Top Model

Like many prolific Euro and Italian directors of Joe D'Amato's era, he would rightly be accused of self plagiarism today. This movie so echoes his Emmanuelle films, themselves a knock off, that it even features Laura Gemser in a supporting role. But all that aside, it's not a horrible film. It starts off slow, and one almost wishes for more explicit sex to keep things going, --- but after around the 45 minute mark... half way in... a love plot starts unfolding involving a gay or bi male, that really actually seems somewhat heartfelt... and moves the movie into more watchable territory. It's usual D'amato, revisiting themes, but if you like to see a new one from him you haven't seen - then check it out. But don't expect Emmanuelle and the Last Cannibals.

Working as a high class call girl in order to gain material for her new book, an esteemed author has to contend with blackmail when a client learns of her secret in this surprisingly well filmed sexually explicit drama. Joe D'Amato's camera almost never sits still, with many tracking shots that voyeuristically follow lead actress Jessica Moore around. There are some thoughtful extreme low camera angles as she undresses too, and in one of the film's most memorable scenes, she makes love to a toy factory owner, surrounded by smiling large toys that -- akin to the lions of 'The Battleship Potemkin' -- are filmed so that it looks like they are reacting to what is taking place! The film is not particularly well plotted though with the blackmailing not seeming to worry Moore at all who is more confounded by her inability to turn on a young computer engineer, played by James Sutterfield, oblivious to the fact that he is gay. The acting here is pretty second rate too with Sutterfield the worst offender, though most of the (mainly) non-professional cast have trouble delivering their lines in a way that does not feel rehearsed. Moore is, however, quite decent and while the narrative might have some deficiencies, it more than makes up for it with a very zany sense of humour shining through at several points. The opening scene, for example, has Moore fingering various mannequins that have been set into explicit poses; later on, she finds a couple of clients who want to be ridden like bulls at a rodeo, and the aforementioned toy store scene occurs on a Santa's sleigh of all places!

Joe D'Amato's 1988 film "Top Model" is a curious blend of erotic drama and quirky humor, wrapped in a visually engaging package that both intrigues and frustrates. The film's atmosphere is thick with a sultry, almost voyeuristic energy, largely due to D'Amato's restless camera work. His use of tracking shots to follow the lead, Jessica Moore (credited as Luciana Ottaviani), creates a sense of intimacy and immediacy, drawing the viewer into the world of high-class escorting with a gaze that rarely rests. Some of the cinematography choices stand out, such as extreme low angles during intimate scenes and a particularly memorable sequence involving a toy factory owner surrounded by oversized, smiling toys that oddly seem to react to the unfolding events. These visual flourishes lend the film a surreal, sometimes unsettling edge that elevates it beyond typical softcore fare.

However, the film's narrative and acting performances are less consistent. The plot, revolving around a writer who goes undercover as a prostitute to research her book and then faces blackmail, lacks tension and coherence. The blackmail subplot feels underdeveloped and surprisingly unthreatening to the protagonist, which diminishes dramatic stakes. Acting across the board is uneven; Luciana Ottaviani delivers a reasonably solid performance, managing to hold the film together with her screen presence and occasional charm. In contrast, James Sutterfield, playing a shy programmer, is notably stiff and unconvincing, and many of the supporting cast members, mostly non-professionals, struggle with natural line delivery, making some scenes feel rehearsed and flat. Despite these shortcomings, the film injects a quirky sense of humor that occasionally lightens the mood, with bizarre client requests and eccentric characters adding a strange but welcome flavor.

In summary, "Top Model" is a film where style often outpaces substance. Its visual inventiveness and Ottaviani's compelling presence make it watchable, but the sluggish pacing, weak plot, and uneven acting prevent it from rising above a middling rating. Fans of 1980s Euro-erotic cinema might find it a curious artifact, but those seeking a tightly woven story or polished performances may come away disappointed.

I saw this movie in Sri Lanka in 1997 and I loved it. But most of the scenes were censored and no body could not enjoy it that well in the cinema. Most of the sex scenes were cut for no reason. Does anyone know how to get the uncut version of this film on VCD/DVD. Please let me know.

In the mid-1980s Joe D'Amato made largely soft pornos and this is one of the better ones, despite being filmed in the US (his Italian films tend to be better). Following the commercial success of "11 days, 11 nights", this was marketed as a sequel, but it is rather more like a remake, and it is a slight improvement on the original. Both films were clearly inspired by "9 and a half weeks" (there is also a nod to Zulawski's Femme Publique) but D'Amato changed the story by putting the woman in control, a modification which works very well. No cinematic masterpiece, but a superior example of the genre.