list http://www.spout.com/ Recent community activity around Shortbus on Spout Copyright 2005-9 Spout, LLC Spout RSS http://www.spout.com/images/SpoutLogoRSS.jpg http://www.spout.com/ 136 30 http://www.spout.com/films/Shortbus/282105/default.aspx Title: Shortbus
Year: 2006
Director: John Cameron Mitchell
Plot: John Cameron Mitchell, who created a cult sensation as writer and director of Hedwig and the Angry Inch, blazes a brave new trail with this comedy-drama which combines the stories of a handful of emotionally unsatisfied New Yorkers with some of the most explicit sexual material to ever appear in a mainstream motion picture. Sofia (Sook-Yin Lee) is a couples' therapist who has a major relationship problem of her own -- she's never had an orgasm, and her husband Rob (Raphael Barker) doesn't seem capable of giving her one. Sophia's clients include James and Jamie (Paul Dawson and PJ DeBoy), a gay couple who have been together for five years and are beginning to grow tired of one another. As James and Jamie discuss the possibility of bringing another man into the bedroom, Sophia accidentally mentions her problem, and they tell her of an upcoming "Shortbus Party," a sexual free-for-all in which straight, gay, and lesbian couples are all welcome to either talk about sex or take a more active role in the main ballroom. As James and Jamie hook up with Ceth (Jay Brannan) for some mutually satisfying action at the bash, Sophia experiments with Sapphic diversions, and begins to truly find herself when she encounters Severin (Lindsay Beamish), a professional dominatrix. However, while Sophia begins to find what she needs with Severin, she discovers that while Severin is able to casually enter into a sexual relationship, she's never been able to emotionally commit herself to someone else. Shortbus was screened in competition at the 2006 Toronto Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Times Tagged: 11
Number of Lists: 32
Number of blog posts: 4
Number of discussion threads: 4
SpoutRating: 3
]]>Tue, 13 Jan 2009 01:29:04 GMTShortbus2006John Cameron Mitchell<a href="/players/P____49681/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>John Cameron Mitchell</a>, who created a cult sensation as writer and director of <a href=/films/184310/default.aspx style='text-decoration:underline'>Hedwig and the Angry Inch</a>, blazes a brave new trail with this comedy-drama which combines the stories of a handful of emotionally unsatisfied New Yorkers with some of the most explicit sexual material to ever appear in a mainstream motion picture. Sofia (Sook-Yin Lee) is a couples' therapist who has a major relationship problem of her own -- she's never had an orgasm, and her husband Rob (Raphael Barker) doesn't seem capable of giving her one. Sophia's clients include James and Jamie (Paul Dawson and PJ DeBoy), a gay couple who have been together for five years and are beginning to grow tired of one another. As James and Jamie discuss the possibility of bringing another man into the bedroom, Sophia accidentally mentions her problem, and they tell her of an upcoming "Shortbus Party," a sexual free-for-all in which straight, gay, and lesbian couples are all welcome to either talk about sex or take a more active role in the main ballroom. As James and Jamie hook up with Ceth (Jay Brannan) for some mutually satisfying action at the bash, Sophia experiments with Sapphic diversions, and begins to truly find herself when she encounters Severin (Lindsay Beamish), a professional dominatrix. However, while Sophia begins to find what she needs with Severin, she discovers that while Severin is able to casually enter into a sexual relationship, she's never been able to emotionally commit herself to someone else. Shortbus was screened in competition at the 2006 Toronto Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide11Tag Target (>10)32443http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/u33190hp64e.jpghttp://www.spout.com/films/Shortbus/282105/default.aspxFilm http://www.spout.com/groups/Weekly_Theme/Re_Weekly_Theme_for_August_4_Let_s_Talk_About_Sex/625/33733/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: unclefestering
Post To: Weekly Theme
Post Date: 8/8/2008 12:06:28 AM
Body: [quote user="leeroy711"] While we're on the subject, has anyone seen Lust, Caution.? I'm intrigued but I'm not sure. [/quote] It is a great movie. Ang Lee is back in great form. I liked it much better than Brokeback Mountain, which I thought as a good movie, but a little overrated. The sex scenes in Lust, Caution are very disturbing more than erotic. But you should check it out. I was curious about Shortbus. I know the reputation, but has anyone actually seen it?
]]>Fri, 08 Aug 2008 04:06:28 GMTunclefesteringWeekly Theme8/8/2008 12:06:28 AM[quote user="leeroy711"] While we're on the subject, has anyone seen Lust, Caution.? I'm intrigued but I'm not sure. [/quote] It is a great movie. Ang Lee is back in great form. I liked it much better than Brokeback Mountain, which I thought as a good movie, but a little overrated. The sex scenes in Lust, Caution are very disturbing more than erotic. But you should check it out. I was curious about Shortbus. I know the reputation, but has anyone actually seen it? http://www.spout.com/groups/Weekly_Theme/Weekly_Theme_for_August_4_Let_s_Talk_About_Sex/625/33586/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: mercurial
Post To: Weekly Theme
Post Date: 8/5/2008 6:02:41 PM
Body: Without going into the pornographic, let's get down and dirty and discuss all those films that explore what goes on behind closed doors. I will admit that I do like American Pie and it's gross out portrayal of a group of high schoolers making a pact to lose their virginity before they graduate high school. Equally, I'm willing to also admit that I found myself liking The Sweetest Thing and it's portrayal of sexually liberated (without any negative connotations) woman being stupid and having fun with their sexual experiences. Venturing to the more dismal views of sex, The Rules of Attraction will make any incoming college freshman fear leaving the comfort of their parents homes and begin seeing nothing but rapists, STD's and psychopaths around every turn. Y Tu Mamá También is incredible with it's twisted threesome road trip sexual free-for-all. Catherine Breillat has made countless interesting films about women and sex: Fat Girl being a pubescent girl becoming curious about her body and sex; Anatomy of Hell about an older woman tired of the typical and her journey into some pretty insane depths of sexual experience. Lastly, my favorite two films with S-E-X as the primary theme are Shortbus and A Dirty Shame. Warning for those that might be tempted to see Shortbus: it is extremely graphic. EXTREMELY. From John Cameron Mitchell, Shortbus is one of the few movies about sex that keeps nothing hidden (literally) and attempts to deconstruct various aspects of the act and what compels us in our various ways. A Dirty Shame is just stupid fun from that master of stupid fun John Waters and centers around a group of sexual liberated fetishists trying to uncover a new unheard of sex act. So without further ado and double entendres, let's talk about sex!
]]>Tue, 05 Aug 2008 22:02:41 GMTmercurialWeekly Theme8/5/2008 6:02:41 PMWithout going into the pornographic, let's get down and dirty and discuss all those films that explore what goes on behind closed doors. I will admit that I do like American Pie and it's gross out portrayal of a group of high schoolers making a pact to lose their virginity before they graduate high school. Equally, I'm willing to also admit that I found myself liking The Sweetest Thing and it's portrayal of sexually liberated (without any negative connotations) woman being stupid and having fun with their sexual experiences. Venturing to the more dismal views of sex, The Rules of Attraction will make any incoming college freshman fear leaving the comfort of their parents homes and begin seeing nothing but rapists, STD's and psychopaths around every turn. Y Tu Mam&aacute; Tambi&eacute;n is incredible with it's twisted threesome road trip sexual free-for-all. Catherine Breillat has made countless interesting films about women and sex: Fat Girl being a pubescent girl becoming curious about her body and sex; Anatomy of Hell about an older woman tired of the typical and her journey into some pretty insane depths of sexual experience. Lastly, my favorite two films with S-E-X as the primary theme are Shortbus and A Dirty Shame. Warning for those that might be tempted to see Shortbus: it is extremely graphic. EXTREMELY. From John Cameron Mitchell, Shortbus is one of the few movies about sex that keeps nothing hidden (literally) and attempts to deconstruct various aspects of the act and what compels us in our various ways. A Dirty Shame is just stupid fun from that master of stupid fun John Waters and centers around a group of sexual liberated fetishists trying to uncover a new unheard of sex act. So without further ado and double entendres, let's talk about sex! http://www.spout.com/blogs/spoutblog/archive/2008/8/1/33404.aspx Post By: SpoutBlog
Post To: SpoutBlog on spout.com
Post Date: 8/1/2008 2:01:40 PM
Body: Andrew Sarris may be one of the most influential American film critics, but here’s a claim, located within his recent review of In Search of a Midnight Kiss, that may not hold up to some of his better-remembered theories: “Even when we confront 40-year-old virgins of either gender, movies refuse to show them compensating for the lack of a sexual partner. There is lasting shame involved in this spectacle.” Not to ever, ever profess superiority over Sarris, but I’ve nonetheless compiled today’s list as a way of proving the man wrong. There are actually tons and tons of masturbation scenes found in non-porn movies, from the low brow to the high brow, from as indirect as the boy wizard playing with his wand under the covers in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban to as direct as the non-simulated masturbation in Michael Winterbottom’s 9 Songs and John Cameron Mitchell’s Shortbus (which would probably feature my #1 pick, from the sound of it, if I ever bothered to see it). The following 10 films are some of the most memorable masturbation scenes, excluding any movies that might be considered examples of, in Sarris’ words, “the fringe exploitation genres” (I’ve even gone so far as to leave out mainstream horror like The Exorcist, considering it’s crucifix masturbation is far from the self-pleasuring moments Sarris is clearly interested in). Oh, and I’ve attempted to chart these films artistically from lowbrow to high. 10. Fast Times at Ridgemont High - Everybody remembers this scene because of the fantasy: Phoebe Cates emerges from a swimming pool in slow motion and removes her bikini top. And then Cates’ character walks in on the fantasizer, Judge Reinhold, for one of the most awkward moments in the history of awkward comedy. There’s been plenty of uncomfortable scenes of guys being caught in the act, including those moments in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Little Children and the most obvious masturbation movie, American Pie. 9. Léolo - Speaking of masturbating with food, not even pie-fucking beats the scene in this French-Canadian gem in which our young titular hero decides that his real father is a man who jerked off with a tomato, which later impregnated Léolo’s mother when she fell onto it. There are other less memorable masturbation scenes involving liver and chicken, too. Yum! 8. Spanking the Monkey - I always found the masturbation scenes in this movie so interesting because of how clean a “job” Ray Aibelli (Jeremy Davies) does with his personal business. I guess when you’re probably fantasizing about your mother, your mind is dirty enough, and so (seemingly) uncomfortably jacking off while sitting on a toilet is the best way to go. But couldn’t he just do it in the shower, like Kevin Spacey in American Beauty? I’m surprised that Sarris forgot about this one, since the title alone refers to the act. 7. The Squid and the Whale - If I have to select one movie involving a little kid masturbating (and writing this sentence has already got me feeling immensely ashamed), I pick this one over Todd Solondz’ Happiness (”I came!”), because while both scenes in question are quite disturbing, the one featuring the real-life son of Kevin Kline and Phoebe Cates jerking off in a library and then wiping his hands off on some books is at least a little amusing. A lot amusing if you take into account his mother’s appearance in movie #10 above. And if you need another little kid masturbating movie to choose from (I’m not judging), Babel has one too. 6. But I’m a Cheerleader - That Natasha Lyonne sure loves to masturbate! is a quick response to the realization that she pleasures herself in both this film and the earlier Slums of Beverly Hills. The reason that this movie is the more significant of the two is because the masturbation scene is very tastefully done, and yet in its original form, it controversially garnered the film an NC-17 rating, only because, as argued in the documentary This Film is Not Yet Rated, it deals with both homosexual desire and female sexuality. The main evidence: American Pie was released in the same year with an R rating. 5. Mulholland Drive - A less beautiful yet no less exploitive depiction of female masturbation occurs in David Lynch’s enigmatic film. Despite the fact that guys tend to enjoy watching a girl pleasure herself, only the most sadistic of men could be turned on by Naomi Watts crying and painfully attempting to get off. 4. Bad Lieutenant - When I first heard about the scene in which Harvey Keitel’s corrupt cop masturbates in front of two teens in a car he pulls over, I thought it had to be the most debauched scene in film history. Of course, I was only 15 when it came out and wasn’t yet familiar with a lot of cinema. By the time I actually bothered to watch the scene many years later, it was less shocking than I expected. Still, as far as depraved things a character can do in a movie — at least in theory — it’s up there, and it’s certainly one of the first scenes that comes to mind when I think of movie masturbation. 3. Amarcord - Oh, right, here’s another movie with little kids masturbating. But it’s a Fellini movie, so obviously it’s incomparable to the three referenced earlier. Although an amusing scene, featuring a bunch of kids masturbating in unison in a car, it’s much less disturbing, as it simply displays the act as a part of growing up. 2. Being There - “I like to watch.” Hopefully you’ve seen this wonderful film, and that’s all I need to say. But just in case you’re not familiar, here’s the scene: Eve Rand (Shirley MacLaine) attempts to seduce the rather simple Chauncey Gardner (Peter Sellers), who responds by saying, “I like to watch.” Of course, he means the television, but Eve takes the statement to mean he wants to watch her pleasure herself. And so she proceeds to humiliate herself on the floor while Chauncey hilariously takes enjoys an exercise show on the TV. 1. Adaptation - Really, the whole movie is one big masturbation scene. There is a literal masturbation scene, though, in which Charlie (Nicolas Cage) fantasizes about Susan Orlean (Meryl Streep), and it’s pretty good on its own. But it takes the top spot for affirming that screenwriter Charlie Kauffman created the literary equivalent of beating off. Originally posted on:SpoutBlog
]]>Fri, 01 Aug 2008 18:01:40 GMTSpoutBlogSpoutBlog on spout.com8/1/2008 2:01:40 PM Andrew Sarris may be one of the most influential American film critics, but here’s a claim, located within his recent review of In Search of a Midnight Kiss, that may not hold up to some of his better-remembered theories: “Even when we confront 40-year-old virgins of either gender, movies refuse to show them compensating for the lack of a sexual partner. There is lasting shame involved in this spectacle.” Not to ever, ever profess superiority over Sarris, but I’ve nonetheless compiled today’s list as a way of proving the man wrong. There are actually tons and tons of masturbation scenes found in non-porn movies, from the low brow to the high brow, from as indirect as the boy wizard playing with his wand under the covers in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban to as direct as the non-simulated masturbation in Michael Winterbottom’s 9 Songs and John Cameron Mitchell’s Shortbus (which would probably feature my #1 pick, from the sound of it, if I ever bothered to see it). The following 10 films are some of the most memorable masturbation scenes, excluding any movies that might be considered examples of, in Sarris’ words, “the fringe exploitation genres” (I’ve even gone so far as to leave out mainstream horror like The Exorcist, considering it’s crucifix masturbation is far from the self-pleasuring moments Sarris is clearly interested in). Oh, and I’ve attempted to chart these films artistically from lowbrow to high. 10. Fast Times at Ridgemont High - Everybody remembers this scene because of the fantasy: Phoebe Cates emerges from a swimming pool in slow motion and removes her bikini top. And then Cates’ character walks in on the fantasizer, Judge Reinhold, for one of the most awkward moments in the history of awkward comedy. There’s been plenty of uncomfortable scenes of guys being caught in the act, including those moments in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Little Children and the most obvious masturbation movie, American Pie. 9. Léolo - Speaking of masturbating with food, not even pie-fucking beats the scene in this French-Canadian gem in which our young titular hero decides that his real father is a man who jerked off with a tomato, which later impregnated Léolo’s mother when she fell onto it. There are other less memorable masturbation scenes involving liver and chicken, too. Yum! 8. Spanking the Monkey - I always found the masturbation scenes in this movie so interesting because of how clean a “job” Ray Aibelli (Jeremy Davies) does with his personal business. I guess when you’re probably fantasizing about your mother, your mind is dirty enough, and so (seemingly) uncomfortably jacking off while sitting on a toilet is the best way to go. But couldn’t he just do it in the shower, like Kevin Spacey in American Beauty? I’m surprised that Sarris forgot about this one, since the title alone refers to the act. 7. The Squid and the Whale - If I have to select one movie involving a little kid masturbating (and writing this sentence has already got me feeling immensely ashamed), I pick this one over Todd Solondz’ Happiness (”I came!”), because while both scenes in question are quite disturbing, the one featuring the real-life son of Kevin Kline and Phoebe Cates jerking off in a library and then wiping his hands off on some books is at least a little amusing. A lot amusing if you take into account his mother’s appearance in movie #10 above. And if you need another little kid masturbating movie to choose from (I’m not judging), Babel has one too. 6. But I’m a Cheerleader - That Natasha Lyonne sure loves to masturbate! is a quick response to the realization that she pleasures herself in both this film and the earlier Slums of Beverly Hills. The reason that this movie is the more significant of the two is because the masturbation scene is very tastefully done, and yet in its original form, it controversially garnered the film an NC-17 rating, only because, as argued in the documentary This Film is Not Yet Rated, it deals with both homosexual desire and female sexuality. The main evidence: American Pie was released in the same year with an R rating. 5. Mulholland Drive - A less beautiful yet no less exploitive depiction of female masturbation occurs in David Lynch’s enigmatic film. Despite the fact that guys tend to enjoy watching a girl pleasure herself, only the most sadistic of men could be turned on by Naomi Watts crying and painfully attempting to get off. 4. Bad Lieutenant - When I first heard about the scene in which Harvey Keitel’s corrupt cop masturbates in front of two teens in a car he pulls over, I thought it had to be the most debauched scene in film history. Of course, I was only 15 when it came out and wasn’t yet familiar with a lot of cinema. By the time I actually bothered to watch the scene many years later, it was less shocking than I expected. Still, as far as depraved things a character can do in a movie — at least in theory — it’s up there, and it’s certainly one of the first scenes that comes to mind when I think of movie masturbation. 3. Amarcord - Oh, right, here’s another movie with little kids masturbating. But it’s a Fellini movie, so obviously it’s incomparable to the three referenced earlier. Although an amusing scene, featuring a bunch of kids masturbating in unison in a car, it’s much less disturbing, as it simply displays the act as a part of growing up. 2. Being There - “I like to watch.” Hopefully you’ve seen this wonderful film, and that’s all I need to say. But just in case you’re not familiar, here’s the scene: Eve Rand (Shirley MacLaine) attempts to seduce the rather simple Chauncey Gardner (Peter Sellers), who responds by saying, “I like to watch.” Of course, he means the television, but Eve takes the statement to mean he wants to watch her pleasure herself. And so she proceeds to humiliate herself on the floor while Chauncey hilariously takes enjoys an exercise show on the TV. 1. Adaptation - Really, the whole movie is one big masturbation scene. There is a literal masturbation scene, though, in which Charlie (Nicolas Cage) fantasizes about Susan Orlean (Meryl Streep), and it’s pretty good on its own. But it takes the top spot for affirming that screenwriter Charlie Kauffman created the literary equivalent of beating off. Originally posted on:SpoutBlog http://www.spout.com/groups/Queer_Cinema/Gay_Pride_Picks/318/31706/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: unemployedwaif
Post To: Queer Cinema
Post Date: 6/25/2008 9:32:56 PM
Body: In response to the egregiously vacuous post about Gay Pride by the SpoutBlog, I decided to go ahead a give a few cinematic selections for those celebrating the Gay Pride festivities this month. Feel free to add some of your own selections. Angels in America An epic made for television cinematic event that is loaded with fantastic performances by the likes of Al Pacino, Meryl Streep, Mary-Louise Parker, Emma Thompson and Patrick WIlson. Set in the 1980's amidst the onset of AIDS, the growing intolerance of homosexuality and the struggle by the LGBT community to gain acceptable, Angels in America is a must-see. But I'm a Cheerleader Hilarious comedy about the pitfalls of coming out and learning to accept everything that that entails. Loggerheads Overlooked drama with an amazing soundtrack. Bring the tissues. Paris is Burning Documentary about life in New York in the late 1980's and early 1990's for disaffected gay people attempting to create a nurturing environment where their eccentricities are accepted and admired. Wild Tigers I Have Known An experimental film about a pre-pubescent boy coming to terms with his homosexuality. Shortbus A prurient celebration (and examination) of the LGBT community; very apropos. Fabulous! The Story of Queer Cinema A brief introduction about the origins of queer cinema with great commentary from a variety of great actors and directors.
]]>Thu, 26 Jun 2008 01:32:56 GMTunemployedwaifQueer Cinema6/25/2008 9:32:56 PMIn response to the egregiously vacuous post about Gay Pride by the SpoutBlog, I decided to go ahead a give a few cinematic selections for those celebrating the Gay Pride festivities this month. Feel free to add some of your own selections. Angels in America An epic made for television cinematic event that is loaded with fantastic performances by the likes of Al Pacino, Meryl Streep, Mary-Louise Parker, Emma Thompson and Patrick WIlson. Set in the 1980's amidst the onset of AIDS, the growing intolerance of homosexuality and the struggle by the LGBT community to gain acceptable, Angels in America is a must-see. But I'm a Cheerleader Hilarious comedy about the pitfalls of coming out and learning to accept everything that that entails. Loggerheads Overlooked drama with an amazing soundtrack. Bring the tissues. Paris is Burning Documentary about life in New York in the late 1980's and early 1990's for disaffected gay people attempting to create a nurturing environment where their eccentricities are accepted and admired. Wild Tigers I Have Known An experimental film about a pre-pubescent boy coming to terms with his homosexuality. Shortbus A prurient celebration (and examination) of the LGBT community; very apropos. Fabulous! The Story of Queer Cinema A brief introduction about the origins of queer cinema with great commentary from a variety of great actors and directors. http://www.spout.com/blogs/jj79/archive/2008/6/6/30720.aspx Post By: JJ79
Post To: JJ79 Blog
Post Date: 6/6/2008 3:45:21 PM
Body: Released: September 15, 2006 (Milwaukee LGBT Film and Video Festival)Director: John Cameron Mitchell*****Shortbus seems to want to shock the audience before telling a coherent story. Writer/Director John Cameron Mitchell isn't as interested in connecting the various characters in the story as he is in displaying their sexual kinks. What purpose does Caleb play for James and Jamie? Why do James and Jamie really want a third person in their relationship? What, exactly, is Shortbus? What about Ceth, he didn't fall out of the sky? Why is James preparing to kill himself? Instead, the camera focuses on James jerking off into his own mouth, Jamie singing the national anthem into Ceth's ass and an orgy scene to rival any orgy scene in mainstream movie history.In a twist of fate, James and Jamie befriend their sex therapist (a term she doesn't like), a woman-Sophia-who has never orgasmed in her entire life. It's not for a lack of trying, since she and her husband have wildly imaginative sex; he always seems to finish before she does and he doesn't seemingly care. When the motley trio enter the sex club Shortbus, Sophia finds someone to talk her through an orgasm and the guys meet Ceth, a third in their relationship.Honestly, I don't know what to make of Shortbus. It is daring, for sure, with its frank depictions of sexuality, though it never goes quite far enough. Certain segments of the film seem designed to shock the audience when, in the very next scene, the sex looks to be covered up. So in that sense, the film isn't exactly fluid. Take, for instance, the explicit beginning of the film in which James (Paul Dawson) contorts his body so that he can lick his own penis and, shortly thereafter, cums in his mouth. It's all done as a video camera records the action. Then there's the master shots of the Shortbus orgy room, in which arms, legs and other people cover up sex acts. We see men thrusting into women and everyone receiving oral sex, but it's never as graphic as the initial scenes. I can understand Mitchell erring on the side of caution, not wanting to create a porn film. But in order for that to be the case, the story needed an extra polish. A guy from across the street-Caleb (Peter Stickles)-is shown to stalk Jamie and James. And, when James tries to kill himself, it's Caleb who rescues him. Even after a night of sex, we never really understand what his function in the movie is-or why James wants to kill himself. Jamie is hopelessly devoted to James; we even see the hurt in his face in the beginning of the movie when he clearly wants to have sex, yet James has just jerked off. It's James who wants to introduce a third to the relationship and Jamie goes along with it, seemingly, to please him. Shortbus is an experiment-a failed noble experiment-but an experiment nonetheless. It wants to be revolutionary with frank talk of orgasms and how partners aren't pleasing us; the script never quite gets there. At least part of the problem is that the story was written with the actors; it's as if there is no guiding force to streamline the movie. Even the ending is out of left field with no reason for being. How do these people end up where they are?
]]>Fri, 06 Jun 2008 19:45:21 GMTJJ79JJ79 Blog6/6/2008 3:45:21 PMReleased: September 15, 2006 (Milwaukee LGBT Film and Video Festival)Director: John Cameron Mitchell*****Shortbus seems to want to shock the audience before telling a coherent story. Writer/Director John Cameron Mitchell isn't as interested in connecting the various characters in the story as he is in displaying their sexual kinks. What purpose does Caleb play for James and Jamie? Why do James and Jamie really want a third person in their relationship? What, exactly, is Shortbus? What about Ceth, he didn't fall out of the sky? Why is James preparing to kill himself? Instead, the camera focuses on James jerking off into his own mouth, Jamie singing the national anthem into Ceth's ass and an orgy scene to rival any orgy scene in mainstream movie history.In a twist of fate, James and Jamie befriend their sex therapist (a term she doesn't like), a woman-Sophia-who has never orgasmed in her entire life. It's not for a lack of trying, since she and her husband have wildly imaginative sex; he always seems to finish before she does and he doesn't seemingly care. When the motley trio enter the sex club Shortbus, Sophia finds someone to talk her through an orgasm and the guys meet Ceth, a third in their relationship.Honestly, I don't know what to make of Shortbus. It is daring, for sure, with its frank depictions of sexuality, though it never goes quite far enough. Certain segments of the film seem designed to shock the audience when, in the very next scene, the sex looks to be covered up. So in that sense, the film isn't exactly fluid. Take, for instance, the explicit beginning of the film in which James (Paul Dawson) contorts his body so that he can lick his own penis and, shortly thereafter, cums in his mouth. It's all done as a video camera records the action. Then there's the master shots of the Shortbus orgy room, in which arms, legs and other people cover up sex acts. We see men thrusting into women and everyone receiving oral sex, but it's never as graphic as the initial scenes. I can understand Mitchell erring on the side of caution, not wanting to create a porn film. But in order for that to be the case, the story needed an extra polish. A guy from across the street-Caleb (Peter Stickles)-is shown to stalk Jamie and James. And, when James tries to kill himself, it's Caleb who rescues him. Even after a night of sex, we never really understand what his function in the movie is-or why James wants to kill himself. Jamie is hopelessly devoted to James; we even see the hurt in his face in the beginning of the movie when he clearly wants to have sex, yet James has just jerked off. It's James who wants to introduce a third to the relationship and Jamie goes along with it, seemingly, to please him. Shortbus is an experiment-a failed noble experiment-but an experiment nonetheless. It wants to be revolutionary with frank talk of orgasms and how partners aren't pleasing us; the script never quite gets there. At least part of the problem is that the story was written with the actors; it's as if there is no guiding force to streamline the movie. Even the ending is out of left field with no reason for being. How do these people end up where they are? http://www.spout.com/blogs/dibot/archive/2007/8/10/17791.aspx Post By: dibot
Post To: dibot Blog
Post Date: 8/10/2007 3:00:00 PM
Body: More reviews from the binge.Starter for Ten is one of those coming of age stories where a boy becomes a man and finds out what kind of person he really is. This time, James McAvoy ("The Last King of Scotland") stars and the setting is 1985 Bristol University with McAvoy learning about himself as he tries to make it in college, falls in love and enters the college game show. It's pretty typical storywise, but the characters and entertaining and the dialogue is witty. Very fun.Connie and Carla has two women (Nia Vardalos, "My Big Fat Greek Wedding," and Toni Collette, "Evening") on the run from the mob who hide out as drag queens. It's not as bad as it sounds. There are several laugh out loud moments, musical numbers and, most importantly, David Duchovny ("Trust the Man"). Worth watching if it's on TV, but don't pay for it.I had a physical reaction of disgust to Live Free or Die. There's voiceover which is supposed to make us interested in the main character who has no redeeming qualities whatsoever. He's a two-bit criminal with the lamest schemes ever. And he's stupid. He suckers a slow-witted guy into being his accomplice. This guy, Paul Schneider ("The Family Stone"), is the only good role in the film. Schneider is consistently entertaining and funny. Zooey Deschanel ("Surf's Up") has a small part and I don't even know how she got involved in this crap. Just avoid it no matter what. Kill if you must.Shortbus is the newest film by John Cameron Mitchell ("Hedwig and the Angry Inch"). When it opened in theaters, I heard a couple of positive reviews, but mostly I heard about the sex. It's real. The actors are unknowns and they are actually having sex on screen. Gay, straight, all kinds. The story is loosely set around a sex therapist who has never had and orgasm. She sets out on a quest to have one and meets other interesting characters with their own troubles along the way. I found these relationships to be fascinating and the stories often sad. And though sometimes shocking, I didn't feel the films set out to be. Just don't watch it with anyone with whom you would be uncomfortable watching porn.Bobby is another film about multiple characters centered around a larger theme. We spend the day before Robert F. Kennedy's assassination with workers and guests at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, as well as people involved with Senator Kennedy's campaign.Though some stories were better than others, I especially enjoyed the Shia LaBeouf ("Transformers") segment, I found them all to be very interesting glimpses into several lives which were all devastated when RFK's ended. Very moving.
]]>Fri, 10 Aug 2007 19:00:00 GMTdibotdibot Blog8/10/2007 3:00:00 PMMore reviews from the binge.Starter for Ten is one of those coming of age stories where a boy becomes a man and finds out what kind of person he really is. This time, James McAvoy ("The Last King of Scotland") stars and the setting is 1985 Bristol University with McAvoy learning about himself as he tries to make it in college, falls in love and enters the college game show. It&#39;s pretty typical storywise, but the characters and entertaining and the dialogue is witty. Very fun.Connie and Carla has two women (Nia Vardalos, "My Big Fat Greek Wedding," and Toni Collette, "Evening") on the run from the mob who hide out as drag queens. It&#39;s not as bad as it sounds. There are several laugh out loud moments, musical numbers and, most importantly, David Duchovny ("Trust the Man"). Worth watching if it&#39;s on TV, but don&#39;t pay for it.I had a physical reaction of disgust to Live Free or Die. There&#39;s voiceover which is supposed to make us interested in the main character who has no redeeming qualities whatsoever. He&#39;s a two-bit criminal with the lamest schemes ever. And he&#39;s stupid. He suckers a slow-witted guy into being his accomplice. This guy, Paul Schneider ("The Family Stone"), is the only good role in the film. Schneider is consistently entertaining and funny. Zooey Deschanel ("Surf&#39;s Up") has a small part and I don&#39;t even know how she got involved in this crap. Just avoid it no matter what. Kill if you must.Shortbus is the newest film by John Cameron Mitchell ("Hedwig and the Angry Inch"). When it opened in theaters, I heard a couple of positive reviews, but mostly I heard about the sex. It&#39;s real. The actors are unknowns and they are actually having sex on screen. Gay, straight, all kinds. The story is loosely set around a sex therapist who has never had and orgasm. She sets out on a quest to have one and meets other interesting characters with their own troubles along the way. I found these relationships to be fascinating and the stories often sad. And though sometimes shocking, I didn&#39;t feel the films set out to be. Just don&#39;t watch it with anyone with whom you would be uncomfortable watching porn.Bobby is another film about multiple characters centered around a larger theme. We spend the day before Robert F. Kennedy&#39;s assassination with workers and guests at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, as well as people involved with Senator Kennedy&#39;s campaign.Though some stories were better than others, I especially enjoyed the Shia LaBeouf ("Transformers") segment, I found them all to be very interesting glimpses into several lives which were all devastated when RFK&#39;s ended. Very moving. http://www.spout.com/blogs/applesauce/archive/2007/7/5/13216.aspx Post By: applesauce
Post To: applesauce Blog
Post Date: 7/5/2007 7:48:36 PM
Body: I think John Cameron Mitchell is a genius.When I watched this movie, it sucked me in. Like it made sex a less flesh feeling and more emotional,That's the main reason I liked it. AndAfter you watch the movie,go stand in front of a mirror naked,and you'll feel so much better about yourself.At least I did.
]]>Thu, 05 Jul 2007 23:48:36 GMTapplesauceapplesauce Blog7/5/2007 7:48:36 PMI think John Cameron Mitchell is a genius.When I watched this movie, it sucked me in. Like it made sex a less flesh feeling and more emotional,That's the main reason I liked it. AndAfter you watch the movie,go stand in front of a mirror naked,and you'll feel so much better about yourself.At least I did. http://www.spout.com/groups/Queer_Cinema/Re_most_overrated_gay_movie/318/12744/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: unemployedwaif
Post To: Queer Cinema
Post Date: 7/1/2007 12:44:19 AM
Body: Recent releases that I have enjoyed: - Evening, which doesn't exactly center around gay characters but is loaded with queer themes (thanks to co-screenwriter Michael Cunningham). - Shortbus, highly entertaining and arousing film about sex in all its various forms. Extremely explicit yet remains focused on the story. - 20 Centimeters, while not technically a new release, however it is still in the new release section of my local Blockbuster Video so I guess it counts for me. Great dramatic musical from Spain. I guess it's being toted as the Spanish version of Hedwig and the Angry Inch, which is a fair statement. - Another Gay Movie, yet again, not too recent but close enough, this campy gross out comedy is in the same mind-set as American Pie and other teen sex comedies, but with a gay cast. If you take it for what it is and not too seriously, it is highly enjoyable.My favorite queer films . . . that's hard. - Nowhere, help start the New Queer CInema Movement and greatly affected me when I first watched it in high school. Amazing cast, great soundtrack, and definitely one of my favorite films. Still gets me teary eyed at the end . . . make sure to watch through to the end of the credits. - The Hours, just one of the most emotionally charged films I have ever seen and bring my to tears every time I watch it. All around great cast, score, cinematography, everything. - Kissing Jessica Stein, film that helped me finally come out to my parents and come to terms with my sexuality when I first viewed it in college. One of the few films about bisexuality that doesn't pander (for the most part) to stereotypes.Favorite crossdressing film: - She's the Man, primarily due to the fact that it wasn't loaded with horrible stereotypes and homophobic comments when the subject arose. Cutesy teen comedy remake of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night that actually made me laugh.Lastly, Stage Beauty. Thought it was a decent film about the subject matter. Though I do think that Billy Crudup's characters was primarily gay since his reaction to his male lover's rejections seemed to affect him so deeply.
]]>Sun, 01 Jul 2007 04:44:19 GMTunemployedwaifQueer Cinema7/1/2007 12:44:19 AMRecent releases that I have enjoyed: - Evening, which doesn't exactly center around gay characters but is loaded with queer themes (thanks to co-screenwriter Michael Cunningham). - Shortbus, highly entertaining and arousing film about sex in all its various forms. Extremely explicit yet remains focused on the story. - 20 Centimeters, while not technically a new release, however it is still in the new release section of my local Blockbuster Video so I guess it counts for me. Great dramatic musical from Spain. I guess it's being toted as the Spanish version of Hedwig and the Angry Inch, which is a fair statement. - Another Gay Movie, yet again, not too recent but close enough, this campy gross out comedy is in the same mind-set as American Pie and other teen sex comedies, but with a gay cast. If you take it for what it is and not too seriously, it is highly enjoyable.My favorite queer films . . . that's hard. - Nowhere, help start the New Queer CInema Movement and greatly affected me when I first watched it in high school. Amazing cast, great soundtrack, and definitely one of my favorite films. Still gets me teary eyed at the end . . . make sure to watch through to the end of the credits. - The Hours, just one of the most emotionally charged films I have ever seen and bring my to tears every time I watch it. All around great cast, score, cinematography, everything. - Kissing Jessica Stein, film that helped me finally come out to my parents and come to terms with my sexuality when I first viewed it in college. One of the few films about bisexuality that doesn't pander (for the most part) to stereotypes.Favorite crossdressing film: - She's the Man, primarily due to the fact that it wasn't loaded with horrible stereotypes and homophobic comments when the subject arose. Cutesy teen comedy remake of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night that actually made me laugh.Lastly, Stage Beauty. Thought it was a decent film about the subject matter. Though I do think that Billy Crudup's characters was primarily gay since his reaction to his male lover's rejections seemed to affect him so deeply. http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/sex/MemberTagFilms.aspxsex
Number of films tagged: 2414

Number of people who tagged: 126

Number of times used: 548

]]>Fri, 04 Dec 2009 00:50:42 GMT2414126548Tag http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/truth/MemberTagFilms.aspxtruth
Number of films tagged: 359

Number of people who tagged: 36

Number of times used: 63

]]>Mon, 23 Nov 2009 22:23:51 GMT3593663Tag http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/city/MemberTagFilms.aspxcity
Number of films tagged: 891

Number of people who tagged: 19

Number of times used: 38

]]>Thu, 10 Sep 2009 15:19:09 GMT8911938Tag http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/husband/MemberTagFilms.aspxhusband
Number of films tagged: 1851

Number of people who tagged: 12

Number of times used: 42

]]>Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:51:56 GMT18511242Tag http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/orgasm/MemberTagFilms.aspxorgasm
Number of films tagged: 38

Number of people who tagged: 11

Number of times used: 11

]]>Wed, 28 Jan 2009 14:02:19 GMT381111Tag http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/orgy/MemberTagFilms.aspxorgy
Number of films tagged: 57

Number of people who tagged: 7

Number of times used: 10

]]>Tue, 07 Jul 2009 10:49:22 GMT57710Tag http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/voyeurism/MemberTagFilms.aspxvoyeurism
Number of films tagged: 11

Number of people who tagged: 7

Number of times used: 11

]]>Fri, 08 May 2009 16:48:34 GMT11711Tag http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/real-sex/MemberTagFilms.aspxreal-sex
Number of films tagged: 2

Number of people who tagged: 3

Number of times used: 4

]]>Fri, 10 Aug 2007 19:48:21 GMT234Tag http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/sextherapist/MemberTagFilms.aspxsextherapist
Number of films tagged: 24

Number of people who tagged: 3

Number of times used: 3

]]>Tue, 19 Dec 2006 14:00:41 GMT2433Tag http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/non-porn/MemberTagFilms.aspxnon-porn
Number of films tagged: 2

Number of people who tagged: 2

Number of times used: 3

]]>Sun, 03 Jun 2007 16:04:02 GMT223Tag http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/real-sex-in-non-porn/MemberTagFilms.aspxreal-sex-in-non-porn
Number of films tagged: 3

Number of people who tagged: 2

Number of times used: 4

]]>Sun, 03 Jun 2007 16:19:45 GMT324Tag http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/feminists/MemberTagFilms.aspxfeminists
Number of films tagged: 2

Number of people who tagged: 1

Number of times used: 2

]]>Mon, 30 Oct 2006 17:08:07 GMT212Tag http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/multiplestories/MemberTagFilms.aspxmultiplestories
Number of films tagged: 3

Number of people who tagged: 1

Number of times used: 3

]]>Fri, 10 Aug 2007 19:48:21 GMT313Tag http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/Sucide/MemberTagFilms.aspxSucide
Number of films tagged: 1

Number of people who tagged: 1

Number of times used: 1

]]>Mon, 11 Jun 2007 05:19:31 GMT111Tag http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/vulnerability/MemberTagFilms.aspxvulnerability
Number of films tagged: 20

Number of people who tagged: 1

Number of times used: 1

]]>Tue, 13 Jan 2009 01:29:04 GMT2011Tag