Shubhabrata Dutta
Sex, in one form or another, has always been an integral part of movies. Although, usually, sex is shown as an extension of romance, movies are rarely made “about” sex. So, when filmmakers choose to make a film about sex, it more often than not deals with some form of sexual affliction. Among them, it seems like nymphomania is the one that’s most commonly addressed. The following movies center on the issue of sex addiction, exploring the subject from different angles while delivering compelling stories to the audience.
13. Diary of a Sex Addict (2001)
Directed by Joseph Brutsman, ‘Diary of a Sex Addict’ stars Michael Des Barres, Rosanna Arquette, and Nastassja Kinski, among others. The movie revolves around a middle-aged family man named Sammy Horn, who has a happily married life with his wife and son. However, his sex addiction is what brings about a different personality in him. Whether psychiatrist Dr. Jane Bordeaux is able to help him come out of this addiction is what we find out in the movie. You can stream ‘Diary of a Sex Addict’ here.
12. Choke (2008)
Directed by Clark Gregg, ‘Choke’ is a dark comedy that tells the story of sex addict Victor Mancini (Sam Rockwell), who cons people at restaurants by choking to take money from those who help him to support his hospitalized mother (Anjelica Huston). A series of weird events follow that shape-shift from satire to comedy, making this adaptation of Chuck Palahniuk’s 2001 novel of the same name an entertaining watch. You can stream it here.
11. Thanks For Sharing (2012)
‘Thanks For Sharing’ is not precisely a sex movie. It is the story of three disparate characters who are learning to face a challenging and often confusing world as they struggle together against a familiar demon: sex addiction. Even though the film is a romantic comedy, the shadow of the characters’ past — of sex addiction — looms large throughout. Overall, a great one-time watch.
‘Thanks for Sharing’ deserves to be mentioned and appreciated for the bold choices it makes. One of the most significant issues with the film is its struggle to balance the dramatic and comedic elements, resulting in its not having a distinctive tone. The performances, however, are pretty good. Both Mark Ruffalo and Gwyneth Paltrow are impressive, and they try their best to mask the inherent flaws of the film. You may watch it here.
10. A Dirty Shame (2004)
A satirical sex comedy, ‘A Dirty Shame’ is a shift from the rest of the additions to this list. Directed by John Waters, the film is set in a small Baltimore community that is divided into two groups of people: one that doesn’t like anything even remotely related to man’s carnal desire and another that is comprised of sex addicts. We follow Sylvia Stickles (Tracey Ullman) and her exploits after a smack on the head makes her shift her position from the first group to the second. Sylvia thus sets off on her “ethereal” journey underscored by the pleasures of the skin, thanks to a guy named Ray-Ray Perkins, a self-styled sex healer/saint. You can watch ‘A Dirty Shame’ here.
9. Don Jon (2013)
A womanizing bartender (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is addicted to online porn and masturbation. He meets a gorgeous woman (Scarlett Johansson) who forces him to think for the first time about building a real relationship. Ultimately, it is a distraught woman (Julianne Moore) he meets at a night class, which teaches him that real love and sexual satisfaction come from a truly mutually caring relationship. It is a respectful directorial debut from Joseph Gordon-Levitt that is surely worth your time. Feel free to check it out here.
8. Looking for Mr. Goodbar (1977)
‘Looking for Mr. Goodbar’ is a provocative and edgy drama based on the best-selling novel by Judith Rossner, which itself is based on a true story. The film, in a nutshell, is about a schoolteacher who spends her nights cruising bars, looking for abusive men with whom she can engage in progressively violent sexual encounters. She begins to wallow endlessly in her new “liberated” sexual lifestyle, the thrill of the evening trysts, which eventually involve drugs and violence that destroy her life. Shockingly told, the film culminates in an unforgettable and shattering climax.
7. Nymphomaniac (2013)
‘Nymphomaniac’ is the story of Joe (Charlotte Gainsbourg), a self-diagnosed nymphomaniac who is discovered badly beaten in an alley by an older bachelor, Seligman (Stellan Skarsgård), who takes her into his home. As he tends to her wounds, she recounts the erotic story of her adolescence and young adulthood. Oddly funny and provocative, ‘Nymphomaniac’ may not be Lars von Trier‘s best work, but still, it is sufficiently good enough to hold your interest from start to finish of its nearly four-hour running.
Charlotte Gainsbourg is exceptional in the lead role and delivers, arguably, the finest performance of her career. The film continues to be regarded as one of the most controversial movies ever made. You can watch ‘Nymphomaniac’ here.
6. Secretary (2002)
A young woman, recently released from a mental hospital, gets a job as a secretary to a demanding lawyer, where their employer-employee relationship turns into a sexual, sadomasochistic one. Sadomasochism provides the backdrop for a very unusual erotic romantic drama. The film isn’t for everyone, but it does have some funny and weird moments in equal measure. Maggie Gyllenhaal shines in a bold performance. You may watch ‘Secretary’ here.
5. 9½ Weeks (1986)
The title refers to the duration of the relationship between self-absorbed Wall Street banker John (Mickey Rourke) and divorced art gallery owner Elizabeth (Kim Basinger). An arresting, sexy, provocative, and compelling erotic drama about relationships, the dark sides of human beings, and exploring new sexual pleasures, it’s everything that ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ could have been. Even though ‘9½ Weeks’ flopped when it was first released, since then, it has acquired a cult following. You may watch the film here.
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4. Last Tango in Paris (1972)
Paul (Marlon Brando), a middle-aged American, comes to Paris when his estranged wife dies by suicide. Chancing to meet young Frenchwoman Jeanne (Maria Schneider), Paul enters into a sadomasochistic, carnal relationship with her. The sexual content in ‘Last Tango in Paris’ is uncomfortably explicit (the infamous “butter scene” is unforgettable). The combination of Brando’s acting, Bertolucci’s direction, Vittorio Storaro’s cinematography, and Gato Barbieri’s music create an exquisitely erotic piece of art.
Brando’s performance in the film is widely regarded as one of the greatest of all time. The unforgettable casket scene is, without a doubt, one of the most heartbreaking moments ever filmed onscreen. The film’s genius is often overshadowed by the controversial ”butter scene”, which is something that needs to be discussed, but maybe not today. Nothing changes the fact that Bertolucci was a genius, and this film is one of the greatest of its time. You can stream the film here.
3. Belle de Jour (1967)
Catherine Deneuve stars as a wealthy but bored newlywed eager to taste life to the fullest. She seemingly gets her wish early in the film when she is kidnapped, tied to a tree, and whipped. It turns out that this is only a daydream, but her subsequent visits to a neighboring brothel, where she offers her services, certainly seem to be accurate. Overall, the film is a delicate but passionate study of erotica.
There is nothing even remotely traditional about what Luis Bunuel did with filmmaking. He is one of the greatest surreal filmmakers of all time. ‘Belle de Jour’ is arguably his finest work. It has all the classic elements that define his style of filmmaking. It is wildly provocative and entertaining, with a memorable performance by Catherine Deneuve. One of the most striking aspects of the film is the cinematography. Bunuel’s choice of visual aesthetics here is quite interesting, and the way he uses color is genuinely phenomenal. Easily one of the greatest films of world cinema, you can stream ‘Belle de Jour’ here.
2. The Piano Teacher (2001)
A deeply disturbing examination — what else can you expect out of Michael Haneke — of desire and desperation in love, ‘The Piano Teacher’ may leave you shaken by the time it ends. Not an easy watch by any means, the film will be richly rewarding to only those who patiently and thoughtfully strive to absorb its subtle nuances — after having gotten through the initial shock. In the end, and if you look closely, Haneke’s message with this film is that love has many shades, and not all of them are beautiful.
‘The Piano Teacher,’ like all Haneke films, does not need to be ”liked”. We are forced to confront several ugly realities that we’d probably choose to ignore in our real lives. Walter is attracted to Erika, but as he learns more about her true nature, he finds her disgusting and begins to use her merely as a sex object. This is not a film made solely with the intention of provoking, angering, or shocking the viewers; it’s a devastating character study about a broken woman who struggles to deal with her inner demons. She tries to maintain an intimidating demeanor to push people away from discovering her true face. Isabelle Huppert is stunning in the lead role and delivers what could arguably be considered as the greatest acting performance of the 21st century. You can stream the film here.
1. Shame (2011)
On the face of it, ‘Shame’ is about sex addiction, but it could so easily have been about any other addiction. The world came to know about Steve McQueen from the Oscar-winning ’12 Years A Slave’. But watch ‘Shame’ and you will realize why McQueen is such a great talent. Michael Fassbender, as Brandon Sullivan, delivers a performance for the ages. One moment, he could seem disgusting and violent; the next moment, he could be vulnerable. ‘Shame’ might not be a film that you’d end up loving, but it’s the kind of movie that certainly deserves to be watched and reflected upon. You can check out the movie here.
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