Category Archives: Explicit sexual discussion

1996, British, Explicit sexual discussion, Love Story, Motorcycles, Nudity, Sex Scenes, Transexual Theme, Unusual, Wonderful acting

Different for Girls (1996)

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From NetFlix:

Karl Foyle (Steven Mackintosh) and Paul Prentice (Rupert Graves) were boyhood friends back in the 1970s, but when they run into each other in present-day London, they learn that a lot has changed. For starters, Karl has become Kim and has no desire to go back to her past. As for Paul, he’s just an aging punk with no future. The two rekindle their friendship and are surprised to find their relationship becoming much deeper than they expected.

NetFlix Watch Instantly almost never offers mainstream films but instead has a catalog of rejects, failures, second rates, and an occasional find. If you look up Rupert Graves in IMDB you will find his appearance in 75 productions. For example, he was DI Lestrade in the Sherlock Holmes TV series. Now try to find a film with Rupert Graves in NetFlix Watch Instantly. Voila! Now you are a kid in a candy store. Just for the fun of it choose “Different for Girls”. Talk about different!

Probably you have never seen a film as unusual as this well-done British gem. For those of you with delicate sensitivities, beware. Not only is this an eventual love story between a straight man and a male-to-female transsexual, but there are anatomical discussions and instances of explicit nudity and intercourse. Having been warned you should now ignore the warning because this film is a non-prurient story of an admittedly unusual relationship.

As I watched the performance of the transsexual character Kim, I sensed a slight bit of masculinity, but SHE was a beautiful and very feminine young woman. In IMDB I could not find the woman playing Kim until it hit me. SHE is played to perfection by Steven Mackintosh whose own resume listed 94 entries. Steven Mackintosh was Winston in Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels (1998).

During filming Rupert Graves was 33 and Steven Macintosh was 29.

If you are in the mood “and now for something completely different” (quoting from Monty Python), go no further.

2011, Adventure, Based on a Book, British, Crude Talk, DO NOT MISS, Explicit sex, Explicit sexual discussion, Fantasy, Made For TV, Nudity, Orchestral Music, Revenge, TV Series, Violent, Vulgar

Game of Thrones (2011)

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From NetFlix:

When a power vacuum emerges in the mythical land of Westeros following mighty King Robert’s death, several noble families, including the Starks, Lannisters and Baratheons, wage war against each other for control of the vacant Iron Throne. Full of political and sexual intrigue, this fantasy series, based on George R.R. Martin’s “A Song of Ice and Fire” novels, also chronicles the rise of an ancient evil, which threatens the entire kingdom.

UPDATE: April 2016

Only 5 seasons are available at this time.  Season 6 has not yet appeared.   If you don’t mind violence, nudity, crude language, cruelty, etc. then this series continues to be spellbinding. By this time Peter Dinklage has made his fame with his portrayal of Tyrion Lannister. And those dragons are really cool.

If you want details just go to Wikipedia.

Season One consists of 5 disks. You might not like this series unless you enjoy such guilty pleasures as intrigue, nudity, fantasy, sex, revenge, and violence. In other words: What’s not to like?

Among the huge cast you will notice:

  • Sean Bean (as Eddard Stark) was Boromir in “Lord of the Rings”.
  • Peter Dinklage plays Tyrion Lannister who throughout the story calls himself a dwarf. You might remember him from Death at a Funeral (2007) or The Station Agent (2003)
  • Iain Glen (as Ser Jorah Mormont) appears in many British productions. He was the wonderful villain Vaughan Edwards in part of MI-5

Production values are excellent. Note especially the opening of each episode in which the camera pans an abstract model of the entire mythical kingdom.

If this kind of fantasy is your cup of tea, then I would call “Game of Thrones” as DO NOT MISS!

Could Be Hard To Watch, Could Be Sad, Crime, Crude Talk, Disturbing Image, DO NOT MISS, Drugs, Explicit sexual discussion, French, Gangs, Gay theme, Grim, Limburgish, Nudity, Police Story, Psychological Drama, Race Relations, Revenge, Unusual, Violent

Bullhead (2011)

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From NetFlix:

Tortured by his past and despairing of his stultifying present life, Belgian cattle farmer Jacky becomes entangled in a violent web of deceit involving local mobsters and determined policemen after he uses illegal growth hormones on his herd.

Belgian actor Matthias Schoenaerts is the perfect choice to play the sadly damaged character Jacky Vanmarsenille in this film spoken in Limburgish and French. His facial expressions capture Jacky’s shame, longing, loneliness, shyness, and rage. To say why he feels these emotions would be a major spoiler. Through a series of flashbacks you learn his past history. Expect some very violent scenes.

Although you may find all the crime details confusing, they really are not very original or important. Jacky is important along with those characters associated with his tragic life.

Much of the violence stems from traditional racial hatreds between the many distinct communities, each with its own language.

Bullhead was on the 2012 list of Best Foreign Language Film of the Year.

In retrospect, the ending chosen for the story is quite probably the only possible conclusion.

If you can accept the sadness, violence, and somewhat brutish characters,

DO NOT MISS THIS FILM!

2012, Acceptable Trash, B-movie, Car Chase, Crude Talk, Explicit sexual discussion, Gangs, Mediocre, Optimistic, Sex Scenes, Violent

This Means War (2012)

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From NetFlix:

Each determined to win the heart of a sexy blonde bombshell, two best friends and CIA spies turn their secret-agent skills against each other, heedless of the ever-widening trail of wreckage and collateral damage they leave in their wake.

“Acceptable Chick Flick Trash” fairly well summarizes this B-film. As you might expect you will encounter crude language, much talk about penises, flirting, sex scenes, etc. What you might not expect are all the CIA action sequences with lots of shooting. Except for the final action sequence that actually involves Reese Witherspoon, the other action sequences seem almost pointless.

Chris Pine you know as Will from “Unstoppable”. Tom Hardy is more of a newcomer to film. He was one of the fighting brothers in “Warrior”.

Having prepared you for the worst, you are now free to sit back and just enjoy the trash.

I LOVE TRASH!

2011, Explicit sex, Explicit sexual discussion, Mostly About Sex, Nudity, Redemption, Sex Scenes

Shame (2011)

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From NetFlix:

Although handsome New Yorker Brandon Sullivan is outwardly reserved, inside he’s seething with an overwhelming sexual addiction. But when his uninhibited younger sister invades his life, Brandon struggles to control his self-destructive behavior.

First impressions count, as in, “this is a pornographic film!!!!”

Over the years I have reviewed many films. But this one sent my “explicit” meter soaring. Michael Fassbender spends a good deal of the time completely nude (full frontal included) and quite active sexually. In fact there are many nude attractive bodies in various positions and activities.

So much for the eye candy. But is there a point to all this (and does anybody really care) ? A severe addiction of any kind (sex, drugs, alcohol, smoking, neatness, gluttony) can control an individual and ruin that person’s life. In Brandon’s case most of his waking attention centers on his next orgasm to the point that he has no lasting personal relation, his work is endangered by the porn on his work computer, and he dismisses his sister as a nuisance who can only be in the way. Carey Mulligan as that sister Sissy portrays an emotionally needy and insecure young woman to perfection (while being as cute as ever).

Could I accept the “redemptive” ending ? Brandon reaches a low point and supposedly experiences an epiphany. He evidences this in a clever metro scene that seems to say he is on the mend. But in reality a cure for addiction requires much treatment: psychotherapy, group therapy, and possibly some helpful drugs (chemical castration anyone ?). But who needs reality in a movie ?

Loved the sex show, but gravitas is a bit missing.

2011, Based on true facts, Drama, Explicit sexual discussion, Imperfect, Mostly About Sex, Psychological Drama, Sex Scenes

A Dangerous Method (2011)

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From NetFlix:

In this David Cronenberg-helmed biopic, Viggo Mortensen stars as Sigmund Freud, whose relationship with fellow psychology luminary Carl Jung (Michael Fassbender) is tested when Sabina Spielrein (Keira Knightley), one of the first female psychoanalysts, enters their lives. This World War I-set drama also stars Vincent Cassel as Otto Gross, a disciple of Freud, and Sarah Gadon, who plays Jung’s psychoanalyst wife.

Although the story is interesting (and let’s hope somewhat historically accurate), the dialog is at times rather stiff. At a few points in the film I was a bit bored (but that is very subjective).

Keira Knightley as Sabina Spielrein starts out exaggeratedly hysterical only to suddenly appear as a cured patient about to become a famous psychoanalyst. Whatever happened to believable transitions?

You will hear quite a bit of academic psychological discussion that at times seems almost didactic.

Do you suppose Carl Jung actually engaged in S&M sexual practices with his patients?

Personally I found this film to be not terrible but still somehow imperfect. Sorry.

2011, Dark, Explicit sex, Explicit sexual discussion, Kidnapping, Medical Theme, Mostly About Sex, Not Recommended, Nudity, Plot Twist, Rape, Revenge, Sex Scenes, Spanish, Unusual, Violent

The Skin I Live In (2011)

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From NetFlix:

Brilliant plastic surgeon Robert Ledgard seeks to overcome the grief of his late wife’s disfigurement in a fiery car crash by inventing skin that’s impervious to injury. But his experiments on a living woman hasten his descent into madness.

Only Almodóvar could dream up such a weird film. Of course, sexual ambiguity is his specialty. An aging Antonio Banderas plays a somewhat expressionless jack-of-all-trades surgeon who does creepy things with his scalpel. Half way through the story there is a plot twist that I did not expect. This twist (a bit tough to experience) changes whatever you thought you understood. For me the ending was like a METRO bus that just came to the end of the line, i.e. it just stopped.

Expect to see two rapes, much nudity, and a story that is not for everyone.

2011, Acceptable Trash, Bullying, Comedy, Explicit sexual discussion, Mediocre, Nudity, Revenge, Sex Scenes, Vulgar

Horrible Bosses (2011)

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From NetFlix:

Disgruntled buddies Nick (Jason Bateman), Kurt (Jason Sudeikis) and Dale (Charlie Day) can’t leave their miserable jobs, so they cook up a creative strategy for eliminating each other’s micromanaging and maniacal employers (Jennifer Aniston, Colin Farrell, Kevin Spacey) instead in this crackpot comedy. Peculiar advice from con artist Motherf**ker Jones (Jamie Foxx) gets the scheme in motion, but the pals can’t keep the wheels from flying off.

While I was busy shredding various pieces of paper it was appropriate to also watch this barely acceptable C-film. Every now and then mixed in with all the crude language were some really good laughs. Revenge films always get to me because I want to see the villains get what is coming to them.

Kevin Spacey reminds me of Anthony Hopkins in one respect: both men have done some fine acting, but some reason (money ?) they have also appeared in some really stupid films that would seem beneath their level of ability. Best to watch Kevin Spacey in Margin Call (2011). Best to watch Anthony Hopkins in “Remains of the Day” instead of, groan, “Zorro”. Probably I should say the same for Colin Farrell, whom I did not even recognize as the coke-head. Best to watch him in In Bruges (2008).

On the other hand Jason Bateman (“Arrested Development”), Jason Sudeikis (“The Bounty Hunter”), Charlie Day (“It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”), and Jennifer Aniston (“The Bounty Hunter”) are just where they belong.

Need to zone out and avoid any thought whatsoever ? Try this funny-in-parts film.

2010, Bullying, Comedy, Coming-of-age, Explicit sexual discussion, Vulgar

Submarine (2010)

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From NetFlix:

When he learns that his mother is on the verge of deserting his father for a dance instructor, young Welsh teen Oliver (Craig Roberts) resolves to do whatever it takes to save his parents’ marriage before the end of summer. Meanwhile, the offbeat lad also schemes to seduce pushy pyromaniac Jordana (Yasmin Paige) with nothing but the power of his mind. Richard Ayoade directs this quirky coming-of-age comedy based on a novel by Joe Dunthorne.

Each of us has undoubtedly experienced at least some of the problems facing Oliver in this Welsh coming-of-age comedy. But a lot seems piled on poor Oliver: his parents’ troubled marriage, bullying at school, first love (sound familiar ?). What separates this film from all those many similar coming-of-age plots is Oliver’s unique take on things. There is a kind of crass daring in his methods: how he spies on his parents, his house break-ins to save his parent’s marriage, his fastidious planning of his loss of virginity. And his girl friend Jordana is a real match for him (a pun, since they both enjoy setting fires).

Expect some good sight gags (especially one freeze frame near the beginning). Expect some outrageously frank if not downright crass talk, even from the grownups.

Hope this is your cup of tea!

2009, Acceptable Trash, Comedy, Explicit sex, Explicit sexual discussion, Melodrama, Mostly About Sex, Nudity, Sex Scenes, TV Series

Hung (2009)

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From NetFlix:

Desperate for money after his house burns down, high school basketball coach Ray Drecker (Thomas Jane) makes a drastic decision: He becomes a male escort. With his old flame Tanya (Jane Adams) marketing his “winning tool,” Ray begins servicing the women of Detroit. Meanwhile, he deals with his difficult ex-wife, Jessica (Anne Heche), and her new husband, Ronnie (Eddie Jemison), while trying to help his offbeat teenage kids with their problems.

Ignore the tired joke. This TV series is NOT pornography. In fact there is very little actual sexual activity shown. This series is more a comic soap opera in which a very diverse cast of characters interact. In some ways “Hung” is the Breaking Bad (2008) of the sex world. We are supposed to rationalize Ray Drecker’s new career choice because he has money problems just as we were supposed to justify Walter White’s crystal meth lab because he also has money problems. Just ignore this form of moral retardation and enjoy the fun (in both TV series).

Thomas Jane (Ray Drecker) was 40 when he acted in season 1. Since he was born in Baltimore he MUST be a good actor although I have not yet seen him in anything else.

Jane Adams was Sheila in Little Children (2006). Here she plays Tanya Skagle who is Ray Drecker’s “pimp”. (This is NOT as sordid as it may sound.)

Anne Heche is perfect as Ray’s annoying and neurotic ex-wife Jessica. If I were one of her children, I wouldn’t like her either.

Only one objection comes to mind: Ray and Jessica are physically attractive. So how is it possible that their twin children Damon and Darby are so physically unappealing (to say the least) ? Damon is a Goth who paints his nails black.