February is kicking off the new, exciting deadly sins edition and since this is the month of love, lust is the first sin we are talking about. I can't help but think how easily this would have been if they made movies about our lives — and by ours, I mean mine and some others' in the blogosphere — but there aren't so actual movies will have to do.
A Dangerous Method (2011)
Plot: A young Russian woman, Sabina Spielrein (Keira Knightley), is hospitalized in Zurich because of hysteria and she's taken under the care of Dr. Carl Jung (Michael Fassbender), a follower of Sigmund Fred (Viggo Mortensen). Sabina and Jung become attracted to each other and she eventually comes between Jung and Fred.
I tried to watch this Cronenberg twice but I never did it for me. The first time I couldn't even finish the movie. I wasn't really into this kind of stuff at the time though so I might give it another chance in the future. That said, it fits the theme well and it has Fassbender and Mortensen. They could make a movie about nothing and it still be about lust.
Nymphomaniac: Vol I (2013) - Review
Plot: Joe (Charlotte Gainsbourg), a self-diagnosed nymphomaniac, recounts the erotic story of her adolescence and young adulthood to the man (Stellan Skarsgård) who saved her after a beating.
A repulsive waste of time for many, I found Lars von Trier's film a brave and provoking film about sex addiction. Sure, there are plenty of explicit sex scenes but the dialogue beyond engaging, the cinematography is gorgeous and Gainsbourg gives a terrific performance.
Shame (2011) - Review
Plot: Brandon (Michael Fassbender) is a New Yorker with a compulsive addiction to sex. When his younger sister (Carey Mulligan) moves into his apartment, Brandon's life spirals out of control.
I'm not going to lie. The first time I watched this film it was for Fassbender's willy. But that's not the only reason it was worth the money. McQueen's film is terrific, moving and provocative film about sex addiction, a wonderful character study with a devastatingly real performance from Fassbender — which of course was snubbed by the Academy.
Special mention: Lust for Life (1956) - Review
I woke up to the sad news of Kirk Douglas's passing so, since this is the best performance of his I've seen — not only he looks like van Gogh, but he shows such a wide range of emotions through his voice, face and body language and silences as well — and the film somewhat fits this week's theme, I thought it'd be a nice tribute to mention it.
FACEBOOK
INSTAGRAM
TWITTER
Michael Fassbender was great in Shame. It sucks though that he hasn't been in anything good recently.
ReplyDeleteI could be wrong but I think he hasn't been in anything at all recently. Marrying that woman was not the right choice.
DeleteWe match on Shame! I remember liking A Dangerous Method but I think I only saw it the one time. I don't watch Von Trier movies anymore so I skipped Nympho.
ReplyDeleteI like/love most of his films but he is not for everyone. That's for sure.
DeleteThis is what I love most about Thursday Movie Picks, finding new movies to add to my watchlist! I don't know how I've never heard of A Dangerous Method but I'd like to see it for the cast alone.
ReplyDeleteYou've never heard of it?! I'm shocked!
DeleteLovely tribute to Kirk Douglas! That was an exceptional film, as well. I have not seen the other three, but they all sound interesting.
ReplyDeleteNice to meet you, Sonia! I see you're from Italy, like my husband. ☺ This is my first time participating in Thursday Movie Picks. Ciao!
Thank you, Debbie! And welcome to the Thursday Movie Picks family :)
DeleteI'm with you on struggling through Dangerous Method, and kudos to you on giving it another go to finish it, I staggered through that first view and that was enough. Too much actually.
ReplyDeleteI'd have to say the same about Shame, though I can't fault Fassbender nor Carey Mulligan's performances which were deep and compelling. I just found the entire film a nihilistic downer.
I have hated every von Trier movie I've ever attempted to watch and after all the negativity directed at Nymphomaniac I just have zero desire to see it.
I was saddened to hear of Kirk's passing as well, though honestly it doesn't get much better than reaching 103 in relatively good health as he did. I included one of his films too, my first thought was Lust for Life-it just seemed so on point-but the story within for me didn't quite jibe with the theme. Excellent film however with outstanding work by him. If you haven't seen him in Ace in the Hole I'd highly recommend it!
I tried for films that looked at different facets of lust along with the carnal.
Lust for Gold (1949)-In the 1880’s Arizona drifter Dutchy Walz (Glenn Ford) and his buddy Wiser (Edgar Buchanan) suspect two men know the location of a gold mine. Tracking them they shoot the pair after which Walz turns on Wiser and kills him as well. Heading to Phoenix with a large stash of nugguts word quickly spreads and shopkeeper Julia Thomas (Ida Lupino) wheedles herself into Walz affections without mentioning her marriage to Pete (Gig Young) in the hopes of getting her hands on the loot. Eventually all turn on each other in their “Lust for Gold”.
The Bad and the Beautiful (1952)-In his lust for power unscrupulous movie producer Jonathan Shields (Kirk Douglas) ruthlessly claws his way to the top of the studio system by discovering, using and discarding movie star Georgia (Lana Turner), director Fred Amiel (Barry Sullivan) and writer James Lee Bartlow (Dick Powell) along the way.
Lolita (1962)-British professor Humbert Humbert (James Mason) relocates to the American suburbs, renting a room from lonely widow Charlotte Haze (Shelley Winters). He finds himself lustfully drawn to Charlotte’s teenage daughter Lolita (the recently departed Sue Lyon) doing whatever necessary including marrying her mother to remain close to the nymphet leading to his downfall. Stanley Kubrick directed his own adaptation of the Nabokov novel.
Oh, I'm sorry Shame didn't work for you. It's the only of my picks that I've rewatched over the years. I guess being a fan of Fassbender really helps.
DeleteLolita is the only of your picks I've seen and I wasn't a fan. Kubrick's adaptation was too far away form the novel in my opinion.
I've seen all of your picks but Lust for Life as Shame is the best of the three while I enjoyed the first half of Nymphomaniac much more than its second act which kind of suffered in its pacing. A Dangerous Method I think is very underrated in comparison to some of David Cronenberg's films.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you put a mention for Kirk Douglas as his passing made me think about my dad as he loved Kirk Douglas. He was one of the greats and will definitely be missed.
I felt the same. That's why I picked Volume 1 instead of the whole film. The second half was just average.
DeleteAcademy members were just jealous of Fassy's member :D
ReplyDeleteI guess they are!
DeleteLust for Life seems intriguing, I need to see that one!
ReplyDeleteYeah, that's a good one.
Delete"The first time I watched this film it was for Fassbender's willy." (I was drinking tea when I read this and choked. HA!)
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed Shame a lot. Fassbender has never really done it for me in an attractive sense, but he's such a great actor. Admittedly I've never seen a von Trier movie, but I've been curious enough to read about them. He seems to be a very polarizing director.
Sorry, my bad 😅 how you don't find him attractive though I'll never get that!
DeleteI must have read this, got distracted and forgot to write here. I love Viggo so I would love to see this film. I would like to see Shame not just for..., well, you know but for his excellent performance. I love Lust for Life and Kirk looks so much like van Gogh here
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure Viggo will be enough to watch the movie from start to finish. I struggled and I love both Viggo and Fassbender.
DeleteThe only one I've seen is A Dangerous Method...it was ok...not memorable for me.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I guess we were expecting better from Cronenberg
DeleteThis is actually a very surprising thing but I've seen all but the special mention here. I love Shame and I had some respect for Nymphomaniac but I hardly remember Dangerous Method.
ReplyDeleteIt's not that surprising tbh, I learned about it years ago thanks to a TMP and I only watched it because I love van Gogh haha
Delete