, because kissing is totally inappropriate, even though she is sleeping with him. This is a common rule amoung prostitutes (so I hear), because the act of kissing is known to be more, well…“intimate”. I wonder if the idea of kissing, or the importance of “the first kiss” had anything to do with the build-up of the climactic kiss at the end of every great movie. Think about it, it’s just another body part touching someone else’s, where as sex is…well…deeper. Why is kissing so out of the question when you are spending the night naked and engaging in sexual activity with someone…shouldn’t THAT be more personal?

This brings us to the most interesting of the three, psycho Swimfan Erika Christensen and hot Jesse Nicholas getting busy in the pool, before she goes all Fatal Attraction on him. Here's a short clip of that scene, and the trailer.

So, he has a girlfriend, and he’s cheating on his girlfriend with a blonde he barely knows who ends up being obsessed with him. For anyone who has seen this movie, you can just see him saying, “It seemed like a good idea at the time…”

So, they’re having sweaty sex in the school pool when Erika tells Jesse that she wants to have him say that he loves her. “Ben…tell me that you love me. You don’t have to mean it, just say it…” Okay, if this didn’t set off some kind of WARNING alarms for him, I don’t know what would. Then she uses that against him later, to his response “You told me to!”

What is the obsession with hearing that someone loves you during sex (or during a sex scene)? I would have thought that our society had separated the two so much that it wouldn’t even be an issue anymore, yet many other movies contain scenes where the woman just wants to hear that she is loved (before she gives it up). The link between kissing and love in sex scenes is fascinating, and brings up questions of emotional attachment in a society where “casual sex” is a phrase thrown around an awful lot…Thoughts?