Pleasure

'Pleasure (2021)' isn't exactly an enjoyable experience, and the irony of its title doesn't seem lost on writer-director Ninja Thyberg. This frank and unapologetic exploration of the Los Angeles porn industry almost feels like an exposé at times, with its naturalistic presentation granting it a fly-on-the-wall feel which makes its more shocking moments all the more upsetting. Indeed, there are a few scenes which are incredibly difficult to watch. The most notable of these is the filming of a rough and degrading three-way scene which our protagonist continues to consent to only because she has no other option - which, of course, means she doesn't consent at all. It stands in stark contrast to a similar scene shown just minutes earlier, the shooting of which has its star surrounded by people who make sure she's comfortable and genuinely feel as though they're concerned for her safety (it's no accident that a lot of these people are women). The picture constantly presents this push-pull between how the porn industry ought to work and how it actually does, remaining relatively neutral to the concept but condemning its execution. Having said that, the overwhelming feeling that this picture provokes is undeniably icky. If porn is something you're into, I can see this actually putting you off. Whether or not that is its intention is unclear, especially considering that the flick does go out of its way to include both the good and the bad parts of its protagonist's journey. Perhaps its goal is to be as realistic as possible, not necessarily impartial but not forceful in its implied assertions. I suppose this is how it manages to be both empathetic and non-judgemental towards the women who seek a career in porn and unsympathetic towards the men who take advantage of them. Though the feature isn't especially entertaining in the traditional sense (it certainly isn't fun), it's a consistently challenging and compelling affair that manages to be explicit enough to feel as though it's doing its taboo subject justice (and to be genuinely shocking at times) but not so explicit as to feel as though it's overly gratuitous or insensitive. Sofia Kappel delivers a bold, bracing debut performance (apparently, auditioning for the film was a way to push her out of her comfort zone) and the rest of its cast - which is mostly comprised of current or former porn performers, producers and directors - is surprisingly good, too. The flick doesn't feel exploitative at all, taking a fairly feminist approach to its material and always feeling like it has something to say. Everything we see is necessary in telling this tale, which is rare even for something that isn't dealing with a potentially tricky topic. It's funny how nobody blinks an eye when seeing someone's head get blown off in a movie, but almost everyone feels at least a little uncomfortable when someone takes their clothes off and starts having sex. This piece almost strives to make you uncomfortable because it wants you to face the realities of a pretty shady business. The interesting thing about it, though, is that it isn't the sex itself that gets under your skin. Sexual violence is presented as truly disgusting and upsetting, as it should be, but it's also presented as insidious and pervasive. It isn't something that just happens, it's something that's enabled and justified by those with the power to do so. It works its way into every industry one way or another, so it's naturally present in an industry that concerns itself almost solely with sex. The thing is, though, it shouldn't be. Sex work is work and everyone deserves to be and feel safe in their workplace. Tangent aside, this is a strong movie that's as engaging as it is off-putting. If you can handle it, it's worth a watch.

It's pretty much true that everytime there's a mainstream movie about the adult industry, it always focuses on the extremes on one end; where there tends to be a very anti-porn industry undertone that guides these movies.

So when you're making a movie about the industry with many actual performers showing up as themselves, there was the risk of it being extreme on the pro-industry end. But to my pleasant surprise, the movie composed itself with a lot of nuance on both ends of the argument to share its story without a strong bias on either side; something I very much appreciate. Pleasure is a very decent movie, but with very little originality in my opinion. Yes, I liked its tone overall, but the story plays out exactly the way you'd think it would by the first 15 minutes. It certainly wasn't boring, but it never captivated as much as it had the potential to, and that's something I wish this movie could have done different.

Overall however, it was a decent watch, but more importantly, it was made with the right frame of mind... and that's what truly stood out to me.

Perhaps the most authentic approach to the genre. A full yet brief closure to legal porn industries. Not a great movie in terms of cinematic values but an explicit look to this mesmerizing world, containing lots of graphic sexual moments, intelligently put for the sake of story.

A unique film you don't get to see all the time.

Ever since Evelyn Claire told me on set that she was being featured in an upcoming A24 film, I've been waiting for this one, so naturally I made an effort to go see it opening weekend. (I guess A24 dropped it at some point though - not sure why). Considering most of the pre-release press has been about the porn industry participants feeling "betrayed" or "led astray" by the production, I entered with "certain" expectations, I suppose.

First, let me say that this is easily the most accurate portrayal of what it's like working in the porn industry that I have ever seen put to film, by far. Writer/director Ninja Thyberg obviously did her homework, because 2/3 of this movie just felt like my run-of-the-mill day at work (I've been an "adult film actor" for 13 years now) - the majority of the details were nailed, to a T. That deserves major accolades in itself. Of course, the viewing was a biased experience for me, by default, primarily at the movie's expense. For me personally, the majority of the central segments of the movie felt rather shallow and uninteresting, thematically, and in its actual events. After a strong opening, it began to wander into a rather empty direction from my perspective, but fortunately there is a character arc and thematic turn that gives the movie cautionary purpose in the last 45 minutes.

On the subject of themes, I want to respond to the backlash coming from certain XXX industry folks by saying that I disagree about the movie making the industry look bad. Perhaps the film's greatest strength is that it does a great job of developing a display of what I've always seen as a looming truth: it's not the industry itself that destroys people who get involved, it's what the individual seeks from the industry. I've always thought that if someone gets into porn for the sole purpose of fame and/or money, with no passion for the actual sex acts, that is precisely how one may find themselves in a vapid black hole of loneliness or unhealthy practices. Overly competitive people have always rubbed me wrong, and this movie focuses precisely on how detrimental that can be. I'll never understand the need to be "the best" - just love what you do!

This was a somewhat surreal viewing experience for me considering I "know" 80% of the cast, as well as in about half of the locations that the film took place in - that's a first with a mainstream film. I enjoyed watching all these acquaintances getting their chance to flex their acting chops in a somewhat different realm. Lead actress Sofia Kappel (one of the only cast members who's not actually in the porn industry) absolutely stole the show, delivering a brave, well-rounded, and pretty endearing performance, which gives the movie a lot of life and value it might not otherwise have. Ex-pornstar Zelda Morrison did a fantastic job building a realistic character throughout the film, as did fellow XXX talent Chris Cock. And, Evelyn Claire, who has always reminded me of young Jennifer Connelly, was the PERFECT casting choice for her very crucial role - she serves absolute FACE every single time she's on screen - she's stone cold.

While I felt that the movie didn't have a lot of dynamic to it's pacing, and kind of lacked some necessary tension, I still think it's a very accomplished showcase of what performing in the industry is like for those curious to know. It's shot well and I enjoyed the direction of the music used. It is a VERY graphic film, hence the NOT RATED rating, so of course it's not for everyone! Plentiful erect penises and interpreted sex acts and cum! Not sure i'd ever watch it again, but, it stands out!

I didn't think this story was all that compelling or satisfyingly told. There were some details that were memorable, but I really didn't get invested in where it was going. I will agree that the lead actress did an amazing job, and most everyone else brought a realism to their roles, especially since they work in the adult film industry in real life. But I didn't feel like there was much connection between the scenes. Yes, the overall goal of the main character remains consistent, but I didn't feel like we were shown what motivated her to make the specific choices she did much of the time. The effect is that the story doesn't really progress and build believably. Even though it has an outstanding central performance, I felt this was a fairly average drama overall which happened to have a few scenes that were difficult to watch.