Sex is an integral and often-preoccupying aspect of human experience, offering both joy and pain.
This list tracks our changing attitudes toward sexuality over time on film, from lesbian coming-of-age dramas to grim depictions of sexual addiction. Additionally, we take a look at some of cinema history’s greatest sex scenes.
1. Blue Valentine
Blue Valentine is an emotionally intense film about two young, beautiful people whose world is disintegrating despite their intense connection. While its authenticity has garnered much praise, some critics have found fault with its story.
In this film directed by Derek Cianfrance, Michelle Williams and Ryan Gosling play an estranged married couple living together with all the chores associated with being in a real marriage and maintaining an allowance of $200 for groceries.
Both actors display great chemistry on-screen, which is crucial for this film. Both possess extraordinary talent that brings out the best aspects of their characters.
Cianfrance and cinematographer Andrij Parekh make the film look gorgeous, featuring close-ups that recall European art-house cinema. It is both entertaining and thought-provoking at once; an emotionally draining viewing experience all at once.
No doubt about it: this film is one of the most heartbreaking love stories ever told – yet that doesn’t make it less worthwhile watching!
Gosling’s experience in acting was apparent during Blue Valentine, with Gosling telling UK’s Guardian that the sexual scene felt very real to him and didn’t feel forced. Williams was also able to act the scene freely without worrying about censorship; that made for an authentic experience on screen.
Blue Valentine has generated plenty of controversy due to its explicit sexual content; Weinstein even successfully protested for an R rating for it after Williams and Gosling exchanged oral sex scenes in it. But Williams remains proud of her oral sex scenes with Gosling, no matter the controversy that may ensue.
2. Love & Basketball
Love & Basketball was a beloved film from their youth for those born between 1980-1999, featuring Sanaa Lathan and Omar Epps as two children who shared an affinity for basketball, their lives changed when they met each other and started playing as an 11-year old couple.
As high schoolers, Quincy (Epps) and Monica (Lathan) compete for a championship but inevitably drift apart due to different aspirationsal goals – Quincy wants to join the NBA while Monica desires the WNBA. Through out this film they attempt to balance their passion for basketball with maintaining relationships.
Though these characters differ, the film explores gender-related inequities within sport and their effects on women – an approach which makes a welcome change from movies dominated by testosterone-filled athletes.
Prince-Bythewood’s screenplay provides a distinctive female perspective of sports filmmaking. She dramatizes both aspects of player life simultaneously to examine disparities between male and female athletes.
The main theme of the film is that our happiness lies in our decisions – be they basketball or marriage-related. An incorrect choice can have serious repercussions and result in disaster.
„Love and Basketball” remains a warm, humorous film despite its flaws; it marks writer/director Gina Prince-Bythewood’s feature debut with backing from Spike Lee.
At its core, her debut features some over the top melodrama and predictable moments; yet what really drives it forward is her talent for characterization and understanding of actors – such as Lathan and Epps who give unforgettable performances; she creates memorable characters you won’t soon forget after watching it all unfold.
3. Y Tu Mama Tambien
Y Tu Mama Tambien may not have played at multiplexes when it was released back in 2002, but it quickly became a favorite among film critics and cinephiles. Writer/Director Alfonso Cuaron had already won Oscars with A Little Princess and Great Expectations; Gael Garcia Bernal had already garnered recognition in Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu’s Amores Perros.
As seniors in Oaxaca, Mexico, Tenoch (Diego Luna) and Julio (Gael Garcia Bernal) decide to embark on an adventurous road trip together towards Boca de Cielo or Heaven’s Mouth, located near Oaxaca City. Along the way they encounter beautiful Luisa (Maribel Verdu). She immediately draws their attention, offering to join them on their trip.
Luisa draws both boys to her with her sense of freedom and openness, inspiring them to explore their sexuality through her guidance. However, when their horniness causes them to kiss one another impulsively without knowing better or making any plans beforehand, this results in irreparable damage to their friendship.
Although traditionally classified as a road movie, Y Tu Mama Tambien stands out from its peers with its powerful critique of sexuality stigmas in society and political warning tale elements. Additionally, the film offers new understandings to Mexican national foundational myths while making striking observations on globalization’s effect on national economies, class divisions, and social hierarchies.
IFC Films/Good Machine International/Producciones Anhelo has reissued IFC Films/Good Machine International’s groundbreaking and pioneering Y Tu Mama Tambien, an unforgettable tale about growing up and exploring how sexuality invades one’s life. Twenty years after its release, this timeless film still resonates with audiences, while its director has since gone on to craft such brilliant works as Children of Men and Roma.
4. The Big Short
Hollywood initially struggled to make mortgages interesting onscreen. Due to all of its intricate financial jargon, understanding the finance world proved impossible – it took several years before films like Margin Call — about traders who predicted a collapse of subprime mortgages — were released.
Now, thanks to director Adam McKay of Anchorman and Talladega Nights fame, The Big Short is finally here. Based on Michael Lewis’ book of the same name about investors who foresaw the housing bubble and made millions betting against it, this film promises to educate all of us about how Wall Street operates.
On Friday, it will open to what should be massive box office success: ticket sales could top $75 million over its limited release, according to Exhibitor Relations Co.
Though its title suggests otherwise, this film is an unexpectedly solid work of cinema. Based on Michael Lewis’ novel of the same name, its script follows five outsiders – socially awkward financial genius Michael Burry (Christian Bale), hedge fund manager Mark Baum (Steve Carell), rapacious investor Jared Vennett (Ryan Gosling) and duo Charlie Geller and Jamie Shipley who see an opportunity when subprime mortgages collapse into disaster – who spot an opportunity when subprime mortgages become trouble.
The Big Short is an insightful film with its mixture of empathy, wry humor and skillful maneuvering through the financial meltdown’s complex terms, teaching us much without seeming patronizing or didactic. That is an exceptional achievement which director Adam McKay excels at accomplishing.
This film is adapted from author Michael Lewis’ best-selling nonfiction book of the same name, featuring Christian Bale, Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling and Brad Pitt as its cast. Its story takes place during early years of mortgage-backed security market when credit default swaps became an attractive way for investment firms to profit from risky loans.
5. The Hangover
The Hangover remains one of the highest-grossing comedy films ever, making a surprise impactful box office debut 10 years ago. But does its timeless humor still hold up under scrutiny and time?
The original Hangover was a black comedy about four men who spend an evening partying hard in Las Vegas before forgetting it all afterwards. It quickly became an international success, reaching number 1 on the list of highest-grossing R-rated comedies worldwide.
Todd Phillips (Old School) is known for crafting outlandish comedy and The Hangover is no different, featuring nonstop profanity, casual racism, slapstick violence, male and female full-frontal-nudity, borderline consensual sexual encounters and incredible amounts of drug use.
Though not for everyone, this film offers an unconventional take on classic bachelor party tales and includes many funny and emotional scenes – especially one between Alan (Zach Galifianakis) and his trashy, mulleted love interest Melissa McCarthy that will leave audiences delighted and surprised!
At the same time, Heather Graham as Jade (Stu’s former stripper wife) reunites with her son Stu (Ken Jeong as Mr. Chow) is entertaining and poignant at once – especially given Ken Jeong’s performance of this stereotypical Asian character who may or may not exist at all.
The Hangover may have its share of flaws, but it remains an entertaining and smart comedy that manages to make its sex-and-drugs storyline relatable for audiences of all kinds. A sequel was even approved before its initial release date!