Pleasure

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.

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.

The story of a 19-year-old Swedish beauty who makes her way to Hollywood in order to become the next big porn star. The film has rightly had its fair share of publicity, due to the graphic scenes featured throughout. However, that shock value soon wears thin, leaving a somewhat hollow tale of cold-hearted loneliness. Still, it earns a slim recommendation due to a stunning central performance from newcomer, Sofia Kappel.

Contrary to what a number of reviewers enthuse about this film, there is nothing "revolutionary" about it as far as edgy European filmmakers are concerned. In fact, the likes of Paul Verhoeven, Gaspard Noe and Ulrich Seidl did much of the heavy lifting several years before, in terms of explicit and frank cinema-verite material.

That said, this is a compelling, carefully researched slice-of-life movie with a central performance for the ages, and it's coming from perfect newcomer Sofia Kappel. With a less game actress, this could have been just another "Showgirls".

The director's insistence on sticking to crushing realism means that there's a complete lack of Hollywood moments, twists and turns, and no artificial tension -- which would admittedly make the whole affair an easier watch. It's never boring, but there's a distinct documentarist feel to everything, which does kill any budding drama.

Make no mistake, this is a European art movie, transplanted to the LA p*rn scene.

Okay so "Pleasure" delves into what it is like to be a porn star. It comes equipped with all of the debauchery you would expect to portray this sometimes sordid craft. However, porn is something we're all intimately acquainted with and we all have a least a passing passion for how it is done.

The girls involved. The challenges they face working in such an industry. The guys they have to deal with on set. Even to the difficulties that male porn stars experience with 'being prepared and ready to go'

Boogie Nights was the only other film to really memorialize the porn industry and obviously it was fantastic. It crystallized the early porno scene industry. Pleasure does much the same but without a lot of the bravado and drugs. It feels very intimate and as though it were something that happened to the writer.

It captures the tensity of a live sex scene very well and you can even sense the nerves of the crew as they do their best to make the girls feel everything is professional and by the book. However it does get into the hardcore scenes, and even beyond that at times. Too far beyond it. The surreal nature of a "rough" scene and blurring the lines of what is performative art and what is bordering on sexual abuse and rape. Only the girls willingness to go through with it makes the act forgivable at all. I am not a fan of hardcore porn and this film doesn't glorify it. Much the opposite. It's an important film for pretty much everyone to see. Especially the younger generation that has been consuming porn for the entire lives via the internet.

My only complaint would be that I think some of the cinematic scenes could have been edited down quite a bit. The movie had a few pacing issues although it didn't really matter it just felt... a little weirdly structured. I mean honestly the film is an 8 for me and I am really really picky. :O

I found the film to be exceedingly entertaining and I really loved the wholesome acting of Linnea. After seeing it there are ALOT of takeaway feelings involved---

In closing I think the message of the film was to just give us a real glimpse of the adult entertainment world. Obviously the industry is changing now and pornstars/sex workers are getting rid of the middle man and producing their own content on sites like Onlyfans.