I recently spent a pleasant Christmas holiday with one of my favorite people, author Cat Grant. I must admit that our choice of Blu-Ray films to watch might have been influenced by the degree of male nudity. At least we have the excuse "it's part of our job" of writing gay erotic romance.
Cat, about Velvet Goldmine: "Ewan MacGregor jumps around completely naked."
Me: "That's up next, then."
Ewan didn't disappoint. In fact, I'm not sure he's been in a film where he didn't show it all off.
We may also have paused and replayed scenes of other films with VPL, but let's get back on topic...
There's a film I can't wait to see: Magic Mike, with some of Hollywood's hunkiest actors playing male strippers (Joe Manganello, Matt Bomer, Alex Pettyfer and Channing Tatum). Of course, that's not likely to have anyone take it all off, which is a damn shame.
What do you think of male nudity in films? After seeing so many breasts, I'd like to see way more dicks in flicks than we usually get in the US.
I'm asking in the name of research. I'm not talking about porn films, because we expect it, but about mainstream films that aren't necessarily about sex, or just about sex.
In the US, there isn't much of it. I recall the furor over "naked" Richard Gere when American Gigolo came out (oops, I may be giving away my generation here), then being pretty damn disappointed. All that over practically nothing, yet it was such a big deal at the time!
In Europe, you can find a lot more penises in films, in scenes were nudity is natural or makes sense, and not for the shock or comedy factor that it's often used in American films. Shame on films like Bruno and Borat that use it to make everyone uncomfortable.
Naked men should be sexy!!
Why all the fuss? We've had naked women in films for decades, showing off their assets, bouncing around and luring straight men into movie theatres. But the double standard continues for men.
Playgirl magazine never had the success of Playboy? Is it because women don't like looking at naked guys, or they won't admit it? Or they're too afraid to buy the mag?
Did anyone else notice the irony that in The Full Monty we never actually get to see the full monty? In Watchmen, we have Dr. Manhattan and his bouncing blue bits, and that got plenty of backlash. Why? Probably because it didn't really fit into the rest of the film. Sure it makes sense in some of the scenes, but overall to me it should have been an all-or-nothing issue. Either he's always naked or he never is. The way it was done negated the value of his nudity.
Remember Dante's Cove, that gay/paranormal Canadian TV show that was so cheesy, but made up for it with plenty of dicks in season one? Then they cut way back on the nudity. What was up ( or not) with that?
What are the best recent films to find some good-looking nude men? Feel free to post a link to a screen shot if you want.
I'd definitely like to hear from the guys out there as well, what you think of the double standard? Are gay men tired of seeing boobs and not dicks in mainstream films? Are straight guys worried their ladies might start comparing you to the guy in the film? It's not like we haven't seen other dicks!
So, what's your opinion?
Alec Compton's dream job at a Wall Street investment firm is on the line if he can't close a make-or-break takeover deal by the end of the year.
The buyer is none other than world-renowned billionaire and corporate raider Brant Linton, recently named one of the hottest and most eligible gay businessmen. Electricity crackles at their first meeting, and Alec's thoughts drift far from business, despite his distaste for Brant's business practices.
When Brant takes off early to spend Christmas with his sister's family on the exclusive French Polynesian island of Taha'a, Alec has no choice but to follow if he wants to get Brant to sign on the dotted line. But Brant's sister has forbidden him from conducting business during the holidays and Alec must masquerade as Brant's boyfriend.
Then business turns into pleasure, but neither Brant nor Alec know whether the other is there for the deal, or for something more personal in EM Lynley's sizzling holiday novella A CHRISTMAS BONUS.
5 comments:
Em,
Now that you mention it, most films do show women in the au natural state and not the male.
I'm for seeing more of the male minus any clothing to make the playing field more equal. LOL
Hi Mary,
Thanks for commenting! Any particular actor you'd like to see au natural?
--EM
I recently finished watching Eating Out and it's sequels and was surprised at the amount of mudity on the men. As a matter of fact, it was really only the men au natural. Very good comedy, and not used to for laughs or making anyone uncomfortable. Loved the films. I totally agree with the double standard. Doesn't seem fair that women are paraded around with nothing, and men get to cover up. I can't believe that the hotshot actors in Hollywood are that shy. lol My two cents worth.
Hi CR,
I haven't seen the films, but have them in my Netflix queue. Since they are gay films, it's no surprise they don't have naked women in them, but even indie gay films don't often have male nudity (or full frontal) in the US. I'll check these out, for research, of course!
--EM
Hi EM,
I was hoping this to be extensive and I look forward to you writing more and more about this topic. I have just seen the latest episode of Spartacus: Vengeance and that has heaps and heaps of male nudity to my liking. In one scene, we get a glimpse of an older episode from two years ago because of a flashback and that's how I came to google, "Actor doubles who gets nude in movie/TV scenes" and that's how I happen to come upon your blog. I would love to see a documentary done on this someday.
But back to your topic, I used to work in the cinemas and have noticed a new trend on male nudity and pubic hair. Have you not noticed? I first came upon it on 'Harry and Kumar goes to White Castle' where they ended up at a pool party. There you don't see boobs but an mans penis. "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" had Jason Segel (of "How I Met Your Mother" fame) hanging out his doodle. And of late, 'The Hangover' movies had some small Asian cock hanging out. I think America is trying to prep the new gen for something. For us to be comfortable about our bodies and seeing them naked anytime all the time. And when America gets comfortable, they're waiting for the rest of the world to follow.(in this case I'm excusing Europe) The French has done this since... forever and America wants to follow suite and set the trend going.
As for the gay and gay indie movies, I think that's just a given. We need that stuff or we won't watch it.hahaha
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